Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Amnesty reports serious abuse by Indonesian police

Posted at 01:54 on 25 June, 2009 UTC

A new report by the organisation, Amnesty International, says Indonesian police routinely bash and torture suspects, and demand money and sex in exchange for better treatment.

The report called "Unfinished Business: Police Accountability in Indonesia" says some of Indonesia’s most marginalised people suffer the worst treatment.

The organisation’s deputy director in New Zealand, Rebecca Emery, says this includes people in the Papua region.

Ms Emery says the report contains some shocking testimony.

“Since the national Indonesian police separated from the military in 1999, it has undertaken significant reforms, even though these reforms have been undertaken, the actual practice with regards to policing haven’t reflected human rights improvements. There’re a lot of violations and abuses, which are still deeply rooted in Indonesian policing.”

Rebecca Emery says the Indonesian government must acknowledge the abuse and try to stamp it out.