ICRC told to probe Irian Jaya killings

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Nduga and Amungsa tribespeople in Jayawijaya regency have demanded that the Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) investigate killing which occurred in Mapnduma district in 1996.

In a statement made available to The Jakarta Post on Wednesday, the highland tribespeople also accused ICRC's Southeast Asia office in Jakarta of involvement in the massacre.

Witnesses claim that a plane bearing the Red Cross logo transported military personnel in the operation.

The killings took place from January to May 1996 when the Indonesian Military was trying to gain the release of 24 people abducted by the Free Papua Movement (OPM).

At least 12 people were reportedly killed during the military operation led by the then commander of the Army's Special Force (Kopassus), Brig. Gen. Prabowo Subianto. Two of the hostages were killed by unidentified people.

Johanes Bonay, the executive director of the Institute of Human Rights Studies and Advocacy (IHRSTAD) said the tribespeople were advised to report to the Geneva-based ICRC after the House of Representatives failed to respond to similar reports in August by IHRSTAD, the Catholic Church, the Evangelical Christian Church and the Indonesian Bible Camp Church.

The tribespeople also asked Geneva ICRC to investigate the alleged involvement of British SAS intelligence in the military operation.

The statement signed by 894 Irianese also said that ICRC should make public the result of the investigation and support the legal processing of those involved in the massacre. "Otherwise its credibility will be ruined." (34)