Photo: AFP/ Andrew Gal
Racism, torture and arbitrary arrests are some examples of discrimination indigenous Papuans have dealt with over the last 60 years from Indonesia, according to a new report by Human Rights Watch.
The report, If It's Not Racism, What Is It? Discrimination and other abuses against Papuans in Indonesia said the Indonesian government denies Papuans basic rights, like education and adequate health care.
Human Rights Watch researcher Andreas Harsono said Papuan people have been beaten, kidnapped and sexually abused for more than six decades.
"I have heard about this day to day racism since I had my first Papuan friend when I was in my 20s in my college, it means that over the last 40 years, that kind of story keeps on going on today," Harsono said.
"Regarding torture again this is not something new."
The report said infant mortality rates in West Papua in some instances are close to 12 times higher than in Jakarta.
Papuan children are denied adequate education because the government has failed to recruit teachers, in some instance's soldiers have stepped into the positions "and mostly teach children about Indonesian nationalism".
It said Papuan students find it difficult to find accommodation with landlords unwilling to rent to them while other ostracised because of their racial identity.
In March, a video emerged of soldiers torturing Definus Kogoya in custody. He along with Alianus Murib and Warinus Kogoya were arrested in February for allegedly trying to burn down a medical clinic in Gome, Highland Papua province.
According to the Indonesian army, Warinus Kogoya died after allegedly "jumping off" a military vehicle.
President-elect Prabowo Subianto's takes government in October.
Harsono said the report was launched Thursday because of it.
"We want this new [Indonesian] government to understand the problem and to think about new policies, new approaches, including to answer historical injustice, social injustice, economic injustice."
Harsono said Subianto has a poor human rights record but he hopes people close to him will flag the report.
He said current president Joko Widodo had made promises while he was in power to allow foreign journalists into West Papua and release political prisoners, but this did not materialise.
When he came to power the number of political prisoners was around 100 and now it's about 200, Harsono said.
He said few people inside Indonesia are aware of the discrimination West Papuan people face, with most only knowing West Papua only for its natural beauty.
