David Robie – A human rights defender and researcher has warned in a new book published on the eve of the Indonesian national elections tomorrow that the centralised political system has failed many of the country's 264 million people – especially minorities and those at the margins, such as in West Papua.

Kanal Bali, Denpasar – Scores of Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) protesters from the AMP Bali City Committee (AMP KK Bali) were arrested by the Denpasar municipal police (Polresta) on Monday April 15 for holding an action during the cooling off period before the April 17 presidential and legislative elections.

Aditya Mardiastuti, Denpasar – The Papua Student Alliance (AMP) is protesting the arrest of student demonstrators at Renon Park in the Balinese provincial capital of Bali. The AMP said that it was a peaceful action rejecting the April 17 elections and they already had a police permit.

RNZ Pacific – A leading West Papuan peace campaigner, Neles Tebay, has died in Jakarta after being hospitalised with leukemia.

A Catholic priest and academic as well as the coordinator of the Papua Peace Network, Dr Tebay was a tireless advocate for dialogue between West Papuans and Indonesia's government over the political conflict in their homeland.

Made Anthony Iswara, Jakarta – Papua Peace Network (JDP) coordinator and Catholic priest Neles Tebay died at the age of 55 on Sunday, having been in intensive care for the last few weeks for bone cancer at Saint Carolus Hospital in Central Jakarta.

Tasha Wibawa – In Indonesia's upcoming presidential elections this week, thousands of West Papuans will be voting differently from the rest of the nation, despite the province being claimed as part of the country for more than half a century.

Manokwari, W Papua – Foreign journalists and monitoring institutions can monitor general elections in Indonesia, particularly Manokwari, West Papua province, if they secure permits and immigration documents.

The permits can be obtained from the Foreign Ministry, Chief of the Manokwari Immigration Office Bugie Kurniawan said in a press briefing here on Friday.

TAPOL and the East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) have applied for a judicial review of the "Act of Free Choice" by the Indonesian Constitutional Court.

Tom Stayner, SBS News – A West Papuan independence leader and Nobel peace prize nominee is calling for a mass boycott of Indonesia's upcoming elections to bring attention to their independence struggle.

Benny Wenda was granted political asylum in the United Kingdom 16 years ago – following an escape from custody while on trial in West Papua.

Jakarta, Indonesia – Indonesian prosecutors are demanding 10-year prison sentences for a Polish globetrotter and a Papuan student who were charged with treason after meeting with independence supporters in the troubled Papua region.

Jakarta – Thirty-nine out of the 40 districts in Jayawijaya regency, Papua, will vote using the noken system during the simultaneous general election on April 17.

Victor Mambor, Jayapura – Prosecutors have demanded 10 years in prison for Jakub Fabian Skrzypski, a Polish national who was arrested in Wamena in August last year, for his alleged role in treasonous activities.

Jakarta – Mimika regency in Papua banned alcoholic beverage sales on Wednesday in an effort to maintain public order during the simultaneous presidential and legislative elections on April 17.

Mimika Regent Eltinus Omaleng told hundreds of civil servants on Monday that sales would be banned at stores and entertainment spots across the regency.

Paul – The West Papua immigration office insists that it will take firm action against foreign journalists trying to cover the elections in West Papua.

This was emphasised by Manokwari Class II Non-TPI Immigration Office West Papua representative Bugie Kurniawan at a meeting on foreign surveillance at the Bintuni Bay regency on Wednesday April 10.

A West Papua support group in New Zealand is urging the government to call for the withdrawal of Indonesian forces in Papua.

It comes after human rights advocates in Papua last week said more than 32,000 people had been displaced by armed conflict in Nduga regency.

Victor C. Mambor, Jayapura – State-owned mining holding company PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (Inalum) is waiting for a deal to be made between the Papua provincial and Mimika regental administrations on the ownership of 10 percent of the 51.23 percent of shares owned by Inalum in PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI).

A human rights group has reported that tens of thousands of people in Indonesia's Papua province have been displaced by conflict.

