Baliem Valley campaign
The Baliem Valley campaign or also known as the Central Highlands campaign and the Baliem Valley massacre or the Central Highlands massacre refers to a period of over a year from early July 1977 to late August 1978 when the Indonesian Armed Forces and Air Force, supported by Australian forces, conducted a series of ground and aerial attacks against the Free Papua Movement and the West Papua National Liberation Army during Operation Cenderawasih. The campaign was conducted in the Central Highlands region of Western New Guinea. The campaign was mainly centered in the area in and around the Baliem Valley in Jayawijaya Regency which was then in the province of Irian Jaya, but now is in the province of Highland Papua. Some of the campaign also took place in the neighboring Paniai Regency which is now in the present day Central Papua province.
During the campaign the Indonesian Army allegedly committed attacks on civilian targets, as well as allegedly deliberately targeting valley's ecosystem. Violence against the indigenous and attacks by the OPM against the Indonesian military are still common in region. In 2013 the Australian Defence Force denied that it had been involved in the campaign, but this denial is not supported by contemporaneous reporting on the campaign.
Background
From September 1976 to May 1977 the Indonesian Army purchased 16 OV-10 Broncos from the United States in six batches.It has been claimed, that in early 1977, Indonesia bought several Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopters from Australia. The Royal Australian Air Force also sent several pilots for a six-week mapping exercise.
On 20 April OPM members attacked police officers at a football field in Kobakma killing one and injuring two others. Some time after this attack an Indonesian soldier allegedly shot and killed a civilian, however the Indonesian Army denied any involvement in the shooting and claimed the man was killed in a tribal conflict. The next day the OPM launched several attacks on the military posts in Makki, Pyramid also called Piramid and Kasuraga, they also attacked the villages of Wosilimo and Kimbim.
On 28 July the Kodam XVII/Cenderawasih bombed several villages in the southern Jayapura Regency reportedly killing at least 1,605 people. A RAAF pilot stationed in Timika allegedly witnessed the attack and gave information to an Australian journalist Robin Osborne. The attack was confirmed by the commander of Kodim 1702/Jayawijaya Albert Dien and United States senator John Glenn. They also added that the Indonesian Army also used two Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopters in the attack.
On 29 July a Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopter designated A2-379 reportedly crashed into a jungle ridge 15 km north of Wamena at an altitude of 3,000 meters, due to weather conditions. The helicopter had two pilots and three crewmen, all five were a part of the No. 9 Squadron RAAF. The pilot Flt. Lt. Ralph Nigel Keith Taylor was killed instantly. The other four occupants would survive, the co-pilot Lt. Greg Cashmere was severely injured and was knocked unconscious, crewman Patrick "Paddy" Sinclair was injured when a tree branch came through the floor of the helicopter and hit Sinclair fracturing his pelvis, which later became dislocated after he bent down to try and drag out an unconscious Cashmere from his seat, the two other crewmen were also injured.
Shortly after the crash the survivors attempted to contact the RAAF with a AN/PRC-90 but were not able to make contact, one of the crewmen then used a F1 HF to try and contact the RAAF but allegedly, due to frequency skip, they accidentally contacted the Special Air Service Regiment who were conducting an exercise in Central Australia. The SAS then contacted the relevant authorities and were flown to Darwin and then flown to Wamena in a C-130A to assist in the search.
The next day the wreckage of A2-379 was found after the survivors fired a signal flare at a DHC-4 Caribou, the caribou contacted the RAAF which resulted in the SAS being sent in to rescue the soldiers in A2-149.
A week after the crash of A2-379 in early August an Australian Army Pilatus PC-6 Porter was shot at over the village of Warok, a shell narrowly missed the pilot.
A few months later on 12 October a privately owned Bell 205 helicopter, chartered by the Petromer OH Company crashed in a forest south of Wauo in Western New Guinea, the American pilot was killed while the Indonesian co-pilot survived.
Campaign
It was reported that on 5 July 1977 over 1,000 villagers in the Yamsi-Arso border area were killed in several napalm attacks and bombings.On 22 July, two OV-10 Bronco planes numbered S104 and S114 bombarded the Akimuga villages. The alleged attack only ended after they ran out of ammunition, and it is unclear how many people were killed in the attack.
Between August and September Karubaga, Bokandini, Kulula, Pyramid and Mage were reported as being bombarded by the Indonesian Air Force. At around the same time 4,982 people were allegedly killed in aerial bombardments in Wamena and Jayawijaya.
