AU-Voice baptist, - Indonesia faces fresh criticism over human rights record after one year of continuing riots and imprisoning prominent political activists in Papua.
In its annual report on the state of human rights worldwide, Amnesty International also criticized the Indonesian government for what it described as a sufficient response to a persistent attack on minority religions.
But the report is protected by the toughest criticisms for alleged torture and unnecessary use of excessive force by the military, especially in the volatile provinces of Papua and Maluku.
Which quoted News.smh.com.au/
It pointed to a raft of violations in Papua in 2011, including in October when security forces fired on participants in an independence campaign in the city of Abepura, after which three people were found dead.
"In many cases of violence by security forces, including during the Freeport and Papua Third People's Congress strike in October, no one has yet to take responsibility, perpetuating an atmosphere in Papua," Amnesty spokesman Josef Benedict said.
Amnesty International filed a request in January seeking access to Papua but has not received a response from the Indonesian government.
Foreign journalists and non-governmental organizations are effectively banned from entering the province of Papua.
More than 300 people were arrested while video after the rally in Abepura showed police beating unarmed protesters, including children.
Five Papuan leaders were later accused of treason and sentenced to three years in prison after declaring provincial independence at the rally.
The report also raises questions over the failure of the authorities to investigate allegations of torture from 21 political activists in Maluku by officers from Densus 88, an anti-terrorism unit that received funding and training from Australia.
It is said that at least 90 political activists in Papua and Maluku have been jailed last year for their peaceful political activities.
The Amnesty International report released as Indonesia is preparing to provide its own assessment of human rights records at the UN Human Rights Council's headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, in the future.
Speaking before submitting the report, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said Indonesia had made significant progress in dealing with human rights.
However, he said the issue of "inter-religious tolerance is very important in Indonesian diplomacy in bilateral and multilateral forums".
"We must resolve this incident, otherwise the international community will get a false picture of Indonesia," Dr Natalegawa said.
It was thrown into the spotlight in February last year when three members of the Ahmadiyya minority sect were stoned to death in a village in West Java by a rampaging mass of 1500 people.
By the end of 2011, at least 18 Christian churches have also been either attacked or forced to close.
"In many cases, police failed to protect religious and other minority groups from the attack," Amnesty International said.
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