Indonesia's new ambassador to New Zealand says issues of importance to Pacific Island countries are his country's concerns too.
According to Tantowi Yahya, Indonesia, with its significant Melanesian population, considers itself part of the Pacific region.
A former Vanuatu prime minister, Barak Sope, says he is confident West Papua will become independent from Indonesia.
Antara, Timika – Mimika Police in Papua have arrested a coordinator of a petition declaration and communal prayer held at the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) secretariat office after perceived threats to the unity of the Republic of Indonesia.
Indonesian officials say no bibles were burnt in an incident last week which preceded unrest in the Papua provincial capital Jayapura.
On Thursday members of a local Zionist congregation clashed with local security forces in Abepura district.
Kendall Hutt, Auckland – Political support in New Zealand for an independent West Papua is growing after a "historic declaration" was signed during free West Papua advocate Benny Wenda's visit to the country this month.
Production has been hit at the massive Grasberg mine in Indonesia's Papua province as more than 9,000 workers stage an extended strike.
The mine's owner, Freeport McMoRan, also says a "large number" of the absentee workers are deemed to have resigned.
This statement has been written by West Papuan Independence Leader Benny Wenda after Indonesian police officers brutally tortured Nareki Kogoya from the National Human Rights Commission.
Susan Taylor, Toronto – Freeport McMoRan Inc said on Thursday that mining and milling rates at its Grasberg copper mine in Papua, Indonesia have been affected as some 9,000 workers stage an extended strike, and a "large number" of approximately 4,000 absentee workers were deemed to have resigned.
There's been more deadly violence in Indonesia's Papua province. The body of a 45-year old woman from Maluku province was discovered outside a power plant in Waena, near Jayapura, early on Saturday morning.
As police moved the following day to make arrests in connection with the alleged murder, a mob of around two hundred Moluccans gathered in Waena to avenge the woman's death.
Agustinus Beo Da Costa and Samuel Wanda, Jakarta/Timika – An estimated 9,000 workers at the giant Grasberg copper mine operated by Freeport McMoRan Inc (FCX.N) will extend a strike for a second month, a union official said on Saturday, in an ongoing dispute over employment terms and layoffs.
Two cases of violence against journalists in Papua in the past week highlight the empty promise of Press Law protections in Indonesia's easternmost province, as well as the false hopes of President Joko Widodo, who more than two years ago promised to open foreign press access to the area.
The Indonesian government needs to change the policy of development which makes Papuan community a subject, says a non-government organisation that specialises in West Papuan development issues.
Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura, Papua – Representatives of many societal elements in Papua have called for the disbandment of a hard-line Islamic group, Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), which now has about 300 followers in regencies and municipalities across the region.
Christian leaders from the Guild of Papuan Churches have rallied against growing radicalism in Indonesia which they claim has penetrated the Christian-majority region.
Jayapura, Jubi – Laurenzus Kadepa, Papua legislator has called for a referendum in Papua to prove the results of a Political Indicator survey that said 60 percent of Papuans (OAP) refused to separate from the Unitary Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).
He said if the survey results were true, certainly the Jakarta should not worry about holding a referendum.
Timika, Papua – Gold and copper mining firm PT Freeport has reportedly laid off 840 employees for going on strike in Timika, Papua province, some time ago.
Septinus Soumilena, Head of the Immigration, Transmigration and Public Housing Office, confirmed he had received a report from PT Freeport about the dismissal of some 840 employees.
Indonesia has disputed reports that this month's African, Caribbean and Pacific meeting featured discussion about West Papua.
The ACP Council of Ministers in Brussels reportedly heard a joint statement on Papua from seven Pacific countries – Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Nauru, Palau and the Marshall Islands.
Indonesian immigration authorities have deported a group of six Japanese filmmakers from Papua for allegedly misusing their visas.
The head of the Jayapura Immigration Office Yopie Watimena told the Jakarta Post the group had been illegally filming a documentary in Wamena. He said they did not have journalist visas.
Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura, Papua – Thousands of citizens of Jayapura in Papua have joined waves of national and international support for the release of non-active Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama from detention as well as to save the state ideology of Pancasila from efforts to undermine it.
Jayapura, Jubi – West Papua's most famous ex-political prisoner, Filep Karma who was sentenced to 15 years in jail just for raising the West Papuan flag, has visited the Netherlands where alongside Free West Papua Campaign – Netherlands he has been raising awareness and support for West Papua's freedom and self-determination.
James Borrowdale – Benny Wenda looked entirely incongruous as his face hovered over a plate of bacon and eggs, his chieftain's neckwear, pig tusks at the end of a necklace adorned by shells – he calls it his "tie" – hanging from his neck to rest against his tiny frame, as we sat in the dining-room of a house in a sleepy South Auckland suburb.
Johnny Blades – This week's visit to New Zealand by a West Papuan independence leader has thrown the polarisation around his cause into stark relief.
Benny Wenda visited New Zealand to meet MPs, Foreign Affairs officials, trade unionists and the general public to raise awareness about his homeland.
Jakarta – A six-member television crew from Japan was deported from the easternmost Indonesian province of Papua on Thursday for immigration violations, a local immigration official said.
Freeport has posted signs reminding miners of its right to fire them after five days on strike, because they are unapproved absences, according to the Chemical, Energy and Mines Workers Union (CEMWU).
