Irian Jaya: The Biak Massacre - Indonesia

November 1998
We show evidence of the Indonesian military's murder of civilians in July 1998, who dared to support the Free West Papua movement.

Since Indonesia took control of Irian Jaya in the mid-1960s, people in Biak have dreamt of independence. Many support the OPM -- the rag-tag 'Free West Papua' guerrillas. But with their homemade weapons and rusting rifles, they have posed a limited threat to the Indonesian military. Yet in July, emboldened by the fall of Suharto, people in Biak raised the OPM's flag -- with tragic consequences. Displaying his wounds to the camera this man recalls the nightmare: "We heard the forces coming up...in front of us there were six bodies, all with bullet wounds. There was blood everywhere." Secret videotape shows those walls peppered with bullets with personal belongings scattered everywhere. Business consultant, Rebecca Casey remembers the gunfire. But the worst atrocity may have occurred at sea. The OPM claim that over 100 people were herded onto Indonesian ships. There are stories of rape, torture and murder with the bodies being thrown into the sea. Indonesian officials deny it occurred claiming bodies that washed ashore were victims of the massive tidal wave that struck 11 days later. But from the people of Biak there are plenty of witnesses who attest to a brutal massacre.

Produced by ABC Australia
Distributed by Journeyman Pictures

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Irian
• Jaya
• Indonesia
• Biak
• massacre
• military
• murder
• Free
• West
• Papua
• movement
• OPM
• guerrillas
• journeyman
• pictures
• news
• documentary
• current affairs
• journeyman pictures

[budig22]

west people always trying to divisive east people after that they will colonize...

most people in the video are not educated so it is easy to be provoked by the west ...

LONG LIVE NKRI

Stick together and do not make them back to colonize this country....

[MegaBomb66]

Remember east timor indonesia? we slaughtered your whole militia on arrival. West Papua will end up the same.

[DANI041978]

SANGAT SETUJU..... keluarkanlah Papua dari NKRI.....Biar mereka rasakan kembali jajahan dari orang Bule...yang selalau meghasut seperti dengan mengunggah video ini....The independence is your mask asshole ... Your reasons is stale. Make it happen as like in Iraq, afganisthan, which by reason of stale for take country's wealth. after finished, they'll leave feeling more needy .. hahahahaha ... go go Papua....!!

[lukegeimer]

You will not find the word Religion in the Bible.

[feckdrinkgirls]

West Papua is NOT a part of Indonesia today, no more than Poland was a part of Nazi Germany in the 40's.

Free West Papua

[honourhind1]

@TheViomuza yes ur right there are other problems but it all starts after religion comes in to existence as it starts dividing people on materialistic benefits, my comments are not intended particularly for the tribes of west papua but in general for all the tribes across the world who are persecuted by religions

[TheViomuza]

@honourhind1

I cannot agree with you. The main reason for violence all around the world is not religion, but oil, gold and other stuffs like diamonds and so on... Of course sometime there is riligious war also, but the main problem still is THE POWER TO RULE... it all about politics and power. I thing you schould read something about the problems in West Papua before you say something like that.

[jhempaulify]

that movie is scary?

[mangubatsociety]

ampota ang pangit

[honourhind1]

I think the tribes have to be left alone,white man convert them to christians and leave them to fend for themselves ,religion is the main reason that there is so much violence all across the world ,I think they were peaceful with their indigenous customs and traditions...its high time that we all humans reject all religions and live peacefully for a better future for our kids