Amnesty International is urging the Indonesian government to investigate the dispersal of a demonstration in Nabire, Papua Province, on Jan. 27, saying the police possibly used excessive force against the protesters and had denied the injured medical treatment afterward.
"The Indonesian authorities should discipline and bring to justice those involved if the force used is found to have been excessive and to have contravened the principles of necessity and proportionality," said a statement posted on Amnesty International's Web site on Tuesday regarding the protest, which left at least five protesters injured by rubber bullets.
"They should also put in place measures and training to ensure that future policing operations conform to international standards."
The incident is the latest in a string of alleged police brutality cases in the province.
The report stated that the incident started when some 100 protesters from a "coalition of people who care about the election of the head of region" rallied in front of the General Elections Commission building in Nabire to demand that local elections be held after several delays. The demonstrators erected a tent which blocked one of the main roads, and refused to dismantle it despite the police urging them to do so.
Amnesty International reported that two days after the occupation, police forcefully dispersed the protesters early in the morning while they were sleeping.
Police were also reported to have shot rubber bullets and kicked and beat some demonstrators with rattan sticks and rifle butts, resulting in bruises and cuts to many protesters.
Following the violent dispersal, according to the statement, police arrested and interrogated Yones Douw, a 40 year-old human rights activist, along with seven other protesters. It further alleged that before the arrest, officers kicked Douw with their boots three times, struck him on the ears and punched him in the face when he attempted to stop the clashes between police and demonstrators.
Amnesty International's Web site said police deprived those arrested of food and drinking water during their one-day detention. They were released on Jan. 30 but were instructed to report to the station each day.
"The police actions may have contravened the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials and the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials," the Web site said. That measure stipulates that force be used only as a last resort and be designed to minimize damage and injury.