Godwin Ligo – The Vanuatu West Papua Association is hosting a "Wantok Summit" for Free West Papua Civil Society Organization support group in the Melanesian region of Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Kanaky, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and West Papua at the Vanuatu Christian Council (VCC) office, 8.30 am today.

Amnesty International has urged the Indonesian and local authorities in Papua to implement immediate and effective measures to ensure security of Agustinus Aud, who is the spokesperson of the West Papuan National Committee.

The Papua New Guinea Government has reiterated its stance on the West Papua issue, saying that the Papua Province remains an integral part of Indonesia.

This follows the attendance of the PNG delegation led by Foreign Affairs Minister, Rimbink Pato, to the United Nations General Assembly meeting where several Pacific Island nations raised the West Papua issue.

Jayapura, Jubi – Talk of settling cases of human rights violations in Papua is only aimed at pacifying the criticism of the international community, the coordinator of human rights group Kontras Jakarta, Haris Azhar, told Jubi on Tuesday (27/9/2016).

UA: 218/16 Index: ASA 21/4893/2016 Indonesia Date: 27 September 2016

On 24 September, men in plain clothes attempted to abduct Papuan political activist Agustinus Aud at his home in Sorong, West Papua Province. He has been very active organising peaceful demonstrations to criticise Indonesian policies in Papua.

Indonesia has accused a number of Pacific Islands countries of interfering in its domestic matters regarding West Papua at the United Nations.

The accusation during the UN General Assembly came after leaders from six Pacific countries – Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Nauru, the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu – expressed concern about human rights abuses in Papua.

A representative of Indonesia attacked leaders of Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Nauru, Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Tonga for what she claims was 'lack of understanding on the history and progressive developments' happening in these two provinces.'

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Three people were injured when a military truck was shot at in Kota Mulia, Puncak Jaya, Papua, on Saturday.

A civilian identified as Winingga Tabuni, 25, was shot in the chest, while Second Sgt. Susanto was shot in the left arm and Second Sgt. Suparman, the driver, was hit in the left leg.

Jayapura, Jubi – Since the shooting incident in Karel Gobay Square, Enarotali, Paniai, that killed four students, security forces have shot 18 Papuans aged 14-19, eight of them fatally. It has become a new trend of violence in Papua.

Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto has admitted that the authorities faced numerous obstacles in resolving human rights abuse cases in Papua.

The Solomon Islands representative in Geneva, Switzerland, has repeated calls for Indonesia to allow a UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression to visit West Papua and Papua Provinces.

Minister Councilor at the Solomon Islands Mission in Geneva, Switzerland, Barrett Salato made the call at the start of the 33rd Human Rights Council Meeting in Geneva on Monday this week.

Solomon Islands has again called on Indonesia to cooperate with the United Nations Human Rights Council to allow a UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression to visit its Papua region.

Thousands of Papuans rallying yesterday across Indonesia were reportedly dispersed by police and at least 75 were arrested.

The rallies were in support of the Pacific Coalition on West Papua's bid to make a call at the UN General Assembly for an intervention into human rights abuses in West Papua.

Area Dipa Tangerang, Banten – The Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD), an international network of media assistance groups, is drawing attention to the Indonesian government's policy to restrict foreign journalists from covering Papua. This concern is related to Indonesia's appointment as the host country for World Press Freedom Day in 2017.

TJ Aumua – Thousands of people have rallied across West Papua this week demanding independence and their right to self-determination.

The Free West Papua Campaign (FWPC) stated those that took part in the peaceful demonstrations marched with a clear message: "We want to be free people".

Florence Syme-Buchanan – The Cook Islands Teachers Institute has initiated strong condemnation by regional educators of atrocities reportedly committed by the Indonesian government in West Papua.

Sorong, Jubi – The Central Government has not been serious in resolving the allegations of human rights violations in Papua up to the mid September and towards the end of 2016, said the director of Study, Research and Legal Aid Institute (LP3BH) Manokwari, Yan Christian Warinussy

Thousands of Papuans rallying yesterday across Indonesia were reportedly dispersed by police and at least 75 were arrested.

The rallies were in support of the Pacific Coalition on West Papua's bid to make a call at the UN General Assembly for an intervention into human rights abuses in West Papua.

The Yakuhimo Police arrested 21 members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) as they distributed leaflets about a peaceful rally to be held on Monday the 19 September.

Eight activists were arrested first, followed by another 13 when over 200 people protested outside the local police station at the arrests.

Jayapura, Jubi – The Foundation for Law, Justice and Society is pleased to announce the publication of a Policy Brief in conjunction with the University of Warwick Politics of Papua Project, which presents 14 recommendations for the United Kingdom to help bring an end to the political and constitutional conflict in the West Papua Region of Indonesia.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Security is still a major concern in the country's easternmost region with many civilian groups and security officers participating in fatal shootings.

The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) said on Thursday that so long as criminals in Puncak Jaya, Puncak and Lanny Jaya possessed guns, security in the region would remain fragile

A West Papuan leader has questioned whether the Pacific Islands Forum will hold constructive dialogue with Indonesia about Papua.

Forum leaders at their summit in Pohnpei last week resolved that concerns about alleged human rights abuses by Indonesia in Papua should be discussed with Jakarta.

The Vanuatu prime minister Charlot Salwai says that Forum leaders at last week's summit in the Federated States of Micronesia reached consensus on reports of alleged human rights violations committed by Indonesia in Papua.

Michael McDermott – TeleSUR spoke to Benny Wenda, an exiled West Papuan leader who explained his people's ongoing struggle for independence against Indonesia and their plans for the future.

