Jayapura, Jubi – In a celebration marking his release from Abepura Penitentiary in Jayapura City on Saturday, September 23, 2023, Viktor Yeimo, the International Spokesperson of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) convicted of treason, urged the Papuan people to persist in their battle against racism and discrimination.

Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)PO Box 28, Spit Junction,NSW 2088

Senator the Hon Penny Wong
PO Box 6100
Senate
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

27 September 2023

Dear Foreign Minister,

Marni Cordell – The body of 17-year-old Wity Unue was brought back by the Indonesian military in a box, witnesses say. When soldiers couldn't find his family, they burned the cardboard coffin, with his body inside, in a clearing at the end of a road in the remote highlands of West Papua.

The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) has adopted a fresh approach in addressing the longstanding West Papuan issue, as confirmed by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare upon his return from the UNGA in New York last week.

Yamin Kogoya – Prominent West Papuan independence activist Victor Yeimo was yesterday released from prison in Jayapura, Indonesia's occupied capital of West Papua, sparking a massive celebration among thousands of Papuans.

His release has ignited a spirit of unity among Papuans in their fight against what they refer to as racism, colonialism, and imperialism.

Jayapura – In his remarks welcoming Papua activist Victor Yeimo's release from prison on Saturday September 23, United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Secretary Markus Haluk expressed his appreciation and gratitude to all parties in the Land of Papua.

Agus Pabika, Jayapura – West Papua National Committee (KNPB) international spokesperson Victor F. Yeimo was released from the Abepura Penitentiary in Jayapura city on Saturday September 23. He was greeted by family members, activists, his team of lawyers and thousands of ordinary Papuans.

Jayapura, Jubi – The Papua Office of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM Papua) has not been able to confirm the identities of the five bodies found in Kali Brasa, Dekai, on September 15, 2023. The agency has yet to complete their monitoring and verification of the incident.

Church groups have joined rights activists in Papua to seek action against Indonesian police for forcibly entering a church late at night and arresting its five members, accusing them of supporting separatists.

The incident was reported on Sept. 17 around 11.30 p.m. at the Tent Gospel Church (Kingmi) in Keneyam, Nduga Regency.

Jayapura, Jubi – In Jayapura City, Yahukimo students are making a plea to the Yahukimo Regency Government, urging them to pay attention to the welfare of residents who have sought refuge in Dekai. These people fled to Dekai to escape the escalating armed conflict in Yahukimo between the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) and the Indonesian Military (TNI) and Police.

Jayapura – West Papua National Committee (KNPB) spokesperson Ones Suhuniap is asking Jayapura city police chief (Kapolresta) Senior Commissioner Victor Makbun to stop creating a commotion in the media about a planned thanksgiving meeting to welcome the release of Victor Yeimo.

Jayapura, Jubi – The dean of the Faculty of Social Science at Okmin University of Papua, Octaviaen Gerald Bidana said Papua's New Autonomous Region (DOB) established by the Central Government was a deliberate strategy aimed at sidelining the Indigenous Papuan population. This strategy involves the establishment of entry points for large-scale transmigration programs.

Jayapura, Jubi – On Monday, September 18, 2023, at around 2:30 p.m. Papua time, the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) targeted one market and seven kiosks owned by residents in Serambakon District, Bintang Mountains Regency, Mountainous Papua Province.

Jayapura, Jubi – On Friday, September 15, 2023, Papua Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Ignatius Benny Ady Prabowo reported five bodies were discovered following what was claimed to be an exchange of gunfire between the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) on Thursday. Police found two magazines and four bullets at the same location.

Jayapura, Jubi – The Papua Legal Aid Institute (LBH Papua) has asserted that the government bears the responsibility for safeguarding the human rights of the numerous displaced people and children in Yahukimo Regency, Mountainous Papua Province.

