ACTIVISTS descended on the offices and facilities of global weapons giant Thales today to mark the 25th anniversary of the Biak massacre in West Papua.

Wage Peace kicked off an international string of actions occupying Thales offices in Sydney and Melbourne simultaneously. 

Later in the day, manufacturing facilities in Bendigo and another office in Darwin were disrupted, with Wage Peace claiming responsibility for all four actions. 

Memorial ceremonies and political demonstrations were also held in Jakarta, Sorong, Jayapura, London, Delft and in the province of Biak itself.

Within Indonesia, people can and have been charged with treason for simply raising the West Papuan flag.

Lilli Barto, one of the activists who carried out an occupation of the Thales office in Sydney, said: “We take these actions in solidarity with the people of West Papua, who are risking their liberty and their lives today to bring their story to the world. 

Ms Barto added that Thales board members “know that their weapons will be used to commit genocide, but they would rather make a quick buck than face up to the reality of that.” 

“If they are upset that we are occupying their office” she went on, “then they might want to think about how the West Papuan people's feel about Indonesia occupying their homelands.”