In Tiom violence against the indigenous population was especially common. Papuans were alleged to sometimes have been attacked with axes, burned alive, sliced with razors and thrown in wells. A tribal leader in Dila, Nalogian Kibak was reportedly killed by the Indonesian Army and the military commander in Nabire, Lt. Col. Soekemi forced several tribal leaders, teachers and priests to drink Kibak's blood at gun point.
Rev. Matius Wenda, who was 8 or 9 at the time has claimed he witnessed several atrocities, including massacres and other abuses. Wenda recalled that he witnessed several military officers force a husband and wife to have sexual intercourse in public under the threat of being killed, the act was filmed and sent to other Indonesians and people abroad to show that the Papuans were like 'animals', he also recalled that he witnessed several soldiers forcibly insert batteries into a woman's vagina while her husband was severely beaten.
One survivor reported that they witnessed Commander Albert Dien summarily execute two civilians in Wamena sometime in 1977.
Sexual violence against women was alleged to be common, some women reportedly had their breasts cut off and sometimes had their internal organs ripped out, many were also raped and often murdered, in some cases soldiers would force hot iron rods into women's rectums until they died, pregnant women often had their stomachs cut open. In the village of Kuyawagi, several pregnant women allegedly had their stomachs cut open with bayonets.
Violence against children was also alleged, in one reported incident a child was beheaded, with the severed head then thrown into a fire, several other children were thrown into the fire and burned alive, a woman who was seven months pregnant was assaulted causing her to miscarry.
Hermanus Himana alleged that he had to flee his home village of Pupuba after four relatives were killed by the Indonesian Army, the first one killed being a teacher named Stab, who was buried alive in Wamena. Stab's brother Seklekema was allegedly killed at a bridge near Wamena, with his body was dumped into a river. Another relative Bayuk was allegedly killed with an axe and then dismembered.
It is believed the Indonesian Army massacred at least 90 people in the village of Korebago.
Separatist communist rebel group OPM alleged that the Indonesian Army gunned down 1,012 people who were attending mass at a church in Kobakma, the Indonesian Army then burnt down the church and looted several homes which they would burn as well, the soldiers also destroyed farms and killed their livestock. The Indonesian Air Force also are alleged to have targeted the Kingmi Church in Bolakme, although it is unclear if anyone was killed in the bombings. The craters left by the bombs are still visible in the form of small ponds in the area.
It is reported that a number of Papuans fought back against the Indonesian Army throughout the campaign. One notable incident was when ten villagers in Pyramid allegedly stole several guns from the army, which they would use to kill five Indonesian soldiers. The following day the an unknown number of villagers were massacred by the army in reprisal.
One survivor of a massacre described how civilians were lined up in a field and shot, the witness maintaining they had survived by pretending to be dead.
At some point the villages of Hullatus and Pyramid were reportedly burned to the ground, an Australian journalist Denis Reinhardt who interviewed several Papuans described the villages as “burned out shells”.
Reinhardt also reported that as many as 90 Papuans were killed in the village of Korebago.
Reinhardt also reported that a group Christian missionaries and an American civilian were allegedly forced by the military to fly over dangerous areas in the valley.
Aftermath
Some human rights groups have accused the Indonesian government of committing a genocide in the valley due to the deliberate killings and forcible relocation of Papuan civilians, alleging many were targeted for their ethnicity and or religion; and that churches and religious leaders were often targets for attacks.Most claims have not been properly substantiated, and it may be possible that OPM and Human Rights organizations may have exaggerated claims. There is a great deal of uncertainty around this event, its causes, the involvement of the OPM in the violence, and the involvement of the Australian military. What is not in doubt is that there was a serious conflict in the Baliem Valley, which can also be viewed in the context of the Suharto regime's sustained campaign of Human Rights abuses across Indonesia during the entire Orde Baru period from 1965 - 1998. After the campaign the Indonesian Army claimed they had never used cluster munitions and napalm against villages in the Baliem Valley.
The following list of effects have also been claimed, but the claims in many cases have never been properly verified:
The rainforest in the Baliem Valley was severely affected in the campaign as it was alleged to have been lit on fire by Indonesian soldiers several times, causing the Indonesian military to be accused of ecocide.
Around half of the villages in the Baliem Valley were alleged to have been burned to the ground.
