At 5.30 in the morning of July 6, 1998, in Biak, an island off the north coast of West Papua, Indonesian troops opened fire on peaceful Papuan demonstrators.
Between 500 and 1,000 Papuans had gathered from July 2 to July 6 after having raised the "Morning Star" flag on top of a 35 metre water-tower. The "Morning Star" flag is a symbol of West Papuans' determination to become independent from Indonesia.
Dozens of bodies were washed ashore shortly after the Biak massacre. Claims at the time by the Indonesian authorities that the bodies were victims of a tidal-wave disaster in neighbouring Papua Guinea have been dismissed: the tsunami happened on July 17, eight days after the bodies were washed ashore. A local human rights spokesperson, Johanes Bonay asked: "Do Papua New Guineans wear Golkar or Indonesian student group T-shirts" referring to the fact that one body was clad in the uniform of an Indonesian high school association and another in the t-shirt of an Indonesian political party.
Calls by the leading West Papuan human rights organisation, ELS-HAM, and the three main churches in West Papua for an independent, international investigation have still not been answered.
West Papua Action held a Vigil in Dublin to commemorate the Biak massacre on Saturday July 1, 2000 at the entrance to St. Stephen's Green.
Music was provided by Pádhraic Ó Láimhín (uilleann pipes) and speeches given by Tom Hyland and Dr. John May.
There was also a visual element to the vigil with a Replica of Biak water-tower where Indonesian troops opened fire on unarmed West Papuans .
PRESS COVERAGE:
The Irish Times printed a notice of the commemoration of the Biak massacre on Friday June 30, and also printed two notices on Sat. July 1, 2000 - one on its Home News pages, and one in the World News section.
National television channel TV3 covered the event on its 5.30pm main news programme with footage of the commemoration.
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Human Rights Watch: Human Rights Actions and Pro-Independance Actions In Irian Jaya December 1998
An Extremely Detailed Report From Human Rights Watch detailing the events leading up to the massacre, the events on the day and the injustices carried out in the aftermath.
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Witness to a Bloodbath
Lindsay Murdoch
Sydney Morning Herald, November 14, 1998
A Detailed Report From The Herald's Correspondent in Jakarta
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Biak massacre verified
Lindsay Murdoch
Sydney Morning Herald, Tuesday, July 13, 1999
A follow up Report From The Herald's Correspondent in Jakarta
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| | Probe sought over corpses | | |
Probe sought over corpses
Vaudine England
South China Morning Post Tuesday, July 13, 1999
A brief Report outlining the claims of a massacre a year after the event.
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