The Biak Massacre – Seeking Justice After Fifteen Years

The Biak Massacre – Seeking Justice After Fifteen Years

A Citizens Tribunal 6 July 1998 – 6 July 2013

Shortly after Indonesia’s President Suharto was forced out of office by a popular uprising in May 1998, the people of West Papua began channeling this democratic energy in a new direction.  Hundreds of peaceful West Papuans took to the streets in July 1998, demanding that the Indonesian government give them the opportunity to vote on the issue of independence.  On the island of Biak demonstrators occupied the harbor, refusing to leave until the government met their demands. Indonesian security forces surrounded these unarmed protesters at dawn and began firing into the crowd.  Scores were killed.  Many survivors of this initial assault were loaded onto boats, brought into open ocean, and dumped overboard to drown.  Investigations by national and international human rights organizations were thwarted by Indonesian authorities.  Calls for a formal inquiry by the government and relevant international bodies have been ignored.

Citizens of the world—from Asia, Melanesia, Australia, and the Americas—are uniting on the fifteenth year anniversary of this massacre.   We are assembling a distinguished international team of jurists who will hear eyewitness testimony from survivors and issue a formal decree.  Prima facie evidence for all of the essential facts of this case will be presented and the Indonesian government will be invited to mount a defence.

Tickets are available on a sliding scale.  If you would like one for free, please select that option. If you would like to donate any funds they will go directly to the costs of hosting this event.  The survivors of the Biak massacre who will be testifying at the tribunal will receive any remaining funds.

Register for a ticket now.  Only people with valid tickets and identification will be allowed in the venue.

Tickets: http://biak-6july.eventbrite.com.au

ENDS

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