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Indonesia - Source: ONE News -
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The Green Party is demanding the Defence Force explain why an officer from Indonesia's Kopassus Special Forces received training in New Zealand.
Human rights groups have linked Kopassus to numerous human rights violations in West Papua, East Timor, and Aceh.
Radio New Zealand reported yesterday that Kopassus Major Edwin Sumanta attended a course at the Staff and Command College at Trentham last year.
A Defence Force spokesperson told the radio station the reason for Sumanta's visit was too sensitive for public comment, but Green MP Catherine Delahunty said that is not acceptable.
"Military violence in West Papua by unaccountable groups like Kopassus have been a matter of international concern, notably by Human Rights Watch," Delahunty said in a statement.
"The revelation of the Defence Force involvement with Kopassus is particularly disturbing given the assassinations of West Papuan community leaders, burning of villages and abuse of citizens in the last week.
"The Defence Force's role in training someone from a military unit well known for human rights abuses compromises the reputation of New Zealand and connects us to the suppression of human rights in West Papua."
Delahunty said New Zealand should be acting as a mediator between Indonesian and West Papuan leaders.