Jakarta – An armed rebel group in the easternmost region of Papua released a proposal on Tuesday to free New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens, who they kidnapped more than a year ago.

Jordyn Beazley – Rebels in Indonesia's West Papua region have proposed terms for the release of the New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens a year and seven months after he was detained.

Indonesia, West Papua – The Indonesian government's ambitious plan to create a one-million-hectare rice field in the Merauke Regency, Papua Selatan Province, is moving forward without p

West Papuan independence advocate Octo Mote is in Aotearoa to win support for independence for West Papua, which has been ruled by Indonesia for over 60 years.

Alakihihifo Vailala – Octovianus Mote was a child when Indonesian troops occupied his homeland, sparking the beginning of his lifelong fight for the independence of West Papua New Guine

Kiki Siregar, Keerom, Papua – Playing together at home with his two cousins of roughly the same age, four-year-old Berto stands out.

Antara, Jakarta – The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM) claims to have shot dead a police officer and another person in Lanny Jaya, Papua Pegunungan Pr

Jayapura – The arrival of Pope Francis in Dili, the capital of East Timor, on the afternoon of Monday September 9, was welcomed by the Catholic community.

Ato 'Lekinawa' da Costa, Dili, Timor-Leste – A solidarity group for the independence of West Papua raised West Papuan flag during Pope Francis' visit to Timor-Leste.

Harlyne Joku and Sue Ahearn, Vanimo, Papua New Guinea, and Melbourne – A visit by the head of the Catholic Church Pope Francis to a small remote town in north-west Papua New Guinea has

Indonesia, West Papua – On 13 August 2024, an incident of arbitrary arrest and intimidation against Papuan activists occurred in the town of Sentani, Jayapura Regency, Papua Province.

Dorian Malovic, Jakarta – "Papua has been living a nightmare of unimaginable violence for over half a century.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 29 August 2024, members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) arbitrarily arrested two indigenous Papuans in Sugapa District, Intan Jaya Regency, Papu

Fitri Ramadhani, Jayapura – Pope Francis' visit to Indonesia is expected to bring a fresh breeze to the land of Papua.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 24 August 2024, a 17-year-old Papuan named Justa Kobak was reportedly beaten by members of the Mobile Police Brigade Corps (Brimob) during a night patrol in t

A National Strategic Project (PSN) in Bintuni Bay (Teluk Bintuni Regency), Papua Barat Province, has sparked concerns about the potential violation of indigenous land rights.

Victor Mambor and Tria Dianti in Jayapura and Jakarta – Hundreds of indigenous Papuans staged protests on Wednesday to highlight ongoing violence and displacement in the conflict-torn P

Maria Baru, Jayapura – West Papua National Committee (KNPB) General Chairperson Agus Kossay was released from the Class IIA Abepura Penitentiary (Lapas) in Jayapura city, Papua, on Tues

Liam Pritchett – A planned five million-acre sugarcane megaproject in Indonesia's Papua province could threaten its uniquely biodiverse rainforest and the Indigenous Papuans who depend

Indigenous Christians in Papua province took to the streets on Sept.

Nanda Perdana Putra, Jakarta – A protest action was held by a number of people across from the Vatican Embassy in ??South Jakarta shortly before Pope Francis returned from the Merdeka P

Ali Mirin – Members of the Indonesian mobile police (Brimob) fatally shot Tobias Silak, a 24-year-old Papuan employed by the local election supervisory agency (Bawaslu) and seriously in

Jayapura – The High School and University Student Front for Human Rights Concern held a peaceful action at the United Nations Representative office in Jakarta on Friday August 30 during

Alex Bainbridge, Magan-djin/Brisbane – More than 100 people marched through the streets of Magan-djin/Brisbane on August 30 as part of a School Strike 4 Climate student strike for West

As President of the ULMWP and on behalf of the people of West Papua, I welcome the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Communique reaffirming the 2019 call for a UN High Commissioner for Human

Paul Gregoire – Indonesian president-elect Prabowo Subianto was in Canberra early last week to meet with soon-to-be counter-part-prime minister Anthony Albanese and to further negotiate

Indonesia, West Papua – A member of the Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) special unit shot Mr Charles Kogoya, 24, in front of the GIDI Jerusalem Church in Karubaga Town, Tolikara Regency,

Indonesia, West Papua – In late June 2024, Ms Tineke Rumkabu participated in the 53rd session of the Permanent People's Tribunal (PPT) in London via Zoom.

The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has admitted to facing significant delays in investigating a torture case involving indigenous Papuan civilians in Puncak Regency, Cent

Lydia Lewis, in Nuku'alofa, Tonga – The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) wants to have a meeting with Indonesia's incoming President Prabowo Subianto to address ongoing human rights con

The 2024 Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders' Meeting is a critical moment for Pacific leaders to show courage and leadership on one of the biggest issues facing our region: West Papua.

Dear Pacific Islands Forum Leaders,

I am writing to you concerning the issue of West Papua.

Lydia Lewis, Nuku'alofa, Tonga – West Papua is within the sovereignty of Indonesia, so responsibility lies with them in addressing independence demands, Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Min

The case of Papuan journalist Victor Mambor, who was the victim of a Molotov bomb attack in early 2023, continues to be a source of controversy and concern.

The advocacy groups of the Catholic Church in Papua have urged the Indonesian government to protect civilians from violence in the predominantly Christian region.

Ronny Kareni & Dennis Kuiai – West Papua, arguably a trust-territory, has been embroiled in a prolonged struggle for freedom from colonial oppression.

Harry Pearl, Brisbane – Papua New Guinea's media council has condemned as "concerning" and "shameful" the exclusion of a BenarNews journalist from media events during a visit by Indones

Recent findings highlight the ongoing use of treason charges to suppress peaceful activism in Papua, raising significant concerns over the infringement of fundamental human rights.

Some of the conflicts in Papua stem from illegal operations by companies that have failed to involve the customary land rights owners.

A video showing a police officer assaulting an evangelist during his demonstration (individual speech) in front of the Biak Numfor Resort Police Office has gone viral and has caused sig

Another case of extrajudicial killing occurred in the town of Dekai, Yahukimo District, Papua Pegunungan Province, on 20 August 2024.

In a statement from Department of Defence, the Hon Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence of Australia and his counterpart His Excellency Prabowo Subianto, Mi

Indonesia, West Papua – Every year, West Papuans come together to commemorate the2019 West Papua Uprising and the New York Agreement of 1962 signed by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and

Indonesia's incoming president Prabowo Subianto is in Australia. From there, Subianto, a former army general, will return to Jakarta via Port Moresby.

Larius Kogoya, Sentani – Leading members of the West Papua Council of Churches (WPCC) consider the installation of banners celebrating the 79th Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia,

Ikhsan Reliubun, Jakarta – The West Papua National Liberation Army-Organization of Free Papua (TPNPB-OPM) stated that there will be an award given to the health workers to coincide with

Nabire – West Papua National Committee (KNPB) member Gerson Pigai says that 101 KNPB activists who took part in demonstrations and were arrested by the Nabire District Police (Polres) o

Victor Mambor, Jayapura, Indonesia – Indonesian security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets in clashes with protestors marking the 62nd anniversary of a U.N.

Alfred Pagepitu – The President of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Benny Wenda, visited the country to seek support for their application for full membership into

Mutia Yuantisya, Jakarta – The Cartenz Peace Operation has issued a Wanted List for five alleged perpetrators behind the murder of Glen Malcolm Conning, the New Zealand helicopter pilot