Markus Junianto Sihaloho & Reuters – The military struck back bitterly on Thursday against accusations that members of elite special forces had acted with impunity in Papua to detain, torture and beat up ordinary citizens.

Human Rights Watch had urged the government in a report published earlier in the day that it should investigate the alleged abuses and prosecute the offenders and commanding officers in Kopassus.

It also called on countries such as the United States, Australia and Britain to cut training ties with Kopassus until the matter had been fully investigated.

Military spokesman Air Vice Marshall Sagom Tamboen swiftly responded with comments suggesting the report would likely be ignored. "Let them eat the report," he said of New York-based Human Rights Watch.

"We do not need to comment on it because Indonesia is a sovereign country that has police to enforce laws. Any citizens who feel [their rights have been] violated must file complaints with the police, not outsiders. We would never believe such a report unless it provides real evidence that violations have taken place.

"If they do have evidence of violations, why don't they file a crime report with police? And why doesn't the group encourage the victims to do so? Why should they say this outside of the country?"

Tamboen said publication of the report was likely aimed at discrediting the government and its Armed Forces. "They want us, citizens of Indonesia, to not trust at each other and keep fighting," he said.

He said the government and the military had an ongoing commitment to democracy, law enforcement and human rights.

"That is why our neighboring countries still believe in us and keep establishing good relationships with the government and the military," Tamboen said.

"As an example, this month's Garuda Shield joint military exercises [in Indonesia] was conducted with at least 19 countries."

In its report, Human Rights Watch said "the long history of political tensions and abuses by Indonesian security forces in Papua have created a climate of fear in the province."

"Violence thrives when a culture of impunity persists in the heart of what is supposed to be one of Indonesia's best trained fighting units."

Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said he could not respond to the allegations until he had read the report. The spokesman for the military in Papua, Lt. Col. Soesilo, said he was not aware of the allegations.

Kopassus has faced allegations of rights abuses in separatist hot spots such as Aceh, Papua and the former territory of East Timor before the country won independence in 1999. The elite force is currently headed by Major-General Pramono Edhie Wibowo, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's brother-in-law.

One of its earlier leaders was Prabowo Subianto, a former general who is now former President Megawati Sukarnoputri's running mate in the July 8 presidential election.

The rights group alleged that Kopassus troops took residents off the street or from their homes in the Papuan city of Merauke though they had no known ties to the separatist movement.

The report cited testimony from Papuans who said they had been beaten and forced to eat chilli peppers while their mouths were bleeding, causing severe pain.