Zely Ariane, Jayapura – A petition claimed to represent the wishes of Papuan people on a referendum on West Papua's future has been debated since last week among Papuan people and commentators, the

Fergus Jensen, Jakarta – Indonesian President Joko Widodo called for faster progress to wrap up a deal with Freeport-McMoRan Inc on rights to the giant Grasberg copper mine, which the U.S.

A series of concerts around the globe to assist the persecuted people of West Papua is being held on Saturday with the Coronation Hotel in West Ipswich playing its part.

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is very disappointed at the Indonesian government's irresponsible denial of human rights violations in Papua and West Papua province.

Danaella Wivell – The plight of West Papua to gain independence from Indonesia is spreading to Cairns.

The opposition SODELPA party in Fiji says it's disappointed by the United Nations decision to reject a petition from the people of West Papua calling for an act of self determination.

An international law specialist says it's not a question of if but when West Papuans will be granted a genuine act of self-determination.

Indonesia has disputed the veracity of a West Papuan petition to the United Nations seeking self-determination.

John McBeth, Jakarta – As much as it will spark development in one of Indonesia's most remote regions, Papuan leaders are growing increasingly concerned over the social impact of the new Trans-Papu

The West Papuan people's petition is no hoax: it is the voice of our people – signed by the majority of West Papuans.

Rafael Ramirez, the chair of the UN decolonisation committee, says it will not accept a petition signed by 1.8 million West Papuans.

Pacific Media Centre – West Papua has experienced a "significant aggravation" of the human rights situation in the past two years compared to previous years, says a new report from more than 40 fai

Tama Salim, Marguerite Afra Sapiie and Nethy Dharma Somba, United Nations/Jakarta/Jayapura – The United Nations shot down on Thursday rumors that a petition calling for a Papuan referendum had been

Samantha Hawley, Indonesia – The head of the United Nation's decolonisation committee has rejected reports of a secret petition demanding a free vote for independence in West Papua.

Jakarta – Chairman of the United Nations' special committee on decolonization, Rafael Ramirez, said on Thursday (28/09) that he has not received a petition from exiled Free West Papua leader Benny

Wilda Asmarini, Susan Taylor, Jakarta/Toronto – Freeport-McMoRan Inc, the world's second-largest publicly traded copper company, strongly disagrees with a proposed divestment plan by the government

West Papua Action Auckland says the new [New Zealand] Government must respond to the historic West Papuan plea for self-determination support at the UN.

Johnny Blades – It's become an annual stoush in New York.

A petition with the signatures of 1.8 million West Papuans in Indonesia has been presented to the United Nations in New York demanding an internationally supervised vote on independence.

Timothy Fernandez – A secret petition demanding a new independence referendum for West Papua is presented to the United Nations after being signed by 1.8 million West Papuans.

Indonesia has denied allegations regarding West Papua made by Pacific leaders at the UN General Assembly in New York.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura, Papua – Thirty eight residents in Semenage district, Yahukimo, Papua, were reported to have died during the May-August period due to sickness and poor access to health

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Ronald Sajensolar, a driver of a patrol car, sustained injuries to his cheek and shoulders from shards of a broken window, after the car he was traveling in was shot

The prime minister of Vanuatu has accused world leaders at the UN of turning a deaf ear to more than half a century of atrocities committed by Indonesia on the people of West Papua.

Pacific Media Watch – On the eve of New Zealand's 2017 general election, Pacific Media Watch reports on whether West Papua features in the human rights and foreign affairs policies and stances of t

The West Papua National Coalition for Liberation says its decolonisation aspirations are focussed on action at the United Nations.

One of the founders of the West Papuan independence movement, Nicolaas Jouwe, has died in Jakarta at the age of 93.

Cermin Bangsa, Jayapura – Chairman of Nahdatul Ulama (NU) of Papua Province DR H Tonny Wanggai believes that the establishment of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) is a final or

A member of the Papua Provincial Legislative Assembly says the Special Autonomy Law provides for a human rights court in Papua and should be pursued.

Sela Jane Hopgood – A confrontation between media and Indonesian officials in Samoa last week has highlighted the depth of feelings in the region about West Papua.

Honiara, Jubi – The Solomon Islands has successfully moved a new agenda to include human rights on any agreement Pacific Island Countries signed with Indonesia during the recent Pacific Island Foru

There's more fallout from a confrontation between media and Indonesian officials at the Pacific Island Forum Leaders summit in Samoa's capital last week after the topic of West Papua was brought up

Human Rights Watch in Indonesia has expressed disappointment at a lenient punishment for four police officers involved in the killing of a West Papuan last month.

The Indonesian Ambassador for New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga says journalists are failing to cover Indonesia's attempts to address human rights violations in West Papua.

Andreas Harsono – "The life of a native Papuan is worth only an apology. This is the law in Indonesia."

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Dozens of people claiming to be residents of remote villages in Papua rallied at Cenderawasih University in Jayapura on Monday, where almost 2,000 applicants took a w

Indonesian officials have been criticised for the manner of their condemnation of a West Papua protest during the Pacific Forum summit in Apia.

Jayapura, Jubi – The verdict of Deiyai shootings' trial by the Police Commission of Police's Code of Ethics (KKEPP) against nine members of the Police or Brimob responsible for the shooting on Augu

Nabire, Jubi – A high school student in Nabire suffered a head injury and bleeding, allegedly due to a rattan blow by one of the Nabire police's force.

Theresia Sufam, Bogor, West Java – Scientists from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences' (LIPI) Biology Research Center and the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) have joined hands to explore the bio

Indonesia's Ambassador to Samoa, Tonga and New Zealand, Tantowi Yahya, says protesters supporting West Papua independence should have sought a government permit of approval to stage the action.

Joyetter Feagaimaali'i-Luamanu – A senior staff member of Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Franz Albert Joku, has rubbished the peaceful protest highlighting the plight of West Papua at the

Jakarta – The government has requested that gold and copper miner PT Freeport Indonesia, a subsidiary of United States-based Freeport McMoRan.inc, sell its shares to Indonesian state-owned enterpri

An Indonesian official says human rights abuses are no longer happening in West Papua like they used to.

Elizabeth Ah-Hi, Apia – The Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Dame Meg Taylor, has promised protesters that their voice on West Papua will be heard by the leaders attendin

A small, but vocal, group of protesters gathered this morning outside the Sheraton Aggies Resort in Apia, venue of the 48th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting, to raise awareness about the pligh

Demonstrators are staging another protest this afternoon outside the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Apia, in support of West Papuan independence.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua says it's not interested in one-on-one dialogue with Indonesia's government.

West Papuan independence campaigners are to petition the United Nations in New York later this month with signatures of people inside the Indonesian province.

There are signs of a significant peace dialogue opening up between Indonesia's government and West Papuans.