Indonesian Military Shoot at West Papua Protestors, Kill 5

Indonesian military and police shot at civilian protestors in the highlands region of Paniai Monday.

Australian newspaper ​The Age reports that the facts leading to the situation are “disputed,” however the Indonesian military are known for their repression of the Free West Papua Movement. The Indonesian government has also been criticized for placing strict controls on journalists as a bid to suppress unfavorable information about its treatment of activists.

Local newspaper Suara Papua reported that a crowd had gathered to protest against a group of Indonesian soldiers who they claimed had beaten a 12-year-old boy the night before. According to the paper, a group of boys stopped a military vehicle to complain that it was being driven without headlights. The newspaper states that the soldiers returned to base, then went back to the boys with reinforcements and beat them one of them up.

According to newspaper Suara Wiyaimana, three of the protesters killed were high school students.

West Papuans have been struggling for independence since the 1960s after their country was occupied by Indonesia.