Human Rights Watch has called for the president to establish an independent investigation into the deaths of protesters and the ongoing violence in Papua.

"Papuans peacefully calling for independence does not justify a deadly crackdown," said Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "President Yudhoyono has an opportunity to show Papuans that he's concerned about their rights by seriously investigating these deaths."

Six people were reported killed and dozens were injured in Jayapura on Oct. 19 after Indonesian security forces fired warning shots to break up a large gathering of Papuans in support of independence. The government has denied firing on the demonstrators, but several witnesses have issued statements to the contrary.

In addition, witnesses say that security forces pistol-whipped or beat those they arrested with rattan canes and batons, resulting in several injuries.

"Police and military personnel have also been the victims of violence in Papua," Pearson said, referring to the Oct. 24 shooting of Mulia police chief, Dominggus Oktavianus Awes, in Puncak Jaya. "But police investigations have been woefully inadequate, and there's a need for independent investigations into this escalating violence."