Indonesia has denied allegations regarding West Papua made by Pacific leaders at the UN General Assembly in New York.
It has lashed out at the leaders of Solomon Islands and Vanuatu who called for an investigation into alleged killings, torture, abduction and human rights abuses against indigenous West Papuans by Indonesian security forces.
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 at by unknown assailants at Mile 60 in the mining area of PT Freeport Indonesia in Papua on Monday.
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 the country's five major parties.
The West Papua National Coalition for Liberation says its decolonisation aspirations are focussed on action at the United Nations.
The Coalition is one of the key groups within the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, which is pushing for internationally-facilitated negotiation with Indonesia over Papua's political status.
One of the founders of the West Papuan independence movement, Nicolaas Jouwe, has died in Jakarta at the age of 93.
Jouwe was a member of the New Guinea Council, the legislature established in 1961 by the Netherlands in its former territory of West New Guinea. He was the highest ranking Papuan in the colony as the Dutch were preparing it for independence.
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 undisputed agreement of the best sons and daughters of Papua together with youth from various regions in Indonesia.
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.
A protest supporting West Papua's independence was staged during the summit outside the Forum's venue which upset Jakarta.
Sela Jane Hopgood reports.
Transcript
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.
Laurenzus Kadepa, who is also part of the Legislative Council on Political, Legal and Human Rights, is among those pushing for the establishment of such a court.
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 Forum Leaders meeting.
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.
Pacific Islanders are increasingly speaking out over their concern about reports of human rights abuses in Indonesia's Papua region, and the cause of West Papuan self-determination aspirations.
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.
28-year-old Yulianus Pigai died and and up to 16 others were injured when police opened fire to disperse an angry crowd in the Deiyai regency of Papua province.
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."
That lament, posted on Facebook by Papuan newspaper editor Victor Mambor, expresses the dismay felt by many Papuans at the official response to the latest police killing of an ethnic Papuan youth.
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 written test to become professional supervisors in the Villagers Empowerment and Development Program.
Indonesian officials have been criticised for the manner of their condemnation of a West Papua protest during the Pacific Forum summit in Apia.
A protest in support of West Papua's independence movement was held outside the venue of the Pacific Island Forum Leaders summit in Samoa's capital last week.
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.
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 August 1, 2017 in Oneibo, Tigi District, Deiyai, is criticized by Papuan Customary Council (DAP).
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 biodiversity of forests across Indonesia during this year's Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) expedition.
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 48th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, this week.
An Indonesian official says human rights abuses are no longer happening in West Papua like they used to.
Franzalbert Joku from the Ministry for Political, Judicial and Security in Indonesia is at the 48th Pacific Islands Leaders Forum in Samoa.
"I'm saying it's not happening to the scale like in the 60s, 70s, 80s and even as late as the 90s."
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 enterprises after the company agreed to divest 51 percent of its shares.
The United Liberation Movement for West Papua says it's not interested in one-on-one dialogue with Indonesia's government.
Various Papuan civil society, church and customary leaders met with Indonesia's president Joko Widodo last month about establishing dialogue over problems in Papua.
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 attending the 48th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders meeting this week.
West Papuan independence campaigners are to petition the United Nations in New York later this month with signatures of people inside the Indonesian province. They say obtaining those endorsements has come at great risk to all involved.
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 plight of West Papua and its people.
Protest organiser Jerome Mika said the protest was to ensure Pacific leaders did not ignore the issue of West Papua.
Demonstrators are staging another protest this afternoon outside the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Apia, in support of West Papuan independence.
Police disbanded about thirty protestors demonstrating outside the meeting venue in Samoa's capital this morning. The protest organiser Jerome Mika said he had to contact the police commissioner about demonstrating again.
There are signs of a significant peace dialogue opening up between Indonesia's government and West Papuans.
Various Papuan civil society, church and customary leaders met with Indonesia's president Joko Widodo last month about establishing dialogue over problems in Papua.
An investigation into a fatal incident on Papua's south coast last month found an Indonesian military officer used gunfire to respond to a melee in a fishing dispute.
The incident on 9 August left one West Papuan dead and three other people injured, according to an investigative report by the Timika Diocese Justice and Peace Secretariat.