Civil society groups are questioning the independence of island leaders in the Pacific Islands Forum while Australia and New Zealand are at the table.

This comes after what the Pacific Islands Association of NGOs described some outcomes from last week's leaders summit in the Federated States of Micronesia as disappointing.

Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – The National Police are stepping up the hunt for the gunman in a mysterious shooting that left a teacher dead in Mulia district, Puncak Jaya, Papua on Monday.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Police in Papua have increased security measures by sending two special teams to Puncak Jaya regency following the fatal shooting of a teacher in the regency's Mulia district.

Jakarta – 27-year-old teacher Yuni Yesra Patatang was shot dead in Karubate village in the Mulia subdistrict, Puncak Jaya, Papua, on Monday (12/09).

Around 6.30 p.m, Yuni, an honorary teacher at Kulirik state-elementary school, was found dead on a street with two gunshot wounds to her neck and back.

Pacific Islands Forum leaders have been accused of hollow talk about listening to the people of the region on important issues like West Papua.

Following last week's Forum leaders summit in Pohnpei, regional civil society groups have voiced disappointment at what they see as a lack of any outcome or substance on the issue of West Papua.

Pacific leaders' lack of expressed commitment to action the case of West Papua at their meeting in Federated States of Micronesia may be due to geo politics says Pacific Islands Association of NGOs (PIANGO) executive director, Emele Duituturaga.

Benny Mawel, Jayapura – An Indonesian bishop has accused local authorities in Papua of ignoring an alcohol ban they introduced earlier this year, saying their inaction has contributed to a spate of deaths linked to the consumption of bootleg liquor.

Although AWPA is encouraged that the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders have decided that human rights violations in West Papua should remain on their agenda, it was disappointing that no mention of a PIF fact-finding mission to West Papua was mentioned in the official communique.

Vanuatu's deputy prime minister says the strong support for West Papuans among the people of Melanesia should eventually translate to a co-ordinated regional response.

Joe Nathan admits there are differences of approach on Papua among member governments of the Melanesian Spearhead Group about the bid for full membership by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.

Giff Johnson, Majuro – A West Papua leader is the most optimistic he has been in years about gaining support from this week's Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia.

Farida Susanty, Jakarta – Many Indonesians know Vina Panduwinata's song "September Ceria", which tells of happiness and new hope in the month of September. However, for Papuans, September will instead dim their hopes of development in their region.

Indonesia is impeding Pacific regional efforts to pursue justice for human rights abuses against Papuans the United Liberation Movement for West Papua says.

Criticism from the Movement's ambassador for the Pacific Islands region, Amatus Douw, comes as Papua is to be discussed at the Pacific Islands Forum leaders summit in the Federated States of Micronesia.

Nic Maclellan (Islands Business magazine) in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia – The issue of West Papua will be on the agenda at this week's Pacific Islands Forum, in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia.

Dame Meg Taylor, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, says that West Papua is a sensitive issue for some Pacific governments, but one that needs to be debated.

A petition has been tabled in New Zealand's parliament calling on the government to make a number of representations on the plight of West Papuans.

The public petition, which garnered 1367 signatures, was handed over to a group of Labour and Greens MPs today before being tabled in the chamber.

Biak, Jubi – The human rights group Kontras has urged Papua Police Chief Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw to complete the investigation into the death of civilian Simoan Warikar allegedly at the hands of two police officers.

The Pacific Coalition on West Papua (PCWP) is gaining momentum with the addition of two new members and the confirmation of the membership of two other parties who indicated their profound support for the initiative since its introduction in Honiara, Solomon Islands in July this year.

Anton Hermansyah, Jakarta – The government has changed its approach in developing Papua from administration-based development to anthropological-based development.

A West Papua leader says he is the most optimistic he has been in years about gaining support from this week's Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in the Federated States of Micronesia.

Two more countries have joined the Pacific Coalition on West Papua, voicing their concerns over human rights abuses in the Indonesian province and asking that the United Nations intervene.

Surya Anta – Increasingly broad mobilisations by the Papuan people in recent years shows that there must be a new assessment of West Papuan as an entity. An entity that should be, must be, recognised as a nation.

Jayapura – Papua Police are investigating the fatal shooting of 15-year-old student Otianus Sondegau in Sugapa, Intan Jaya Papua, on Saturday by questioning 32 witnesses of the incident.

Papua Police chief Paulus Waterpauw said police investigators had examined the scene where the victim was gunned down.

Jayapura, Jubi – Chairman of the Indonesian Planned Parenthood Association Jayapura Municipality, Agus Fauzi, said the number of LGBT in Papua is continuously growing each year.

A priest in Indonesia's Papua regoin has appealed to President Joko Widodo to halt the destruction of pristine forests by a palm oil developer.

The Catholic UCA news service reports Father Anselmus Amo saying the forest in Papua's Muting area, about 200 kilometres from Merauke, is being snatched from tribal people who depend on it for their survival.

Eman Riberu, Merauke, Indonesia – A priest in Merauke Archdiocese in Papua has appealed to Indonesian President Joko Widodo, urging him to halt the destruction of pristine forests by a palm plantation corporation.

Jayapura, Jubi – A teenager died after being shot allegedly by a Mobile Brigade officer in Sugapa. Angry residents set fire to the Sugaba Police Station in response to the news.

A local resident contacted by Jubi said the shooting occurred on Saturday (27/8/2016) at around 10:25 Papua time and followed a previous shooting on Thursday (25/8/2016).

Jakarta – A police office in the Sugapa subdistrict in Intan Jaya, Papua, was burned down late Saturday (27/08) in a riot following the killing of 15-year-old Etinus Sondegau in an incident involving police earlier in the day.