Bloody Biak Tragedy Incident Commemorated

2008 Biek Berdarah - Bloody Biak Tragedy Incident Commemorated

Several dozen people gathered yesterday in Jayapura to commemorate the Bloody Biak Tragedy on 6 July 2008. There were many casualties, including deaths, injuries and many arbitrary detentions by the army and the police, which are an example of the continual sufferings of the Papuan people.

In a demonstration organised by the Solidarity with Papuan Victims of Human Rights Violations, the coordinator Peneas Lokbere said:

'This was a humanitarian tragedy, inflicted on ordinary Papuans simply for having unfurled the Morning Star flag, which was flown at the top of a water fountain, 35 metres high, in the vicinity of the Biak harbour.'

During the demonstration, many of those present shouted Papua Merdeka, while Peneas Lokbere said that there had been numerous human rights violations over the years, none of which had been properly dealt with.

Although a Papuan branch of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) was set up in 2004 as the result of international pressure, it had not been able to do much. 'It has failed to carry out its work of investigating all human rights violations that have occurred in Indonesia,' he said.

The organisations that were involved in the demonstration raised the following demands:

That the Indonesian government accept responsibility for all the human rights cases that have occurred in the Land of Papua,. That the Komnas HAM immediately form a fact-finding team to investigate and deal with all cases of state violations in the Land of Papua. That the governors of the provinces of Papua and West Papua along with the provincial legislative bodies push for an official evaluation of the security situation in the Land of Papua. Rejection of the existence of military commands (kodam) and a naval base in Papua. That all political prisoners be released unconditionally.

The demonstration proceeded peacefully, without causing traffic congestion. A police special company was present but only stood around in front a supermarket, doing nothing..

Peneas said that the organisations involved were concerned to ensure that the law enforcement agencies deal with the human rights violations that have occurred in Papua. 'This demonstration is an expression of our concern at the way cases have been dealt with by Komnas HAM in Papua, in particular the Bloody Biak Incident two years ago.'

ENDS

© Scoop Media