Coalition Meets with European Union (EU) to Discuss Human Rights in Papua

BRUSSELS (BELGIUM) - Church leaders, human rights organisations, academics and international observers have gathered in the capital of the European Union, Brussels, to discuss the human rights situation in Papua.

The organisation, which calls itself the International Coalition for Papua, also met with the European Parliament last week to discuss the situation in the province, alongside the Chargé D'affaires of Indonesia and a range of diplomats.

In a statement, the group says it called on the European Union to highlight ongoing human rights violations in Papua and to send a human rights fact-finding mission to Indonesia in the near future.

It also called on Indonesia to take measures to protect the rights of indigenous Papuans -- who are now a minority in the province as a result of mass migration of Javenese -- including their customary rights over land and natural resources.

It also called for an end to excessive force by security forces and to release all political prisoners whouth any condition and an end to torture with impunity. [RNZ]