1,500-3,000 Papuan refugees reportedly fled from West Papua mainly to Papua New Guinea, mostly between 20 and 25 June 1978. A nun who was interviewed by Peter Tatchell, was quoted as saying "I have been told by refugees coming over, of people being cast out to sea in canoes and dropped overboard in copra bags – of people being forced to dig their own graves and being shot into them. I have seen people who have had their eyes torn out by the Indonesians. I’ve heard of people being beaten and sent back to their villages as examples." This nun also reported that she and her colleagues, who had set up a quarantine camp to shelter refugees, contacted the United Nations, who reportedly sent several representatives to interview the nuns and several refugees who were camping out on the PNG side of the border, the representatives concluded that the refugee's claims were genuine and said that their lives "would be in jeopardy" if they were to attempt to return home. In September 1977 around 700 refugees agreed to return to West Papua, but reportedly felt forced to flee again when they found out a platoon of soldiers was waiting for them. In another reported incident a group of refugees returning to West Papua were greeted by the military at an airstrip; the soldiers allegedly took them to a field behind the hangars and gunned them down with automatic weapons.
Casualties
At least 4,146 people are reported to have died, while some estimates place the number of Papuans killed at 26,000 Papuans. Out of the reported 4,146 killed 3,017 were male 1,122 were female most of which were killed in Wosilimo, Kobakma and Yalengga. The genders of the seven Papuans allegedly killed in Prime are unknown.One source has alleged 11,000 of which were killed in Jayawijaya and that 9,000 were killed in Wamena, Pyramid, Kurulu, Kelila, Bokondini and Kobakama, and a further 2,000 were killed in the eastern area of the highlands. It is also alleged that at least 4,000 were killed in Wosilimo which was at least 67% of Wosilimo's population at the time.
It is claimed that more than 1,000 OPM and TPNPB rebels and over 2,000 Indonesian soldiers were also killed. Given the asymmetrical nature of the conflict and the advanced military technology deployed by the TNI a claim of 2000 Indonesians killed alongside only 1000 military casualties among the separatist movements seems, at face value, to be very unlikely. One issue with the ongoing Papua Conflict is the widespread use of misinformation by all combatant factions, making it very hard to separate facts from propaganda.
One RAAF pilot Flt. Lt. Ralph Nigel Keith Taylor also reportedly died during the campaign in a helicopter accident.
Names of the known victims
| Ibele |
| Akur Yelipele |
| Yokilek Yelipele |
| Watlarik Kaloli |
| Olarogo Kalolik |
| Mesalekma Meaga |
| Jigirok |
| Hunik Matuan |
| Lagoner Murip |
| Sapira Murip |
| Woragin Murup |
| Merina Matuan |
| Juliana Murip |
| Ekanonknok Meage |
| Mikha Murip |
| Wiarok Meaga |
| Kabunareka Hilapok |
| Lince Meaga |
| Nagolimo Kaliknie |
| Obakahu Kaliknie |
| Olarogo Kaliknie |
| Mayuken Meaga |
| Ikihago Meaga |
| Kalopalek Meaga |