The miners are protesting Freeport's furlough policy, which saw thousands of workers kept on the payroll but lose their accommodation.
Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura, Papua – Massive infrastructure developments in Papua during President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's administration should be appreciated by those in the province, but more needs to be done to develop the region, said religious leader Rev. Sofyan Yoman on Thursday.
MPs from four New Zealand political parties have signed a declaration by the International Parliamentarians for West Papua.
This follows an address at parliament by the West Papuan independence leader Benny Wenda who is in New Zealand raising awareness about his Indonesian-ruled homeland.
Kendall Hutt, Auckland – A lifelong campaigner for a free and independent West Papua has issued a stark warning to New Zealand politicians as he visits the country this week.
International support for West Papuan self-determination cause is growing, according to a Papuan independence leader.
Last night in Wellington he addressed a group of MPs, after which eleven members signed a declaration by the International Parliamentarians for West Papua.
Hundreds of people have attended an event in Indonesia's Papua province to show support for the embattled outgoing governor of Jakarta.
Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, commonly known as Ahok, was this week sentenced to two years in prison, after being found guilty of insulting Islam.
Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo visited on Wednesday Mama-Mama Market in Papua, a market he promised to build during his visit in 2014 soon after he was elected president.
Mania Clarke – West Papuan independence leader, Benny Wenda has returned to Aotearoa to gain support from indigenous Maori and Pacific people as part of a campaign to free his country.
Zely Ariane, Jakarta, Jubi – Space for freedom of expression, especially for those who want to campaign for the right to self-determination or separatist issues in Papua, is deliberately limited. As a result all expression related to it is prohibited, repressed, or to be criminalized by application of the articles of treason.
David Robie, Jakarta – Indonesian hospitality was given a rave notice last week for hosting World Press Freedom Day 2017, but it was also given a huge black mark for its "gagging" of free discussion over West Papua violations.
A coalition of Pacific Island nations has delivered an emphatic call to the African, Caribbean and Pacific group of states to back West Papuan self-determination.
Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Nauru, Palau and the Marshall Islands delivered a joint statement at the ACP's Council of Ministers in Brussels.
Jakarta – The majority of indigenous people in Papua reject separation from Indonesia, while less than one-fifth Papuans support the idea of separatism, according to a survey published on Friday.
The Pacific Island nations of Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Nauru, Palau and the Marshall Islands delivered a hard-hitting joint statement today condemning Indonesia's human rights violations, including crimes against humanity, at the Council of Ministers of the 79-member Africa Caribbean Pacific Group of States (ACP) and called for an eventual resolution that includes support of
Benny Mawel, Jayapura – A Catholic bishop in Indonesia's Papua province has criticized a plan by local authorities in Jayapura to build "the world's tallest statue of Jesus," calling the move a waste of much-needed money.
Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – Indonesia is currently enjoying the privilege of hosting this year's World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) celebration, themed "Critical Minds for Critical Times: Media's Role in Advancing Peaceful Just and Inclusive Societies."
Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura, Papua – Lt. Col. Yusman Mandayun, the chief of staff of the Praja Wirabraja Military command in Biak, Papua, has been assigned to lead the team set up to investigate the alleged stabbing of two civilians by soldiers in Paniai, Papua, on May 1.
Two West Papuans were stabbed by military personnel in Paniai regency of Indonesia's Papua province. Police in Papua confirmed that the incident arose from a melee at a general store, or kiosk, in Paniai's capital Madi.
Nurul Fitri Ramadhani and Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) has recorded two cases of violence against journalists in the past two weeks.
The following letter has been emailed to the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gerry Brownlee today, World Press Freedom Day.
David Sobolim, Jayapura, Jubi – Two days before World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) 2017 in Jakarta, violence and intimidation again experienced by journalists in Papua.
Arjuna Pedemme, Jayapura, Jubi – Jayapura Resort Police said that they had sent dozens of West Papua National Committee (KNPB) arrested in Sentani, Jayapura Regency, Monday (May 1), when they were about to hold the commemoration of Papua Annexation Day, May 1, 1963.
Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – Human rights activists have invited journalists and participants of the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) conference in Jakarta to attend a side event highlighting the lack of press freedom in restive Papua, which is not discussed in the four-day conference.
On the 1st May in 1963 Indonesia took over the administration of West Papua from United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA) and 54 years later the West Papuan people still continue their struggle for self-determination.
Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura, Papua – The Jayapura District Court has sentenced 19 district heads from Jayapura regency, Papua, to six months' probation for election violations.
The judges read out the sentence in a hearing on Tuesday, during which the court also ordered the defendants to pay Rp 600 million (US$45,146) in fines.
Jakarta – The Trade Ministry has issued a permit allowing PT Freeport Indonesia to export its supply of copper concentrate, as the mining giant continues to settle its differences with the government on matters relating to the conversion of a Contract of Work (CoW) signed in 1991 into a special mining license (IUPK).
Jakarta – The National Police have said they are investigating an incident where police officers fired rubber bullets at PT Freeport Indonesia workers during a rally in Timika, Papua, last week.
Jakarta – Andi Gani Nena Wea, president of the Indonesian Workers Union Confederation (KSPSI), lamented the actions of police officers who allegedly fired shots at PT Freeport Indonesia workers during a rally in Timika, Papua.