An Australian human rights advocacy group for West Papuans has condemned the killing of 5 youths found dead in Dekai, capital of Yahukimo Regency, and have challenged Canberra to reconsider government ties with Indonesian security forces.

Antara, Jayapura, Papua – Papua Police Chief Inspector General Mathius Fakhiri stated that Susi Air's pilot New Zealander Phillip Mehrtens, held captive by the Egianus Kogoya-led armed group members since February 7, was reportedly in good health.

A Radio New Zealand Pacific journalist has alleged that an Indonesian official attempted to both bribe and intimidate him following an interview at the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) leaders' summit in the Vanuatu capital of Port Vila last month.

The Free Papua Organisation (Organisasi Papua Merdeka-OPM) has sent an open letter to the United Nations leadership demanding that "decolonisation" of the former Dutch colony of West New Guinea, the Indonesian-administered region known across the Pacific as West Papua, be initiated under the direction of the UN Trusteeship Council.The letter accuses the UN of being a "criminal acces

David Robie – Prime Minister James Marape has made two foreign policy gaffes in the space of a week that may come back to bite him as Papua New Guinea prepares for its 48th anniversary of independence this Saturday.

Jayapura, Jubi – The meeting of Committee II of the Papua Regional Representative Council (DPD) resulted in the agreement on various aspects concerning the impact of mining giant Freeport Indonesia's tailings in the Mimika region of Jita and Agimuga, Central Papua Province.

Jayapura, Jubi – Director of the Democracy Alliance for Papua (AIDP) Latifah Anum Siregar has criticized the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) for the slow progress in investigating the alleged shootings of civilians in Dogiyai Regency, Central Papua Province.

Jakarta – The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM) has confirmed that the Susi Air pilot from New Zealand, Philip Mark Mehrtens, who was taken hostage by the group in early February, is still alive.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy has spoken out about the poverty rate in Papua which has not been declining. He attributed this to the lack of direct monitoring of the affected region by policymakers.

Jayapura, Jubi – The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has accumulated pending tasks related to its investigation of alleged civilian shootings in Dogiyai Regency.

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has backtracked on his comments that PNG had no right to comment on human rights abuses in West Papua and has offered a clarification to "clear misconceptions and apprehension".

Last week, Marape met with the Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the sidelines of the 43rd ASEAN summit in Jakarta.

Theressia Silalahi, Jakarta – Prosecutors on Wednesday recommended a prison sentence of 10 and a half years for former Papua Governor Lukas Enembe, who is on trial for allegedly accepting tens of billions of rupiah in bribe money.

Moh. Khory Alfarizi, Jakarta – Transportation Ministry through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, held a forum group discussion with the theme of "Advancing Together to Improve Civil Aviation Safety in Papua" on September 11-12, 2023 in Timika, Papua.

Jayapura, Jubi – Yustus Yekusamon, a key figure and driving force behind the economic progress of indigenous communities in Grime Nawa Valley, Jayapura Regency, is collaborating with the Assessment and Empowerment of Indigenous Peoples Association (PPMA Papua).

Manokwari, Jubi – Following an incident in the Kramomongga District, Fakfak Regency, West Papua Province on August 15, 2023, the police have apprehended a total of 12 individuals suspected of involvement in the attack. Seven of them have faced legal prosecution, while five were fatally shot by law enforcement officers.

A Radio New Zealand (RNZ) journalist has alleged that an Indonesian official attempted to both bribe and intimidate him following an interview at a recent meeting of a Melanesian intergovernmental organisation in Port Vila, Vanuatu.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – An Indonesian court has upheld a government decision to curb the expansion of a multibillion-dollar oil palm plantation project in the country's easternmost region of Papua.

The Regent of Bintuni Bay Regency in West Papua Province, Petrus Kasihiw, has officially recognized the ancestral lands of three clans within the Moskona tribe: Masakoda, Yen, and Yec clans, totaling 6,262 hectares. This decision was made following the issuance of a Decree during a meeting on Saturday, September 9, 2023 in Waraitama Village, Manimeri District.

