24 Oct 2012
By Stefan Armbruster
There are unconfirmed reports of deaths during a crackdown against independence activists in the Papuan provinces of Indonesia.
Indonesian television has shown security forces firing weapons and beating people while breaking up a rally in the town of Manokwari.
Authorities say they were provoked by stone throwers, a number of its troops were injured and that they only fired into the air as a warning.
Human rights monitors and foreign media are restricted by the Indonesian government from entering the region but one local journalist reported he was bashed by security forces.
Greens spokesman for West Papua Senator Richard Di Natale told Stefan Armbruster the Australian Government needs to speak up about the issue.
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