Indonesia Police apologize for using Snake during Interrogation
Indonesia’s Papua province police have apologized after interrogators used a snake in an attempt to extract a confession from a suspected mobile phone thief, according to a spokesman on Monday.
In a video circulating online, police in Jayawijaya district were seen wrapping a snake around the neck of the suspect as they questioned him and in the background, A policeman’s voice asking the suspect, “How many times have you stolen a cellphone?” could be heard with the man(Suspect) screaming in fear.
In response to this report, Papuan Police spokesman, Suryadi Diaz, said “Many people saw his action but he didn’t confess, and that made the officer angry, the method is wrong and we have apologized,” he said, adding that one officer had been disciplined.
Diaz further stated that the snake was tame and had been kept as a pet at the Jayawijaya police station for some time to scare drunkards, who often caused trouble in the neighbourhood.
“They usually fled after they saw the snake,” he said.
“Inhumane treatment against Papuans is regularly reported,” said Veronica Koman, A lawyer, who advocates for human rights in Papua, they (police) often used snakes while interrogating Papuans, including those arrested for suspected separatist activities. She stated further, “When this snake video surfaced, many Papuans, particularly activists, who have been in and out of jail for political reasons, said that they have long known that snakes are being used by police and military.”
Security forces have long been accused of human rights abuses while conducting counter-insurgency operations and their latest action has proved that to be true.
In a video circulating online, police in Jayawijaya district were seen wrapping a snake around the neck of the suspect as they questioned him and in the background, A policeman’s voice asking the suspect, “How many times have you stolen a cellphone?” could be heard with the man(Suspect) screaming in fear.
In response to this report, Papuan Police spokesman, Suryadi Diaz, said “Many people saw his action but he didn’t confess, and that made the officer angry, the method is wrong and we have apologized,” he said, adding that one officer had been disciplined.
Diaz further stated that the snake was tame and had been kept as a pet at the Jayawijaya police station for some time to scare drunkards, who often caused trouble in the neighbourhood.
“They usually fled after they saw the snake,” he said.
“Inhumane treatment against Papuans is regularly reported,” said Veronica Koman, A lawyer, who advocates for human rights in Papua, they (police) often used snakes while interrogating Papuans, including those arrested for suspected separatist activities. She stated further, “When this snake video surfaced, many Papuans, particularly activists, who have been in and out of jail for political reasons, said that they have long known that snakes are being used by police and military.”
Security forces have long been accused of human rights abuses while conducting counter-insurgency operations and their latest action has proved that to be true.
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