Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says Fiji will stand with Indonesia on the West Papua issue. "My stance on West Papua has never changed," he said.

Samoa says it will be looking into supporting a West Papua request for membership in the Pacific Islands Forum.

Michael Bachelard – Thanks to a brutal history, an Indonesian Government that restricts journalistic access, and a group of committed activists in Australia and New Zealand, most people only ever h

Roberth Isidorus, Jayapura – An evangelical church in Yambi, in Papua's Puncak Jaya district, was burned down by group of unknown attackers on Monday.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Around 100 volunteers and social workers have been deployed to distribute free condoms in 180 known areas for sex transactions such as hotels, dormitories, rental roo

There are further signs from Indonesia's government that it is willing to open up access to the Papua region.

The 3rd Congress of the Asia Pacific Greens Federation has adopted a resolution on the West Papuan self-determination struggle.

Indonesia says it's quietly hopeful the change of government in Vanuatu will signal the defeat of West Papua's bid to join the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The military in Papua arrested a drunk soldier for injuring a civilian in Central Memberamo Thursday.

Indonesia is quietly hopeful a change of government in Vanuatu will contribute to the defeat of province West Papua's bid to join a special club of Melanesian states.

Erwida Maulia & Rangga Prakoso, Jakarta – As the government continues its negotiations with Freeport Indonesia, the local unit of US mining giant Freeport-McMoRan, and there are reports that th

Index: ASA 21/1851/2015

Raras Cahyafitri, Jakarta – Copper-mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia has, in principle, agreed to change the company's contract of work (CoW) into a special mining license (IUPK) as required by th

In defiance of a 1963 law forbidding foreign journalists entry to West Papua, Dutch journalist Rohan Radheya has over the past years travelled into the region several times, and is one of very few

Vanuatu's new foreign minister says the government will continue to fight for the rights of West Papuans in international fora.

From 30 April to 01 June, police have arrested protesters expressing support for ULMWP and West Papua campaign of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), KNPB said in a statement to Jubi, Monday (8/6

Jayapura, Jubi – The arrest of about 200 West Papua National Committee activists in May is disconcerting and shows that authorities are increasingly resorting to heavy-handed tactics to discourage

Jayapura, Jubi – Leaflets calling on Papuans to support Indonesia were circulated in Merauke and Jayapura on 4 June 2015.

Katharina R.

The Pacific islands sub-regional organisation is considering a membership bid by West Papuans of Indonesia.

Ben Hillier – More than 500 activists have been arrested over the past month across West Papua as protests, demonstrations and meetings build in the lead up to the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG)

Jakarta – An Indonesian minister has countered President Joko Widodo's declaration that the controversial transmigration program to Papua province will be stopped, saying instead that, if anything,

A number of rallies have been held in recent days in Indonesia's Papua region in support of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua's application to become a member of the Melanesian Spearhea

Indonesia's President Joko Widodo has signalled an end to the country's transmigration programme to Papua region.

Vanuatu's new foreign minister, Kalvau Moli, says one of his main focuses in government will be the issue of West Papua.

Civil Society Groups in Fiji say Frank Bainimarama's support for Indonesia's bid to become an associate member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group is a concern.

A Solomon Islands MP is calling on the Melanesian Spearhead Group to ignore Indonesia and accept the application to join the group by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.

The Solomon Islands says it hasn't made a decision yet on the West Papua bid for membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

Repeka Nasiko – Police Commissioner Ben Groenewald says funding has been received from the Indonesian Government for the development of the Melanesian Spearhead Group regional police academy.

A month ago today, on 29 April 2015, TAPOL organised a demonstration outside the Indonesian Embassy in London, where dozens of demonstrations gathered to demand open access to Papua for

Today, the 28 May the KNPB had called for peaceful rallies in all regions of West Papua.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The Jayapura Police took into custody 47 would-be protesters who were preparing for a rally in support of Papua's efforts to secure membership in the Melanesian Spear

Ryan Dagur, Jakarta – Police arrested at least 71 members of the pro-independence West Papua National Committee (KNPB) during two peaceful rallies on Thursday in Wamena of Jayawijaya district and J

Jakarta – Human Rights Watch (HRW) deputy Asia director Phelim Kine has said President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo should issue an explicit written directive spelling out Papua's new media freedoms and th

Elodie Largenton – A French journalist who was jailed in West Papua last year for not having the correct entry permit says he doubts Indonesia will follow through with its promise to lift the regio

Jakarta – The police in Papua have yet to identify those responsible for the shooting of a pro-independence leader in Nabire on Tuesday, but they detected a threat on migrants following the inciden

An armed group in Indonesia's Papua province has reportedly taken two soldiers along with a teacher hostage in Enarotali in Paniai District.

Jayapura, Jubi – An alleged statement by the Commander of West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), Enden Wanimbo declaring an open war against Indonesian security forces provides ammunition for

Jayapura, Jubi – The Chairman of West Papua National Committee (KNPB), Victor Yeimo, said threats of an open war allegedly made by OPM leaders Enden Wanimbo and Puron Wenda were exaggerated.

Charles Kadamana – Hundreds of Solomon Islanders demonstrated their support for West Papua with an appeal for the government to consider West Papua a full member of the Melanesia Spearhead Group, d

Robertus Wardhy, Jayapura – Five local residents have been injured and one killed during a shooting by unknown gunmen at a house in Puncak Jaya district, Paupa, on Tuesday night.

Tama Salim & Margareth S.

Jayapura – Human rights activists have opposed the presence of a military command in West Papua, later named as the Kasuari/XVIII Military Command, as it is against the Papua Special Autonomy Law,

Jakarta – The executive director of Indonesian news agency Antara, Saiful Hadi, said that Indonesia should penalize journalists, including those from abroad, who broadcast biased and imbalanced new

Jakarta – Journalism education is important for Papuans, now that foreign journalists and international organizations have been given open access to Papua and West Papua, the Indonesian Press Counc

Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno asserted that foreign journalists who wish to cover Papua should abide by the laws of Indonesia.

Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama says engagement with Indonesia is the best way to handle issues of abuse in the Indonesia region of Papua.

Jakarta – Papuan students called on the government to withdraw all security personnel and stop the ongoing construction of military and police infrastructure in the country's easternmost province.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has supported Indonesia's bid to become an associate member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

Jayapura, Jubi – Papuan independence activist Filep Karma who recently rejected a pardon offered by Indonesian President Joko Widodo firmly said the genture wasn't new for him.