The jailed leader of the self-proclaimed republic of West Papua Fokorus Yaboisembut has written to the Australian Prime Minister-elect Tony Abbott to congratulate him and seek support.

On Election Day, West Papuan activists spread a message of hope and freedom in Melbourne to raise awareness of the Freedom Flotilla, writes Jenny Denton.

One small yacht, the Pog, has set sail west from Thursday Island towards West Papua.

Today in Papua New Guineas capital, the Melanesian Unified Front for West Papuan Self-Determination, or WUF, is to host a public forum on the West Papuan bid for membership in the Melan

Public ownership of infrastructure in the eastern part of Indonesia has moved a step forward with agreement by US-owned gold and copper mining company Freeport Indonesia to hand over ma

Indonesia is being accused of buying the support of Solomon Islands over the prime minister Gordon Darcy Lilo's recent trip to that country.

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has called for engagement with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as the way forward for the issue of West Papua.

Anushka Shahjahan – The right to peacefully advocate referendums is a part of freedom of expression and Indonesian authorities must drop charges brought against Papuan activists, Amnest

AI Index: ASA 21/031/2013

[Shirley Shackleton was on board the Lusitania when it sailed to East Timor in 1992 to protest the Indonesian occupation.

Margareth S.

Banjir Ambarita & Farouk Arnaz, Jayapura/Jakarta – A clash between security personnel and armed separatists in Papua on Saturday led to the death of an Indonesian Military (TNI) sol

Joel Magarey – West Papuans who attended a church meeting to pray for Australian activists sailing towards West Papua in a "Freedom Flotilla" have been arrested by Indonesian police, Am

AWPA has written an open letter to the PIF leaders asking that they discuss the human rights situation in West Papua at the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum in Majuro.

Jayapura – In a recent statement, the Chief of Police of Indonesia, Inspector-Commissioner Muhamad Tito Karnavian said that the ships taking part in the Freedom Flotilla are trying to d

Indonesian police in Sorong, West Papua, yesterday arrested four leading Papuan customary leaders for organising a welcome celebration and prayer for the safe arrival of the Aboriginal-

Marni Cordell – A West Papuan political prisoner serving three years in jail for treason was offered a pardon by the Indonesian government if he renounced the struggle for independence.

Marni Cordell – Indonesia officially acquired West Papua in 1969, after a sham ballot on independence in which only a handful of the local population were allowed to vote.

As the Freedom Flotilla to West Papua continues its epic journey north towards Indonesian occupied West Papua, solidarity actions were held yesterday in both in West Papua and Melbourne

Activists in the Indonesian province of West Papua have gathered to show support for the boatload of Australian activists due to arrive there early next month.

Manokwari – Although controversy is still raging about the Freedom Flotilla which has a number of Papuan activists on board, a group of Papuans who recently proclaimed the establishment

This morning the Freedom Flotilla to West People received communications from protest rallies organisers in West Papua yesterday, with reports indicating further celebratory activities

A group of Australian activists say threats of force by Indonesia have not hindered their determination to make it to Papua's shores.

A group of Australian activists says it has been granted authority to enter Indonesia's Papua province by local people who have a sovereign right to grant access to their own land.

Scores of non-violent activists from the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) were arrested across Papua over the last two weeks, when Indonesian Police carried out pre-emptive sweeps a

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The Papua General Elections Commission (KPUD) confirmed that 662 legislative candidates will contest 56 seats at the Papua Legislative Council (DPRD) in t

An activist from the Indonesian province of West Papua says Indonesia is lying and not honouring its promise to the leaders of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

In a risky and symbolic act of defiance, unidentified West Papuan pro-independence activists raised the banned symbol of West Papuan liberation, the Morning Star flag, atop a foggy Moun

Despite claims published by Indonesian website merdeka.com that the Freedom Flotilla is not proceeding, Freedom Flotilla co-founders, Jacob Rumbiak, Uncle Kevin Buzzacott and Izzy Brown

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-113-2013

Dear friends,

Daniel Drageset, Auckland – Aboriginal elder Kevin Buzzacott, who is on board the West Papua Freedom Flotilla, says media attention is "very important" in order to "expose what's happen

Jayapura – The second Deputy Chairperson of the MRP, Engelberta has urged leading politicians in Papua to show respect for indigenous Papuans in their ability to become heads of local a

Jakarta – All police units in Papua have been warned of a possible unauthorized visit by foreign ships carrying activists campaigning for a free Papua.

Bagus BT Saragih and Nethy Dharma Somba, Jakarta, Jayapura – Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said on Tuesday he believed authorities in Papua New Guinea (PNG) would take decisive meas

Jakarta – The Australian government does not have the authority to stop its citizen from sailing out of Australian ports as long as it is legal.

Dedicated activists and Indigenous elders of the Freedom Flotilla reaffirmed their commitment to travel to West Papua, and sent messages of inspiration to counter Bob Carr's despondence

Last week the Indonesian President made a speech which touched on West Papua, but did not mention peaceful dialogue.

Marni Cordell – The Indonesian government has said it hopes it will not be necessary to use lethal force against a boatload of activists planning to land illegally in Merauke, West Papu

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-111-2013

Dear friends,

A group of Australian and West Papuan activists have set sail on a Freedom Flotilla bound for the Indonesian territory of West Papua.

Bagus BT Saragih and Ina Parlina, Jakarta – Reports over a plan by West Papuan activists from Australia to illegally sail to Indonesian territory came only a day after President Susilo

Bagus BT Saragih, Jakarta – The Indonesian Military has been ordered to be prepared to intercept the journey of two boats carrying pro-West Papua independence activists from Australia,

Benjamin Soloway – A flotilla carrying approximately 50 West Papuan and indigenous Australian protestors bound for the Indonesian territories of West Papua began its journey from Queens

Peter Alford and Brendan Nicholson – Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has appealed to friendly countries to prevent political activity that disrupts good relations as a "fr

Indonesian authorities have warned Australian activists on a "freedom flotilla" to avoid entering West Papua or risk being arrested.

Jerry Omona, Jakarta – General Coordinator of the Free Papua Organization (OPM), Lambertus Pekikir on behalf of the OPM members wished Indonesia a Happy 68th Independence Day.

Jakarta – While the country celebrates Independence Day, the Oikoumene Churches Forum in Papua called on the central government to organize a dialogue to channel Papuans' political aspi

On August 15th 2013, we opened a new office in The Hague, Netherlands.

The spokesman of the Chief of Police in Papua, Commissioner I Gede Sumerta Jaya, said that the security situation in Papua remained calm throughout the territory of Papua when the KNPB

Demonstrations proceeded peacefully in several main centres of West Papua yesterday marking the region's incorporation into Indonesia despite a reported police ban on the protests.