Stefani Ribka and Nethy Dharma Somba, Jakarta/Jayapura – In the latest twist to serial fugitive Labora Sitorus' recent escape, the former low-ranking police officer has surrendered and been locked

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) just held its extraordinary summit in Jakarta from 6 to 7 March, with the theme "Independence is the right of all nations".

Fana Suparman & Erwin C Sihombing, Jakarta – A former police officer turned convict who escaped from West Papua's Sorong Prison last week turned himself in to authorities in the early hours of

Benny Mawel, Jayapura, Indonesia – Dozens of young Catholics in West Papua protested in the provincial capital Manokwari March 2, demanding that police stop harassing an activist priest recently qu

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Papua Governor Lukas Enembe called on residents on Tuesday to maintain tolerance and respect following a demand from a group of churches to ban the construction of a

West Papua Action Auckland
Box 68-419
Auckland

25 February 2016

Fax 04 817 6510

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAU-002-2016

Dear Friends,

AWPA has written to Foreign Minister Julie Bishop concerning the intimidation of West Papuan representatives from the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) and other activists who atten

Benny Mawel in Jayapura and Ryan Dagur in Jakarta, Indonesia – Indonesian police are seeking to question a Catholic priest over possible treason charges for leading a prayer service attended by mem

Lesley Sanga – Indonesia president Joko Widodo has turned down Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare's request for a meeting to discuss the West Papua issue.

In the wake of more intransigence from Indonesia, the Melanesian Spearhead Group has called for Jakarta to hold talks with the United Liberation Movement of West Papua.

A New Zealand journalist and film producer hopes her new short film about the plight of West Papuans will serve as the impetus for discussion about the situation in Indonesia's Papua region.

Jakarta – Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan has told the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), which campaigns for Papuan independence, to le

Benny Mawel, Jayapura, Indonesia – Protesting tribal youths in Papua urged the Indonesian government to seize operations of the U.S.-based PT Freeport McMoRan copper mining company and install a Pa

Jayapura – The Jayapura District Court sentenced on Thursday Jundi Wanimbo and Ariyanto Kogoya each to two months and 26 days in jail for inciting a riot that led to damage being caused to dozens o

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua says the opening of its new office in Wamena reflects its strong support among the indigenous people of Indonesia's Papua region.

Robert Isidorus & Alin Almanar, Jayapura/Jakarta – Police in Papua have detained two people deemed "mainly responsible" for allegedly establishing an office for the United Liberation Movement o

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua has opened an office in the town of Wamena in the Highlands of Indonesia's Papua province.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says good progress is being made by Papua New Guinea on registering all West Papuan refugees in the country.

Jayapura – Papua Police chief Insp. Gen.

Tama Salim, Jakarta – Lawmakers have criticized the government for lacking a unified approach in dealing with separatism in Papua, the country's easternmost province.

Jakarta – PT Freeport Indonesia has received a recommendation from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry for the extension of its export permit although the gold and copper mining giant has yet

The government will consider a request for an amnesty and living assistance from 10 former members of a Papuan separatist group known as the Free Papua Movement (OPM).

Victor Mambor, Jayapura, Jubi – What is needed most in Papua is not the construction of railways or the extension of Freeport Indonesia's contract, but a dialogue between Jakarta-Papua to seek a co

Jayapura – Police on Wednesday seized ammunition, two government-issued firearms and an airsoft gun from two houses in Sentani, Jayapura regency, Papua.

Jakarta – The Free Papua Movement (OPM) has denied that hundreds of rounds of ammunition, firearms and explosives confiscated by police during a raid on Wednesday night belonged to the organization

Victor Mambor, Jayapura, Jubi – Papuan legislator Laurenzus Kadepa accused the Indonesian Government of lacking ideas to solve problems in Papua.

Victor Mambor, Jayapura, Jubi – Golkar lawmaker Tantowi Yahya urged the government to 'counter' news about Papua online.

Jewel Topsfield, Jakarta – Indonesian authorities compiled a secret dossier of prominent Papuans that details their "weaknesses" – such as women and alcohol – and outlines a strategy to "suppress"

Ten former members of a Papuan separatist group, the National Liberation Army/Free Papua Movement (TPN/OPM), have asked the government to grant them an amnesty, a senior intelligence official has c

Victor Mambor, Jayapura, Jubi – The chairman of the Jayapura city branch of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), Victor Mambor, said although President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has declared t

Raras Cahyafitri, Jakarta – Copper mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia will see its exports halted starting Friday after failing to realize its commitment to smelter development.

A documentary from Sydney musician-turned-filmmaker Anthony 'Ash' Brennan has seen a local charity gig for West Papuan blow up into a global event.

Raras Cahyafitri, Jakarta – Amid concerns of a negative impact on the local economy, the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has eased its stance over requirements for copper miner PT Freeport In

Victor Mambor, Jakarta, Jubi – Legislator Tantowi Yahya reminded the Indonesian Government to not underestimate the Papua issue and it has always been a burning topic among the Pacific countries un

Robert Isidorus, Jakarta – At least 10 rebels from the separatist group Free Papua Organization, or OPM, operating in the remote highlands of the restive province of Papua have surrendered to Indon

Victor Mambor, Jayapura, Jubi – Papuans want dialogue between with Jakarta and this has been constantly echoed in recent years, but there has been no response from Jakarta.

Church leaders in West Papua appear concerned about religious extremism in the region.

Jayapura – U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Roberth O Blake held a meeting with Papuan church leaders here on Saturday.

The chair of the Melanesian Spearhead Group has offered to facilitate a meeting between the Indonesian government and the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.

Phelim Kine – There are new hazards for foreign journalists attempting to report from Indonesia's restive easternmost provinces of Papua and West Papua (generally referred to as "Papua"): visa deni

Tama Salim, Jakarta – The House of Representatives' Commission III overseeing legal affairs plans to set up a working committee with the objective of "assisting" Attorney General Office (AGO) prose

Indonesia's government is unhappy with the price on offer for shares in Freeport Indonesia, which operates a massive mine complex in Papua.

More details have emerged about the visit to West Papua by the US Ambassador to Indonesia, including American concern about destruction of rainforest in the region.

Anton Hermansyah, Business – PT Freeport Indonesia has failed to fulfill its planned smelter construction progress and thus the US gold and copper mining giant must keep paying 5 percent export dut

Ayomi Amindoni – House of Representatives Commission VII overseeing the energy sector has described a share value that PT Freeport Indonesia offered to the Indonesian government as unrealistic.

Fresh from a trip to West Papua, the United States Ambassador to Indonesia reportedly expressed concern about human rights abuses in the country's remote, eastern region.

Robert Isidorus, Jayapura – Papuan activists met with US Ambassador to Indonesia Robert Blake in the provincial capital on Tuesday to discuss human rights, politics and US-owned Freeport Indonesia.

Tama Salim and Nurul Fitri Ramadhani, Jakarta – Following the resignation of PT Freeport Indonesia (Freeport) president director Maroef Sjamsoeddin, House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Fahri Ha

Victor Mambor, Jayapura, Jubi – Papua legislator Rube Magai said a visit by US ambassador to Indonesia Robert Blake to Papua should not only involve sight-seeing but also focus on resolving the con