Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – Papuan pro-independence leader Filep Karma has called on the government to hold a referendum on independence for the country's easternmost region.

Jayapura, Papua – An Indonesian military officer was shot in an exchange of gunfire with separatists in Philia, Gurage, Puncak Jaya District, Papua Province, on Saturday.

"Thats right, one military officer was shot in an exchange of gunfire with armed group members," Major General Hinsa Siburian, commander of the Cenderawasih XVII Military District, said here, Sunday.

UNPO conducted an interview with Aprila R.A. Wayar on her experiences as a journalist carrying out her profession in West Papua. Wayar was born in West Papua and grew up in Java. After graduating from the local university in Java, she returned to West Papua to work as a journalist.

Fedina S. Sundaryani and Nethy Dharma Somba, Jakarta/Jayapura – The government's move to reduce fuel prices in Papua and West Papua may have been well-intended, but poorly thought out, analysts have warned.

Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's dual approach and inconsistent policies in Papua during his two-year administration have emerged as obstacles in his efforts to resolve the long-standing conflicts in Indonesia's easternmost region, a rights watchdog has said.

An academic specialising in West Papua says Pacific Islands peoples are taking the lead on issues of decolonisation within the region.

Dr Cammi Webb-Gannon is a research fellow at Western Sydney University's School of Humanities and Communication Arts.

Ryan Dagur, Jakarta, Indonesia – Indonesian President Joko Widodo's development of Papua needs more emphasis on human rights, according to activists.

Father Neles Tebay, a Papuan activist priest said that in the two years since Widodo took office he has not brought any significant improvement in human rights.

Nether Dharma Somba, Jayapura – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, accompanied by First Lady Iriana, has again visited Papua, inaugurating several infrastructure projects in a move aimed at winning the hearts and minds of people in the country's easternmost provinces.

West Papua specialist Dr Cammi Webb-Gannon said the unprecedented level of discussion about West Papuan self-determination and human rights at the recent UN General Assembly reflected a new momentum towards decolonisation in the Pacific.

Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is slated to visit Papua today to inaugurate a new airport in the impoverished Yahukimo regency, deep in the mountains of the country's easternmost region, which comprises the provinces of Papua and West Papua.

Jayapura – Papua Police have arrested three people for alleged criminal activities and their involvement in a separatist organization, the Papua National Liberation Force (TPN), in Paniai.

Suva – The request made by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) to Indonesia to formally respond to allegations of racial violence and discrimination against Papuans by November is a sign that the attitude of the UN to West Papua's case is beginning to change.

Around 10,000 security personnel from the National Police, the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the Community Protection Agency (linmas) will be deployed to guard the 2017 general elections in Papua.

Eleven regencies and municipalities will take part in the election scheduled for Feb. 15, 2017.

Ruby Taylor – The request made by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) to Indonesia to formally respond to allegations of racial violence and discrimination against Papuans by November is a sign that the attitude of the UN to West Papua's case is beginning to change, a Pacific Islands Association of NGO's (PIANGO) press release has stated.

Moses Ompusunggu, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has been trying to fast-track infrastructure and economic development in Papua over the last two years, but little has been achieved to prevent human rights abuses from taking place in the country's easternmost region.

Godwin Ligo – Vanuatu Prime Minister has reiterated the government and the country's stand for the independence of West Papua and New Caledonia, as unchanged.

Prime Minister Salwai, made the statement Tuesday afternoon when he officiated at the opening of a Kanaky-West Papua Exhibition at the National Cultural Centre in Port Vila.

Robert Isidorus, Jakarta – A bomb was thrown at the home of Golkar Party politician Martinus Anthon Werimon in Jayapura, Papua, on Thursday morning (13/10) in an incident believed to be connected to next year's local election. No fatalities were reported in the alleged attack.

Alin Almanar, Jakarta – Calls are mounting for President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to start implementing a proposed roadmap for reconciliation in Papua, with human rights activists claiming that he has failed to calm tensions in the restive province in the two years since he took office.

