WEST PAPUA: Police beat witness

On August 28, three people accused of participating in a March 16 demonstration appeared before the Jayapura district court. When they were transported back to the prison, they were met by dozens of police officers, who severely beat 20-year-old Nelson Rumbiak, who was with the accused. Rumbiak was taken to Abepura hospital, where his medical examination was interrupted by police, intelligence officers and members of the Indonesian Armed Forces. Rumbiak was targeted because on August 23, he had been examined in court as a witness for the prosecution. All the prosecution witnesses refuted their interrogation reports at that hearing, because these had been obtained through police torture. In an August 31 letter, the Australia West Papua Association's Joe Collins called on Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to guarantee Rumbiak's safety, ensure he is provided with medical care, to investigate the police involved in this incident and to "ensure that the panel of judges handle the case with due process applying the principle of innocence before guilt and safeguard the rights of the accused".

From GLW issue 682