[This is a slightly summarised translation of an account of events in Sorong, West Papua on 2 July by IHRSTAD, the Jayapura-based Institute for Human Rights Studies and Advocacy - Tapol.]

On 2 July, around ten thousand native Irian Jayans held a demonstration outside the building of the second-level legislative assembly (DPRD-II) in Sorong. The participants came from all parts of the town including Remu, Kampung Baru, Melano as well as from outside the town, assembling at the DPRD-II at 8am. They arrived in trucks, taxis and on foot. The demonstration was organised by the Students and Community Reform Forum of Sorong, headed by Petrus Sewa, with Robby Kambuaya as secretary.

They entered the DPRD-II building to hand in a statement. As they did so, they sang songs, danced and shouted slogans. Their statement reads as follows:

We firmly support the Independence of West Papua proclaimed on 1 July 1971 in Jayapura;

We demand that the government of Professor B.J. Habibie grant West Papua its independence as soon as possible;

We demand the release of all OPM (Free Papua Movement) political prisoners who are being held in Kalisosok Prison, Surabaya, in Madura and in Cipinang Prison, Jakarta;

We demand the withdrawal from West Papua of the Indonesian armed forces, ABRI which has spread disorder and murdered thousands of West Papuans from 1965-1998 and demand the withdrawal of all Indonesians from West Papua;

We draw attention to the Rome Agreement signed by former Indonesian president, Suharto;

We draw attention to the letter from members of the American Congress dated 26 May 1998 addressed to the Republic of Indonesia regarding West Papua's right to determine its own future;

We demand the revocation of the unlawful "act of free choice" conducted in West Papua in 1969;

We demand the cancellation of all political statements made by youth leaders, veterans, tribal chieftains, the government, society leaders to the effect that land in West Papua is part of the motherland of the Republic of Indonesia;

A team from the National Human Rights Commission, Komnas HAM, should come and visit us in Sorong as quickly as possible.

When their aspirations were not accepted, the mass of demonstrators got caught up in acts of violence, burning down the DPRD-II building. Shops in several districts of the city were also smashed and burnt as well as the car of the district chief of Sorong.

Face with this outburst of anger, members of the security forces opened fire on the demonstrators. Two people were hit. Mother Mina Sangkek still has a bullet lodged in her body and she has undergone blood transfusions at the Sorong General Hospital. A student was hit in the thigh. The demonstrators were deeply angered by this and turned on the resort military commander, Lt-Colonel Nico Obaja Woru. He too is now undergoing treatment in hospital.

Observers say that a clash is likely to erupt between Buginese who have moved into the area (from South Sulawesi) and the natives of Sorong. According to the latest information received when we phoned Sorong, altogether five people were woundeded when the security forces opened fire.

Menase Karet was hit in the head. Andreas Sawyai, 29, was hit in the right arm. Hans Kambuaya, 34, was hit in the head. Melki Burkowsyom, 35, was hit in the leg. Minah Sangkek was also hit in the leg. One person, a school pupil from the Kapisa clan, has died from gunshot wounds.