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Authorities use excessive force against Papuan protesters again: Amnesty
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Police disperse Papuan students as they hold a protest against the government's plan to develop new administrative areas in the country's easternmost Papua province, near Jayapura, Papua, on May 10. (AFP/Ardilles)
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mnesty International Indonesia has called out the government for excessive use of force in Papua last week against protesters who were rallying against Jakarta's plan to create new provinces in the country's easternmost region.
People took to the streets on Friday in areas across Papua, such as Yahukimo, Paniai, Nabire and Jayapura, to once again oppose the plan.
At least 25 people were injured when the police dispersed demonstrations in the four towns and arrested 44 protesters, according to Amnesty International Indonesia.
“Indigenous Papuans have a right to peacefully protest against government policies without running the risk of being arrested or beaten,” Amnesty International Indonesia executive director Usman Hamid said in a statement on Friday. “These repeated incidents show that the state has no respect for the voices of indigenous Papuans.”
Indigenous Papuans and activists have repeatedly raised concerns over Jakarta’s plan to establish new provinces, fearing it would be used as a pretext to tighten government control over Papua. Over the past months, representatives from Papua have also been meeting with government agencies, human rights groups and other stakeholders to voice their concerns over new policies and demanded the resolution of human rights cases. But Jakarta remains unmoved and continues excluding Papuans in the plan to form new provinces, which it says is necessary due to Papua's vast size and to accelerate development.
Read also: Listen to Papuans, residents say, as govt pushes for security buildup
Friday was not the first time law-enforcement authorities have used excessive force to handle protests in Papua.
