Students call for witness protection

Students call for witness protection

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Students here demanded on Friday
protection for witnesses and relatives of victims of the July
1998 military shooting of protesters in Biak.

They said that only with a security guarantee could the
witnesses testify over the incident, which was responsible for up
to about 40 deaths and injured 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, however, the
Evangelical Christian Church and Indonesian Bible camp Church
revealed their findings earlier this month which reported at
least 8 deaths, 3 missing persons, 37 injured, four of whom were
crippled, and 32 more bodies were found floating on Biak river.
(34/edt)