Amnesty International has expressed concern that the Indonesian authorities have denied medical care to a prisoner of conscience held in Papua.

Amnesty says Filep Karma, who has been in Abepura Prison in Papua province since 2004, has been seriously ill since last August.

It says doctors have recommended that he receive further treatment in Jakarta, but prison authorities have refused to send him due to a lack of funds.

Amnesty says it believes the denial of medical care to Filep Karma may amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

It says he should be released because his imprisonment is related to his right to peaceful demonstration.