Reports emerging from Indonesia's Papua province indicate that three civillians were killed by security forces in response to a riot which stemmed from a police shakedown on an illegal gambling den.
West Papua Media reports that three West Papuans from the Yali tribe who were students residing in the provincial capital were killed when a riot broke out at Youtefa market in Abepura.
The market was the scene of a gambling ring which local police allegedly routinely tolerate in return for a cut of proceedings to supplement their salary.
However, on July 2nd at the market, a melee broke out when police were attempting a shakedown on the gambling operators and a police officer was stabbed.
In response, according to ground reports, a police squad squad attacked a group of civillians, injuring several and killing three.
Indonesian police refused several attempts by WPM to provide a response to these allegations.
It says arbitrary arrests, shootings and unprovoked beatings on civilians by security forces intensified ahead of the July 9 Indonesian presidential election.