The estimate is the gravest yet in a months-long war between security forces and rebel fighters in Papua.

Both the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Nduga and worsening clampdown on freedom of expression and assembly in West Papua were significant issues raised during the recent convening of the 40th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (25 Feb. – 22 Mar. 2019).

Ivany Atina Arbi, Jakarta – Military operations conducted by the Indonesian Military (TNI) in Nduga regency, Papua, in the past few months have led to various human rights violations, a recent investigation initiated by the Nduga administration has alleged, allegations that the TNI has denied.

Egi Adyatama, Jakarta (Antara) – Thousands of Freeport Indonesia workers may not be able to vote this coming election. As it turns out, many of them are not registered with the local General Election Commission (KPU).

Jakarta (Antara) – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo visited victims of floods in Jayapura, Papua province who were sheltered at the Toware Sports Center, Waibu district, today, April 1.

"Yes, relocation is necessary because the area is prone to disaster. So people must be relocated," said President Jokowi after having a dialogue with the evacuees on Monday, April 1.

Ivany Atina Arbi, Jakarta – The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) announced on Saturday that authorities had decided to end the 14-day emergency period in Sentani district, Jayapura, Papua, after a flash flood struck the area on March 16.

Kristianto Galuwo – A Hound, totally wet, are walking around, scrapping over damp branches lying on the ground. Thirsty, it moves to a puddle for a sip of water. Doesn't know what to do, it turns to sniff piles of stumps that just tumbled from trees.

Jakarta – An independent team called the Nduga Case Investigation Team has reported a number of alleged human rights violations (HAM) during the military operations conducted by the TNI (Indonesian military) and Polri (Indonesian police) in Nduga regency, West Papua.

Jakarta – Papuan independence fighters are vowing more attacks on a highway that's the Indonesian president's key development project in the troubled easternmost region.

Yamin Kogoya – Last Thursday, The Jakarta Post published an opinion article by the Indonesian Foreign Affair Minister, Retno LP Marsudi, highlighting a plan for diplomatic engagement with the South Pacific countries.

Duncan Graham – Before the horrifying March 15 mosque massacres in Christchurch, New Zealand was best recognized for its knockout landscapes and relaxed lifestyle.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua has urged all Papuans in Indonesia to boycott the upcoming national elections.

Indonesia, which has over 190 million eligible voters, goes to the polls on 17 April. It will be the first time the country's president, vice president, and members of the legislature are elected on the same day.

New Zealand's Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, has called for an end to violence in Indonesia's Papua province.

Mr Peters was responding to a letter from a representative of the West Papua Liberation Army, which is waging war with Indonesia's military in Papua.

Indonesia's Provincial Red Cross in Papua is working with local disaster authorities and other agencies to supply shelter, clean water and sanitation to over 11,000 people displaced by the Sentani floods ten days ago.

The death toll remains at 112 and 94 people are still missing after flash floods and landslides hit Sentani in Jayapura Regency, in Papua Province.

As the representative body of the West Papuan people and all West Papuan groups, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) formally declares a boycott of the Indonesian presidential and general elections on April 17, 2019.

Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency says the death toll from flooding in Papua province has risen to 112.

Torrential rain triggered flash flooding and landslides over a week ago, causing Lake Sentani in Jayapura regency to overflow and numerous rivers to burst.

Papua villagers displaced from their Central Highlands regency have rejected proposals for them to return home.

Over 2000 people have fled Nduga regency to neighbouring Jayawijaya regency due to ongoing armed conflict.

Hundreds of Indonesian military troops have deployed to Nduga to try and capture members of the West Papua Liberation Army.

On the afternoon of March 23 around 70 people from various different organisations which are part of the People United Front (FPR) and the Anti-Militarism Students Against Military Operations in Nduga held a protest action in the Simpang Lima district of the East Java provincial capital of Semarang.

