Pacific Churches condemn killing in West Papua

​Pacific churches have condemned the killing of two West Papuans by Indonesian soldiers last week.

And they have called on regional leaders to speak out against summary killings, torture and human rights abuse in the Indonesian-occupied territory.

Reports from Timika, West Papua, say a group of Special Forces troops shot dead two members of the Catholic Youth Group at the Cathedral Parish of the Three Kings Timika.

At the time of the Kamoro people were performing traditional rituals.

Sources say the soldiers, who were refused entry to the area, went to their barracks, returned with weapons and fired on the group.

PCC General Secretary, Rev Francois Pihaatae, said the killings were uncalled for and an indication of Indonesia's contempt.

“Pacific leaders - especially those who have readily invited Indonesia into the Melanesian spearhead Group - have a duty to speak out against these murders,” he said.