STUDENTS CALL FOR IRIAN JAYA WITNESS PROTECTION

STUDENTS CALL FOR IRIAN JAYA WITNESS PROTECTION

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (July 17, 1999 – Jakarta Post)—Students have demanded protection for witnesses and relatives of victims of the July 1998 military shooting of protesters in Biak.

On Friday, they said that only with a security guarantee could the witnesses testify over the incident, which was responsible for up to 40 deaths and injuries to dozens of others.

“We want a written statement from local authorities guaranteeing the safety of these people,” Septinus Inggabouw, a student leader, said.

Irian Jaya Governor Freddy Numbery met with the students, and approved the demand.

“Basically I, the Irian Jaya Military Commander (Maj. Gen. Amir Sembiring) and Irian Jaya Police Chief (Brig. Gen. Hotman Siagian) are ready to issue the security guarantee,” Freddy said.

Local military admitted to one death during the shooting incident in Biak to disperse hundreds of Irianese who hoisted a West Papua “Morning Star” flag in July last year.

After a year of investigation into the incident, the Evangelical Christian Church and Indonesian Bible camp Church released their findings earlier this month. Their report indicates at least eight deaths, three missing persons and 37 injured (four of whom were crippled), and with 32 more bodies found floating on Biak River.

http://archives.pireport.org/archive/1999/july/07%2D20%2D16.html