Indonesian forces raid Papuan independence gathering

2012-08-22 166

Indonesian forces have raided a meeting of the Papuan independence movement, killing at least two of its members and arresting hundreds more.

Rights group Amnesty International is asking the government to release the leaders, who have been charged with treason.

Papuan groups have also requested that the United Nations investigate the violence.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian government defended the security forces response, saying participants of Wednesday's meeting were committing a coup d'etat.

Journalists are banned from travelling to Papua, but Al Jazeera obtained exclusive footage of the raid.

Step Vaessen reports from Jakarta.