Asrida Elisabeth, Della Syahni, Lusia Arumingtyas, Jayapura/Jakarta – Rain-triggered flash floods and landslides that struck Indonesia's easternmost province this past weekend have killed nearly 90 people and driven thousands from their homes. The country's disaster mitigation agency has cited human-caused deforestation as having exacerbated the scale of the damage.

Jakarta – The Environment and Forestry Ministry announced on Wednesday that five people, including three directors of different timber companies, had been named suspects in connection with the inspection of hundreds of shipping containers containing Intsia bijuga logs in separate locations of Jayapura, Papua.

Gemma Holliani Cahya, Jayapura – By Wednesday morning rescue workers had recovered 104 dead victims of a flash flood and landslide that happened across Jayapura regency, Papua on Sunday.

The National Disaster and Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said that 79 people were still reported missing since the flash flood hit the regency.

The death toll from flash floods in Indonesia's Papua region has risen to 89. Over 6000 people have been evacuated from flooded villages after days of heavy rain.

The worst affected parts are in and around Jayapura and villages near Lake Sentani which overflowed, spilling large volumes of water through surrounding areas.

Arie Ruhyanto – Three soldiers and several members of an armed group were killed in a shootout earlier this month in Nduga, Papua. Last Sunday, Indonesia's easternmost province suffered another blow; flash floods killed at least 79 people in Sentani, near Papua's capital, Jayapura.

Victor Mambor and Gemma Holliani Cahya, Jayapura and Jakarta – Residents fled their homes as heavy rain and flooding continued on Tuesday in Jayapura, Papua, inundating more villages across the regency.

At least 89 people are reported to have died with 84 suffering serious injuries on the third day of the torrential rain that has hit the country's easternmost province.

Robert Isidorus, Jakarta – The flash flood in Sentani, Papua, which has killed at least 100 people since Saturday (16/03) has been years in the making, experts said, with Papua's unique mountainous terrain and a recent weather anomaly combining to a disastrous effect.

Johni Korwa – The prospect of Indonesians abstaining from voting (golput), out of disillusionment with Jokowi or weariness of the options on offer, has been a widely-debated topic in this election.

The search is continuing in Indonesia's Papua Province for people missing after major floods at the weekend.

Local authorities said 68 people are confirmed to have died from the floods near the provincial capital Jayapura.

Heavy rain over the weekend caused flooding and landslides and authorities report over 1000 people have been evacuated to safety.

Australia-based anthropologist Yamin Kogoya said there is too much emphasise on ramming the Indonesian state ideology down Papuans' throats.

Indonesia's president Joko Widodo has pushed major infrastructure development projects in Papua in the past three years.

Jakarta – A seven-hour torrential downpour caused the flood, which has forced 4,728 residents to evacuate to six different emergency shelters. Meanwhile, the BNPB has estimated that 11,725 families have been affected by the flood.

Jakarta – Around 200 school students from many villages in conflict-ridden Nduga, Papua, may not be able to participate in the national exams this year following ongoing conflict between the Indonesian Military (TNI) and an armed group with ties to the Free Papua Movement (OPM) in the region.

Tom Stayner – West Papuan Victor Yeimo has given testimony to the UN Human Rights Council alleging more than 2000 people have fled violence in his homelands.

The spokesperson for the West Papua National Committee, told the council's 40th session in Geneva, Indigenous Papuans are being targeted in the Indonesian-controlled province.

Jakarta – The government has told the administrations of Papua province and Mimika regency to establish a region-owned enterprise (BUMD) to hold the 10 percent combined shares they were allotted through the divestment of copper and gold miner PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI).

The UN Human Rights Council has heard that at least 2000 Papuans have been displaced by escalating violence in Indonesia's Nduga regency.

The claims were part of presentations to the council by the West Papua National Committee, or KNPB, on Wednesday in Geneva.

A new US government report has found West Papuans continue to face violence, politically-motivated detentions and threats in Indonesia. The findings were part of a State Department review of Indonesia's human rights conduct last year.