Lest we forget The Biak Massacre occurred 25 years ago

Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)  

Lest we forget   The Biak Massacre occurred  25 years ago .

 

 

Today, the 6 July marks 25 years since the Indonesian security forces massacred scores of people in Biak , West Papua. The victims, included women and children who had gathered for a peaceful rally. They were killed at the base of a water tower flying the Morning Star flag. Other Papuans were rounded up and later taken out to sea where they were thrown off naval ships and drowned.  No Indonesian security force member has been charged or brought to justice for the human rights abuses committed against peaceful demonstrators”. 

 

On the 2 July in 1998, the West Papuan Morning Star flag was raised on top of a water tower near the harbour in Biak. 

Activists and local people gathered beneath it singing songs and holding traditional dances. As the rally continued, many more people in the area joined in with numbers reaching up to 500 people.  On the 6 July the Indonesian security forces attacked the demonstrators, massacring scores of people. The victims included women and children who had gathered for the peaceful gathering were killed at the base of the water tower.  Other Papuans were rounded up and later taken out to sea where they were thrown off naval ships and drowned.  No Indonesian security force member has been charged or brought to justice for the human rights abuses committed against peaceful demonstrators”. 

What is outrageous is that the   Australia Government knew of the Massacre but failed to condemn the Indonesian military.  Shortly after the massacre an Australian military attaché and intelligence officer, Dan Weadon, from the  Jakarta embassy visited Biak.  The  same officer was also handed photographic evidence by West Papuans on Biak.  The photos were distributed to his superiors within defence, but they never saw the light of day. 

New evidence suggests they have since been destroyed by the defence department despite consistent calls for a proper investigation into the atrocity.  It is thanks to West Papuan supporter Anthony Craig who got a copy of the report under FOI laws that we know the photos were destroyed.

 

 

And the oppression continues.

 

The situation in West Papua continues to  deteriorate with ongoing clashes between the Indonesian security forces and the  West Papua National Liberation Army.     West Papuans continue to be arrested at peaceful demonstrations and Papuans risk being charged with treason for taking part in the rallies.  Military operations in the highlands have created  up to 60,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), many facing starvation because they fear returning to their food gardens because of the Indonesian security forces.

Lest we forget  

 ------------------------------