Team to investigate Irian Jaya rights abuses<\/p>\n
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): An independent team to investigate
\nhuman rights abuses in Irian Jaya will be set up by the National
\nCommission on Human Rights, members said here on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Clementino dos Reis Amaral and Albert Hasibuan said the team
\nwould focus especially on the shooting on July 6, 1998 in Biak,
\nwhen hundreds of Irianese hoisting a West Papua \"Morning Star\"
\nflag were attacked by security personnel.<\/p>\n
Amaral and Hasibuan told the media at the end of a meeting
\nwith community leaders and nongovernmental groups here that they
\nhad come on the invitation of the Catholic Church of the Jayapura
\nDiocese, the Evangelical Christian Church and the Indonesian
\nBible Camp Church, and the Institute for Human Rights Studies and
\nAdvocacy (IHRSTAD).<\/p>\n
Different versions were reported over the shooting in Biak.
\nThe government said one died from bullet wounds. Meanwhile, a
\nyear of investigations by the above groups revealed that eight
\nwere killed, while locals reported more.<\/p>\n
The groups also found three went missing after the incident.<\/p>\n
Some 5,000 Irianese held a peaceful demonstration on Monday
\ndemanding the government to hold a workshop on what community
\nleaders and activists have said was the neglected problem of
\nIrianese.<\/p>\n
Community leaders have raised objections to the government's
\nplan to divide Irian Jaya into three provinces, saying the
\ngovernment did not consult the Irianese. (34)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/team-to-investigate-irian-jaya-rights-abuses-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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