Irianese students slam UK role in 1996 massacre
Irianese students slam UK role in 1996 massacre
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Students rallied here on Thursday
demanding the British and South African parliaments take
responsibility for the alleged involvement of their soldiers and
mercenaries in a 1996 hostage-release operation.
Some 150 Irianese students demonstrated outside the provincial
legislative council against the reported involvement of soldiers
from the British Special Army Service and mercenaries from
Executive Outcomes, a company of mercenaries from the Republic of
South Africa whose headquarters is in England, in the operation.
Separatist rebels of the Free Papua Movement were then holding
24 hostages, including four Britons, a German and a Dutchman, in
Mapnduma district and surroundings villages. The hostages had
been on the scientific Lorentz Expedition.
The students were received by Abraham Kuruwaib, deputy council
speaker and a number of Irian Jaya Military and state officials.
Student leader Aplin Yarangga reported that locals in Keneyam
and Nggeselema villages saw 16 foreign soldiers in the military
operation, which succeeded in freeing the hostages but left at
least 12 villagers dead. According to rights and church
activists, a crackdown followed the operation in which many
Irianese were massacred, raped, tortured and dispossessed.
"The two countries should be held responsible for killing
Indonesians in the operation," Yarangga said.
The students also demanded the International Court of Justice
to investigate the involvement of former president Soeharto,
former Indonesian Military Chief Feisal Tanjung, and former
Army's Special Force (Kopassus) commander Prabowo Subianto.
The students also accused former commander of Trikora Military
Command Dunidja, former commander of Wamena Military District
Ayub Sumerta, and Brig. Gen. Hotman Siagian, who is currently the
Irian Jaya Police chief, of allowing foreign soldiers to enter
Indonesia's territory and slaughter its citizens in Mapnduma.
The students also insisted that the International Committee of
the Red Cross (ICRC) immediately send a special team to
investigate the alleged involvement of an ICRC staff member and
misuse of its logo and flag in the operation.
The ICRC has denied the allegation.
Yarangga also reported that during the hostage-taking
situation, troops raped and tortured locals. Quoting reports from
a three-year investigation conducted by rights and church
activists, the students revealed that at least seven women were
sexually harassed. Two of the victims were 11 years old, and
another one was a toddler of three years old.
Yarangga also said a number of people were killed and
tortured.
The students demanded the Indonesian Military Chief to take
responsibility for human rights abuses in Irian Jaya.
"An independent team should be formed to investigate those
involved in human rights violations and to drag them to the court
of justice," stated Yarangga.
"The Indonesian Military chief has to guarantee the safety of
the victims, witnesses and all people... Irian Jaya from
intimidation and threats during the proposed investigation," the
students demanded. (34/05)