West Papua advocacy groups based in Australia and New Zealand have urged the Pacific Islands Forum to act decisively on Papua.
Representatives of the Forum's 18 members are gathering for their annual leaders summit in Apia this week.
Jakarta – Freeport McMoran (FCX) has stated that it still controls Grasberg mine in Papau, even after the company divested 51 percent of its shares in its subsidiary, PT Freeport Indonesia, as required by Indonesian law.
"FCX will continue to take control over the operation and management of PTFI," said FCX in its statement last week.
Huia Welton – Unions representing 320,000 Kiwi workers have strongly endorsed the right of the people of West Papua to self-determination.
The call comes as Pacific Island heads of state meet in Apia for the annual Pacific Island Forum Leaders Meeting.
Libertina Widyamurti Ambari, Bogor, W Java – The Association of Advocacy for Policies and Human Rights (PAK-HAM) of Papua will hold an international conference on human rights on the protection and preservation of natural resources based on local wisdoms.
A West Papuan independence leader says he will petition the United Nations General Assembly later this month with the signatures of his people.
The petition calls on the UN to facilitate a legitimate self-determination process for West Papua.
Jakarta – Nongovernmental organizations and experts have raised concerns over the undiscussed details in a recent agreement between the Indonesian government and United States mining giant Freeport-McMoRan that could potentially cause a new dispute.
Martahan Sohuturon, Jakarta – Four Indonesian police (Polri) officers have been found guilty in relation to a clash that took place in Bomou village, South Tigi district, Deiyai regency, Papua, in early August. Their only punishment however is that they must issue a verbal apology and will be transferred.
The brutal occupation of West Papua is under-reported – but UK and US corporations are profiting from the violence, write Eliza Egret and Tom Anderson.
Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The Papua Police will monitor the use of village funds amounting to Rp 4.3 trillion (US$322 million) allocated for 5,420 villages in 28 regencies and one municipality across the province.
Jakarta – Indonesia's government left no doubts as to who it believes got the better deal in its landmark agreement with Freeport McMoRan on the future of the Grasberg copper mine.
Campaigners for improved human rights in West Papua are swimming to the United Nations in Geneva today carrying a petition calling for action in the Indonesian territory.
The document urges the UN to facilitate a legitimate self-determination process for West Papua.
A British team was today swimming a crushing 30 hours and covering 69 km straight across Lake Geneva to deliver a petition calling for self-determination in West Papua to the United Nations.
A message received after more than seven hours into the swim on the live Facebook page said:
Auckland – The Australia West Papua Association has urged leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum to continue their support of West Papua.
In an open letter, AWPA called on the Forum's 18 members to keep raising the issue of human rights abuses with Indonesia's government and continue applying pressure on Jakarta to allow a fact-finding mission to the Indonesian-ruled territory.
West Papua Action Auckland calls on Pacific Island Forum leaders to take action on West Papua next week.
'We are pleased that West Papua is on the agenda at this year's Forum meeting (4-8 September) and we are calling on the leaders to take decisive action to help resolve the region's most serious human rights crisis, ' said Maire Leadbeater, West Papua Action Auckland.
Jakarta – Indonesia and Freeport-McMoRan on Tuesday (29/08) reached an agreement to allow the US miner to keep operating its giant Grasberg copper and gold mine, though the timing and price of a 51 percent divestment in the mine still needs to be worked out.
Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura, Papua – The Papua administration is stepping up efforts to prevent the spread of HIV by providing antibody tests to pregnant women seeking healthcare services at hospitals or community health centers.
Victor Mambor Jayapura – The Indonesian government's decision to allow one of the world's largest copper and gold mines to operate in Papua province through 2041 prompted local leaders to remind officials that their people never gave up land ownership and want a role in negotiations.
AWPA has written an open letter to the PIF leaders (letter below media release).
Produce and directed by Ash Brennan and narrated by Basia Bonkowski, Punks for West Papua is a documentary about how the United Nations betrayed the people of West Papua and how one man's selfless gesture inspired a history making movement to help strangers in a foreign land.
The outlook for the plantation industry in Papua has started to show signs of change recently, both because of a sustainability drive in the palm oil supply chain, which has forced many companies to suspend deforestation plans, and better-informed indigenous communities increasingly opposing companies' attempts to acquire their land.