From 25 September 2017 through 4 October 2017, a total of 11 retired marines were examined as witnesses by the District Court of The Hague, regarding the violent ending of the Moluccan train hijacking near De Punt (Drenthe, the Netherlands) on 11 June 1977. The case concerns the death of two of the South-Moluccan hijackers, Hansina Uktolseja and Max Papilaja. Their surviving relatives say the two were executed and hold the Dutch State liable. The surviving relatives had requested that the retired marines be called as witnesses.
The surviving relatives are represented by lawyers Liesbeth Zegveld and Brechtje Vossenberg.
Background
On 23 May 1977 a group of South-Moluccan youth hijacked a train in the Dutch province of Drenthe. On 11 June 1977 the hijacking was ended by use of force. The train was first fired upon by long-range shooters over the course of several minutes, after which five Attack Groups entered the train in order to secure it. The retired marines that have now been heard as witnesses were part of Attack Groups 2 and 5, who subsequently shot and killed hijackers Hansina Uktolseja and Max Papilaja.
See further (in Dutch)
- F. Vermeulen, 'Marinier C2 vuurde twee salvo's af op vrouwelijke kaapster' | NRC Handelsblad, 5 October 2017
- F. Vermeulen, 'Over die 20 seconden heeft iedere marinier z'n eigen verhaal' | NRC Handelsblad, 6 October 2017
- W. Thijssen, 'Wij schieten niet op benen, dat doet een wijkagent / Wij zijn killers. Wij zijn het laatste redmiddel' (interview met two retired marines from the Special Forces in reaction to the witness hearings) | Volkskrant, 16 October 2017
- W. Thijssen, 'Interview met oud-mariniers wordt ingebracht' | Volkskrant, 17 October 2017
Previously:
- Train hijacking ‘De Punt’: surviving relatives and a survivor hold the State liable
- Surviving relatives of of executed Moluccan train hijackers summon the Dutch State to court re: 'De Punt’
- 4 November 2016: evidentiary hearing re: executions by State during ending of train hijacking at 'De Punt' in 1977
- Claims re: Moluccan train hijacking (1977) not time-barred; court orders further investigation
- Court prohibits appeal against interlocutory verdict of 1 February 2017 re: 'De Punt'; case will move forward