One of the Pacific's smaller island states, Vanuatu stands taller than the larger nations with its consistent, principled stand on social justice, parliamentary democracy and corruption.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Hundreds of villagers in Mamberamo Raya in Papua have fled into the woods to live as they fear the Indonesian Military (TNI) will blame them for the death of an offic

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-003-2016

Dear Friends,

A prominent West Papua independence activist has questioned the credibility of the head of Indonesia's police over claims made against him that were later retracted.

Victor Mambor, Wamena, Jubi – President Joko Widodo's visit to Papua in late December 2015 failed to address the issue of human rights violations, rights activist and religious leader Pastor Jhon D

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The community in Sinak district has declared its opposition to the presence of the National Liberation Army/Free Papua Movement (TPN/OPM), a Papuan separatist group,

Jakarta – Papua has lodged the most regional head election dispute claims with the Constitutional Court, a court official has said.

Benny Mawel, Abepura – Protestant and Catholic leaders in Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua have denounced a series of killings that occurred last month and have urged an end to the violenc

Ina Parlina, Jakarta – The government said on Monday that it would prioritize a soft approach in addressing separatism, including by engaging in negotiation and dialogue, as well as the possibility

Jakarta – The approach adopted by State Intelligence Agency (BIN) Chief Sutiyoso to handle the Din Minimi-led armed rebel group in Aceh could be implemented in Papua, University of Indonesias polit

Dear everyone,

Farouk Arnaz, Jakarta – Police say they have identified two suspected members of the group that attacked a police station in Papua's Puncak district on Dec.

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo witnessed the first sunrise of 2016 at the Waiwo Beach dock in Raja Ampat, West Papua, on Friday.

Godwin Ligo – "Christian churches are the conscience of the nation, and therefore have the duty to be the voice of the voiceless and must continue to stand in solidarity with our Melanesian brother

Jayapura, Papua – Armed groups in the easternmost Indonesian province of Papua have stolen 32 firearms of different types from the police in 2014 and 2015, a senior police officer stated.

Agus Salim, Wamena, Papua – The Indonesia government is open to holding a dialog with anyone in the context of development, including in Papua, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated her

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Papua Governor Lukas Enembe is expecting the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police to capture the perpetrators who shot and killed three police of

Angelina Anjar Sawitri, Jakarta – The Legal Aid Institute (LBH) of Jakarta and Human Rights Violation Victims Solidarity (SKP-HAM) of Papua has asked President Joko Widodo to open a dia

Jakarta – The Papua Police have set up a joint team comprising police and military personnel to pursue perpetrators of an armed attack that killed three police officers at the Sinak Pol

Angelina Anjar Sawitri, Jakarta – Deputy Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Hidayat Nur Wahid, expressed his concern about gunmen attack in Sinak Police Base in Puncak

Farouk Arnaz, Jakarta – Three police officers in the restive province of Papua were killed by suspected separatists on Sunday evening after armed men attacked their precinct, the Nation

A group of armed men attacked Sinak Police subprecinct in Puncak regency, Papua, on Sunday night, killing three police officers.

Jakarta – Vice President Jusuf Kalla has directed the security agencies to take stern measures against those involved in the attack on the Sinak police precinct in the easternmost Indon

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The recent shooting incident in Sinak, Puncak regency, Papua, in which three police officers were killed, had no connection with President Joko "Jokowi" W

Rangga Prakoso & Alin Almanar, Jakarta – Mining giant Freeport Indonesia has submitted its request to extend its permit for concentrate exports, set to expire on Jan. 28.

Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu surprised his Australian hosts – and his own colleagues – on Monday with a blunt warning against any attempts to support the Free Papua Movement (OPM)

The Indonesian defence minister has warned other countries to respect his country's sovereignty over the troubled region of Papua, as meetings with Australian ministers ended in mutual

Erin Cook, Jakarta – Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu has used a "2 + 2" bilateral meeting in Australia as an opportunity to warn other countries to not become involved in the long-ru

Jakarta – Members of the House of Representatives have expressed support for immediately setting up a special inquiry to probe irregularities in mining company PT Freeport Indonesia fol

Benny Mawel, Nduga – A scarcity of medical personnel in Indonesia's Papua province contributed to the mysterious deaths of 43 people, mostly children, in the Mbuwa area of Nduga distric

Ayomi Amindoni – The government has been urged to immediately declare that the contract of work of miner Freeport Indonesia will not be extended when the current contract expires in 202

Victor Mambor – Carrying banners and pamphlets "Expel Freeport, Save Papua", they demanded PT.

Jakarta (UCA News/Pacific Media Watch) – A lack of trust between the Indonesian government and the people of Papua has jeopardised hopes for a lasting peace in the restive province, acc

Jakarta – The local theater company Teater Koma staged a politically charged performance of "Cahaya dari Papua" ("Light from Papua") at Galeri Indonesia Kaya last Saturday.

Nithin Coca – It is a region rich in natural resources, the biggest source of tax revenue for the fourth most populous country in the world and, under de-facto military rule – it is als

Papua New Guinea's deputy chief migration officer says processes are underway to grant citizenship to about 3,000 West Papuan refugees.

Greenpeace says the impact of rampant forest and peatland fires in Indonesia's Papua region is having a devastating effect on West Papuan society.

Victor Mambor, Jayapura, Jubi – Based on research conducted by the Institute for Women and Children in Papua (LP3AP), excessive alcohol is one of the main drivers of the rise in domesti

Katharina R.

On the first anniversary of the violent deaths of four West Papuans in Paniai, Indonesia's government has been urged to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.

Jakarta – When President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo visited Papua in December 2014, he led a ground-breaking ceremony to kick of the development of a market named Pasar Mama Mama Papua (Papua

Jakarta – Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said has been advised to revoke a letter to Freeport McMoRan Inc. board chairman James R.

Ryan Dagur, Jakarta – Indonesian rights activists said the brutal response of police toward protesting Papuan students has incited hatred and could further strengthen the resolve among

Victor Mambor, Jayapura, Jubi – Three witnesses from Tolikara presented by the Public Prosecutor in the trial over the Tolikara incident held at Jayapura District Court were praised by

Ayomi Amindoni, Jakarta – Investment to the country's easternmost province is increasing at a rapid pace, as Papua's provincial government expects both domestic and foreign direct inves

Wilda Asmarini, Jakarta – Freeport McMoRan must propose a price for a 10.64 percent stake it is required to divest from its Indonesian subsidiary on or by January 12, a mining ministry

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has criticized ministries for a lack of cooperation in implementing development in the easternmost region, accusing them of only focusing on the

Below is the text of a letter faxed to Hon Murray McCully today.

Victor Mambor, Jayapura, Jubi/Asia New Zealand Foundation – Assisted by an Asia New Zealand Foundation media travel grant, Mauri Television's Native Affairs producer and cameraman Adria

Victor Mambor, Semarang, Jubi – Dozens of Papuan students activists were arrested during a street rally in Jakarta to commemorate the political manifesto day that is regarded by many Pa