25-3-2024 (JAKARTA) The Indonesian army issued an unprecedented apology on Monday, announcing the arrest of 13 soldiers following the emergence of a video depicting the torture of a man by troops in Papua, a region marked by prolonged clashes between armed separatists and security forces.
The disturbing footage, circulating on Indonesian social media, portrayed a Papuan man submerged in a barrel of bloodied water and subjected to cuts with a blade. Senior army officer Izak Pangemanan confirmed the authenticity of the video, revealing that the incident occurred in February.
Addressing reporters, Pangemanan condemned the action as unlawful, stating, “This action is against the law, tarnished the name of the military, and disrupted efforts to handle conflicts in Papua.” He disclosed that the 13 soldiers implicated in the incident, along with others, remain under investigation.
“I apologise to all Papuans, and we will work to ensure this is never repeated,” Pangemanan pledged.
The army official asserted that the man depicted in the video was a separatist who, along with two others, had allegedly plotted to set fire to a health centre in Central Papua. He clarified that the individual had been released following the incident.
However, human rights organisation Amnesty International, which monitors violence in Papua, stated that the man had succumbed to his injuries. The group called for accountability not only for the arrested soldiers but also for higher-ranking officers involved.
Papua, known for its abundant natural resources, has been embroiled in violence between armed separatists and security forces since it was integrated into Indonesia through a UN-supervised vote in 1969. The conflict has intensified notably since 2018, with pro-independence fighters launching more lethal and frequent attacks, partly due to their acquisition of advanced weaponry.
Security forces allege that in some clashes, separatists have targeted and killed police and soldiers.