| Okakarok Meaga |
| Wisigine Wuka |
| Inanewelek Elpore |
| Hubula Meaga |
| Julince Elpore |
| Wamilan Wuka |
| Hiwene Wuka |
| Parnur Wuka |
| Sekanorahe Wuka |
| Awurage Wuka |
| Guaken Kogoya |
| Heakama Wentikpo |
| Asisorlek Mosip |
| Kobatla Elopore |
| Jalipika Hiluka |
| Ruben Dabili |
| Dalok Dabili |
| Fokorogon Wenda |
| Wamokodek Hilapok |
| Oakilelek Hilapok |
| Wulosek Kosay |
| Worokos Hilapok |
| Jiligike Wetipo |
| Diren Wetipo |
| Lagun Wetipo |
| Kabunarekma Hilapok |
| Yewarek Wetipo |
| Yendokhogo Wetipo |
| Milik Wetipo |
| Wugobik Wetipo |
| Mewarik Wetipo |
| Heakhibabik Wetipo |
| Martinus Wetipo |
| Salopiluk Wetipo |
| Nukiagi Wetipo |
| Wumediluk Hilapok |
| Korlo Hilapok |
| Uterek Hilapok |
| Halodek Hilapok |
| Amiladek Hilapok |
| Aipok Hilapok |
| Mago Hilapok |
| Hunik Hilapok |
| Guaken Kogoya |
| Erlehe Hilapok |
| Waisabuke Kogoya |
| Nataniel Hisage |
| Matluke Kosay |
| Obahaluk Kalolik |
| Olarogo Kalolik |
| Lokogama Murib |
| Yulianus Murib |
| Yakidek Jelipele |
| Dirlu Yoman |
| Felelek Wetipo |
| Salogopiluk Hiluka |
| Iomeke Kalolik |
| Kemiri Hiluka |
| Kudi Wetipo |
| Awuwarek Wetipo |
| Jirluoge Mosip |
| Kolapiloke Hiluka |
| Yerina Hiluka |
| Halodek Dabili |
| Horonwareke Hilapok |
| Erage Hilapok |
| Liabuok Kalolik |
| Bisidabuke Kaloik |
| Ekayolekma Mosip |
| Mearogo Hiluka |
| Aburarema Kalolik |
| Obahakerek Hilapok |
| Inapidek Mosip |
| Inarendekhe Mosip |
| Berogo Kalolik |
| Selokhe Hiluka |
| Mamoge Hiluka |
| Mereba Hiluka |
| Moneke Hiluk |
| Isalaku Heluka |
| Elisabet Heluka |
| Atopiluke Hiluka |
| Horege Hiluka |
| Bisi Mosip |
| Wumilage Mosip |
| Hurlil Heiluka |
| Yugusek Wetipo |
| Bisidabu Kalolik |
| Napua |
| Walarik Kalolik |
| Akus Asso |
| Ekiabusak Elopore |
| Nagolikmo Yelipele |
| Mayuken Meage |
| Enleka Yelibele |
| Pate Asso |
| Konene Elopore |
| Nona Yelipele |
| Ekina Tabuni |
| Yawiakom Murib |
| Yatilek Yelipele |
| Obakahaluk Yelipele |
| Eman Asso |
| Yirokunik Tabuni |
| Mesalekma Tabuni |
| Logonogogume Murib |
| Ekanokomeken Murib |
| Olarogo Kalolik |
| Werigin Murib |
| Laki Tabuni |
| Wiyarak Murib |
| Mika Tabuni |
| Yagat Tabuni |
| Sepele Yelipele |
| Urisagi Lani |
| Heletok Yelipele |
| Talapake Kuan |
| Omanen Elopore |
| Papua Yelipele |
| Ipon Asso |
| Weriok Yelipele |
| Uruarik Asso |
| Helamok Elepere |
| Iten Yelipele |
| Tuarik Asso |
| Tiren Wenda |
| Tabuge Murib |
| Tariana Murib |
| Eripuguk Yelipele |
| Weneruk Elopore |
| Walsak Murib |
| Rambulak Murib |
| Warik Murib |
| Eliana Murib |
| Meriana Murib |
| Berina Yelipele |
| Mugutuk Murib |
| Molek Asso |
| Wandepuk Yelipele |
| Prime |
| Turaken Wenda |
| Wes Wanimbo |
| Wewo Wanimbo |
| Piter Wakerwa |
| Pilas Wakerwa |
| Pendekuban Wenda |
| Yangkilek Wanimbo |
| Bimo Wakerwa |
| Kobawi Wanimbo |
| Nanummarak Wanimbo |
| Ruben Kogoya |
| Wurawinabok Wenda |
| Paulus Wanimbo |
| Nelius Wanimbo |
| Danius Wanimbo |
| Depson Murib |
| Juko Wanimbo |
| Pendage Wanimbo |
| Molamendek Wenda |
| Peaka Wanimbo |
| Prewak Kogoya |
| Marius Kogoya |
| Kunume Kogoya |
| Timu Wenda |
| Ameneri Wakerwa |
| Mujuk Wanimbo |
| Enduar Wakerwa |
| Dias Wanimbo |