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has told Indonesia's president Joko Widodo that PNG has no right to criticise Jakarta over what he calls alleged human rights abuses in West Papua.

Jayapura, Jubi – On Thursday, September 7, 2023, three students of the Jayapura University of Science and Technology (USTJ) who had been convicted in a treason case, were released from the Abepura Prison in Jayapura City. They were picked up by a group of student activists in Jayapura City.

Jayapura, Jubi – The initial report concerning the homicide of Michelle Kurisi has been forwarded to the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM). Frits Ramandey, the head of the Papua Representative of Komnas HAM, stated on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, that his office had submitted an initial report on the Michelle Kurisi murder case to Komnas HAM in Jakarta.

Jayapura, Jubi – Local Papuan traders have urged the Jayapura City Administration to supervise and enforce Regional Regulation No. 10/2018, which focuses on safeguarding and empowering local traders, particularly Indigenous Papuans in the market.

Jayapura, Jubi – On Tuesday, September 5, 2023, the Military Court III-14 in Denpasar, Bali officially delivered its verdict, acquitting of all charges the murder defendants of Papuan teenagers Eden Bebari and Ronny Wandik, First Sgt. Vicentie De Oliviara and Chief Pvt. Bahari Muhrim of the Yonif Raider 900/SBW Unit.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry has spoken out over allegations that the Indonesian delegation at the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leaders Summit in Port Vila tried to bribe and intimidate a Radio New Zealand (RNZ) journalist in late August.

Isabella Rayner – The Indonesian government has denied claims it intimidated and bribed a Radio New Zealand (RNZ) journalist during a leader's meeting last month.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has declared it will now base itself in the region after years of partial exile.

At a conference in Port Vila late last month – coinciding with the Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders' Summit – UK-based Benny Wenda stood down as president. Menase Tabuni is now president.

Len Garae – The population of West Papua represented by United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) have an Interim President to succeed Mr. Benny Wenda.

He is Mr. Manase Tabuni, 45, who risked finding his way to attend the recent ULMWP Summit here in Port Vila.

Jayapura, Jubi – Namantus Gwijangge, a Papuan lawmaker, has called upon the West Papua National Liberation Army Group (TPNPB), led by Egianus Kogoya, to adhere to humanitarian principles and respect the right to life of civilians residing in conflict zones.

Nadine Roberts – Sebby Sambon used to regularly hear from kidnapped Kiwi pilot Phillip Mehrtens' captors but three months ago that stopped.

Mehrtens was taken by the West Papua Liberation Army after members stormed his plane in the Papua province of Indonesia and set it on fire in February.

Koroi Hawkins – A Radio New Zealand journalist says an Indonesian government official attempted to bribe and intimidate him at the recent 22nd Melanesian Spearhead Group leaders' meeting in Port Vila.

The Indonesian government has responded on Monday saying it will "surely look" into the claims.

Wamena, Jubi – Human Rights Lawyers Association (PAHAM) Papua demands a thorough and impartial investigation into the death of Michelle Kurisi, a civilian who was tragically killed on August 28, 2023, in Kolawa District, Lanny Jaya Regency, Mountainous Papua Province.

Jayapura, Jubi – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has called on the police to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the murder of Michelle Kurisi Ndoga in Lanny Jaya Regency, Mountainous Papua Province.

Vanuatu Daily Post civil society correspondents have written in unison condemning the failure of the Melanesian Spearhead Group to admit West Papua as full members of the organisation at last month's leaders' summit in Port Vila.

Press freedom in Indonesia's predominantly Christian Papua province is now the worst in the Muslim-majority Southeast Asian nation, according to a recent survey.

Duncan Graham – An Australian academic is risking an eruption of diplomatic fury by publicly criticising Indonesia's brutal response to the Papuan independence movement, a hypersensitive topic for the governments of both countries.