On 6 July 1998, more than 150 people, whose intention was solely to raise their flag and struggle for freedom against their oppressors, were killed by the unjust, cruel Indonesian military and police.
Today marks the 28th year after the tragic massacre of Indigenous Peoples and peace demonstrators raising the Morning Star flag in the Kota Biak water tower in West Papua. We dedicate this day to honoring the lives we have lost and the generations of Indigenous Papuans who have long struggled for justice and freedom. To this day, we remember the victims and survivors of the brutality.
The violence did not end on that day; the inhumane and wrongful treatment continued. Survivors were subjected to widespread torture, arbitrary detention, and sexual violence in the aftermath of the open fire. According to the testimonies of survivors, witnesses, and human rights reports, many victims were carried aboard naval vessels and their bodies were dumped into the ocean. Decapitated bodies washed up on the beaches of Biak during the next few days.
To this day, the Indonesian government has never officially acknowledged or investigated the killings. Those responsible had never been held accountable. Justice remained unserved and the calls for truth continue to echo after nearly three decades.
We, the Asia Young Indigenous Peoples Network (AYIPN), stand in unwavering solidarity with the Indigenous Peoples of West Papua. The Biak Massacre remains one of the darkest chapters of West Papua. We commemorate their courage and reaffirm that their stories must never be forgotten or erased.
AYIPN strongly condemns all forms of violence, repression, and human rights violations committed against Indigenous Peoples. We call on governments and the international community to pay closer attention to the worsening situation in West Papua. We believe that lasting peace can only be built through truth, accountability, and full respect for the collective rights of the Indigenous Peoples.
As Indigenous Youth, we will continue to defend our lands, identities, rights, and future. The Papuan struggle is not theirs alone but is collectively shared by all communities suffering in an unjust system. We carry forward the struggle anchored in the pain they have endured just to strengthen the long-persisting fight. Across Asia to the World, our solidarity remains steadfast.
Justice for the victims of the Biak Massacre!
Solidarity with the Peoples of West Papua!
