Human rights organization Amnesty says the man tortured in a viral video from Indonesian-occupied West Papua has died from his injuries, ABC News reports.
- Even if he is an armed rebel, he must not be tortured, says Usman Hamid, spokesperson for Amnesty in Jakarta.
The incident is believed to have occurred in connection with an Indonesian military operation in February this year. Indonesian military have been blamed for the brutal torture of the man, who is sitting in a water-filled barrel in the video.
"Even though it is extreme and shocking, the video shows nothing but how Indonesia acts in my country every day," said independence leader Benny Wenda, who is in exile abroad, to ABC News.
West Papua is formally part of Indonesia, but many of the area's residents demand independence. Indonesia's military says it is investigating the incident, but has not confirmed its involvement in the events.
.........................................
Torture video shakes Indonesian rule in West Papua
Video clips circulating on the internet showing what is claimed to be a West Papuan man being tortured by Indonesian soldiers are putting intense pressure on Indonesia's president, The Guardian reports.
The video clips show how a man sitting in a water-filled oil drum is beaten with hands and sticks, and cut with a knife.
- We strongly hope that our soldiers are not involved in such heinous acts, but if it turns out to be true, then those involved must be held accountable in accordance with the law, says a spokesperson for the Indonesian government, according to the newspaper.
Indonesia occupied the former Dutch colony of West Papua in 1963, and has in some cases brutally suppressed the residents' demands for independence.
Inga kommentarer:
Skicka en kommentar