Pacific

UN Human Rights office concerned about Papua shooting

13:32 pm on 11 December 2014

The United Nations' High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed alarm at the reported killing of five Papuan teenagers by a joint force of Indonesian police and military.

This handout photo taken on December 8, 2014 and released by Indonesian Human Rights Watch shows residents tending to victims after a shooting in Enarotali, Paniai Regency in Indonesia's Papua province. Photo: AFP Indonesian Human Rights Watch

A spokesperson for the office, Rupert Colville, says that while the exact circumstances are unclear, it appears police opened fire on a group protesting outside the police station in Paniai against the beating of a local boy.

The statement says the office is concerned about regular reports of violence in Papua and is urging authorities to facilitate an independent and thorough investigation into the incident.

It says the office will continue to engage with Indonesia's new government on the Papua issue.