| Siroakage Wakerwa |
| Es Wanimbo |
| Soleman Wakerwa |
| Maes Wakerwa |
| Prenok Wanimbo |
| Meskina Wanimbo |
| Semuae Wanimbo |
| Das Wakerwa |
| Yoram Wakerwa |
| Etiman Wanumbo |
| Adolop Wanimbo |
| Yosias Wanimbo |
| Yepen Wakerwa |
| Warnius Wakerwa |
| Bobi Wakerwa |
| Tengeker Wakerwa |
| Yarogup Tabuni |
| Dis Wakerwa |
| Obet Wanimbo |
| Luis Wanimbo |
| Jigirik Wanimbo |
| Dirion Wakerwa |
| Labusiam Wakerwa |
| Wetinur Wakera |
| Jahir Wanimbo |
| Maikel Wanimbo |
| Yanus Wanimbo |
| Kornelis Wakerwa |
| Times Wanimbo |
| Elias Wanimbo |
| Usman Wanimbo |
| Ely Wanimbo |
| Pirman Wanimbo |
| Nagu Wanimbo |
| Panus Wanimbo |
| Efius Wanimbo |
| Demianus Walkerwa |
| Isman Murib |
| Rony Wanimbo |
| Ony Wanimbo |
| Pito Wakerwa |
| Lindina Wanimbo |
| Apinus Wenda |
| Mince Wakerwa |
| Elius Wakerwa |
| Mikael Wakerwa |
| Kelina Wanimbo |
| Rudy Wakerwa |
| Elon Wakerwa |
| Es Wakerwa |
| Saul Wakerwa |
| Eprom Wakerwa |
| Lonerius Wakerwa |
| Disko Wakerwa |
| Jance Wakerwa |
| Taworina Wanimbo |
| Amiariri Wakerwa |
| Jawi Wenda |
| Napia Wanimbo |
| Geriak Wanimbo |
| Mutiur Wanimbo |
| Benyamin Wanimbo |
| Gemelogoma Wakerwa |
| Naweaken Wakerwa |
| Endius Wanimbo |
| Bos Wanimbo |
| Sanra Meaga |
| Jundin Wakerwa |
| Tumbuni Wanimbo |
| Timonggen Wanimbo |
| Pileiman Wanimbo |
| Ogolengke Wanimbo |
| Tabo Wanimbo |
| Tagale Wanimbo |
| Kenikban Wanimbo |
| Hogosea Wanimbo |
| Geringga Wanimbo |
| Gemban Wanimbo |
| Danus Wanimbo |
| Denus Wakerwa |
| Melkin Wanimbo |
| Moti Wenda |
| Gunggen Wanimbo |
| Naganom Wanimbo |
| Bogombi Wanimbo |
| Justinus Murib |
| Beny Waker |
| Peluru Waker |
| Kolingginik Waker |
| Tiruan Wanimbo |
| Kiomarak Wakerwa |
| Liawuringga Wanimbo |
| Kape Wanimbo |
| Dekius Wanibo |
| Dopius Wanimbo |
| Yos Wanimbo |
| Kandus Wakerwa |
| Melius Wanimbo |
| Tolina Wanimbo |
| Kostan Wanimbo |
| Ermer Tabuni |
| Ngu Wenda |
| Ewelek Tabuni |
| Ogum Murib |
| Yusak Tabuni |
| Anis Tabuni |
| Wulepengka Wenda |
| Wosilimo |
| Yalengga |
| Central Ibele |
| Palika Meaga |
| Kliubaga Meaga |
| Natok Walilo |
| Siroba Huby |
| Wolok Meaga |
| Obet Tabuni |
| Kapame Tabuni |
| Akorodek Tabuni |
| Dukunan Wandikbo |
| Kayabagak Wenda |
| Yaro Kilungga |
| Obamelak Kilungga |
| Guburi Wenda |
| Kalep Wenda |
| Laban Wenda |
| Palok Kilungga |
| Jutalek Kilungga |
| Alogonik Kilungga |
| Tanama Kilungga |
| Karumwarek Wenda |
| Thomas Wenda |
| Arina Wandikbo |
| Amialek Kenelak |
| Amilek Aud |
| Yalenggen Wandikbo |
| Wilem Aud |
| Yasak Tabuni |
| Merius Wenda |
| Magame Medlam |
| Wanggol Wandikbo |
| Wangkunggodek Karoba |
| Wolodlek Uaga |
| Buwon Kombo |
| Bimpel Bogomis |
| Yobisirigi Berendam |
| Bakeam Kobanek |
| Boba Thago |
| Mor Libuk |
| Wimgarek Gombo |
| Bagali Karoba |
| Tirim Kombo |
| Tonggiare Aud |
| Telebaga Kenelak |
| Wakunggolek Kenelak |
| Uegen Kenelak |
| Jabugima Medlama |
| Erimbo Jikwa |
| Weyaninuk Kogoya |
| Yance Gomba |
| Tamina Gombo |
| Kagaruan Jikwa |
| Wapunuk Tabuno |
| Yakop Jikwa |
| Malinus Jikwa |
| Dendogi Togotli |
| Wayway Logo |
| Selok Daby |
| Yalyamen Logo |
| Kimdalok Mabel |
| Lalogoluk Logo |
| Turagen Wenda |
| Wewo Wanimbo |