Jayapura, Jubi – The family of the victim of the shooting incident in Sugapa rejected a one-year jail sentence for an officer and 21 days for other four Mobile Brigade officers for their rolesin the incident in Sugapa, Intan Jaya Regency, Papua on 28 August.

Workers have ended a strike at a huge Indonesian gold and copper mine owned by US firm Freeport-McMoRan after an 11-day walkout that hit operations, the company said Monday.

More than 1,000 workers, mostly truck operators, went on strike on September 28 at Grasberg, one of the world's biggest gold and copper mines, located in the mountains of eastern Papua province.

Jayapura – Rights activists in Papua are angered over the punishment administered by the Papua Police office for five policemen allegedly involved in the shooting of a teenager in Intan Jaya regency, saying it was too light a punishment.

Len Garae – Whether Papua New Guinea and Fiji attend the next Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders' Summit in Port Vila or not, come the second or third week of December, the Leaders of New Caledonia, the Solomons and Vanuatu will grant West Papua full membership of the MSG.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura, Papua – Papua Police's ethical court found five policemen who were members of the Mobile Brigade guilty of ethical violation in "misusing firearms" in the death of a teenager in Sugapa, Intan Jaya regency, Papua, in August this year.

Tonga's prime minister Akilisi Pohiva has told parliament that leadership without morality is due to fail.

According to Matangi Tonga, he made the comment after being accused by Lord Nuku of interfering in Indonesia's affairs by speaking about concern for what Mr Pohiva claimed to be the ill treatment of West Papuans.

Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – [Indonesia's Security] Minister has applauded Indonesian diplomat's strong response to the allegations of human rights violations in Papua and West Papua conveyed during a recent UN General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York.

Jakarta – Papua's place in Indonesia is not up for negotiation, a minister has said in response to allegations of human rights violations conveyed during a recent UN General Assembly (UNGA) session.

Jakarta – The Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) has issued a statement condemning the Indonesian government's "denial of reports of human rights violations in Papua" during the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 26. The legal rights defender, which has previously advocated on behalf of several Papuan groups, says that the violations really took place.

Godwin Ligo – The Melanesian Wantok Summit organized by Vanuatu Free West Papua Association (VFWPA) and supported by the Pacific Islands Association of Non-Government Association (PIANGO) to coincide with the October, 2016 Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) brought together 43 representatives of Civil Society from Vanuatu, West Papua, Fiji, Kanaky, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

Dio Herdiawan Tobing – In the past few days, Indonesia's first Right of Reply in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has attracted nation-wide Indonesia medias.

More than 1,000 workers have gone on strike at an Indonesian gold and copper mine owned by US firm Freeport-McMoRan in a row over bonus payments, the company and a union said on Monday.

The workers, mostly truck operators, started the strike last Wednesday at Grasberg, one of the world's biggest gold and copper mines, which is located in the mountains of eastern Papua province.

A former prime minister of Vanuatu says the Melanesian Spearhead Group is becoming ineffective because of games being played by Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura, Papua – Gold and copper miner PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) employees, who have been on a six-day strike since Sept. 28, are calling for equal bonus distribution for workers in all departments in the company's Grasberg open pit facility in Tembagapura, Papua.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Tribal communities in Papua will finally have representatives at the regional legislative council, known as DPR Papua, following the nomination of 14 individuals by a selection team specifically tasked with dealing with the issue.

The 14 names will then be submitted to the Home Ministry for endorsement before officially starting their jobs in November.

Indonesia has been urged to open up access to West Papua, following a surge of concern about rights abuses in Papua at the United Nations.

Jakarta, Jubi – The Association of Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals (ICMI) condemned the statement by Pacific countries' leaders for what it called their meddling in Indonesia's affairs over West Papua.

ICMI Deputy Chairman Priyo Budi Santoso in a press release received in Jakarta on Thursday (29/9/2016) accused those Pacific leaders of intervening concerning West Papua.

The Foreign Ministry on Thursday brushed off concerns that Indonesia had insulted no fewer than six Pacific Island heads of state, following a viral video of a junior diplomat trashing their allegations of human rights violations in Papua and West Papua during the recent UN General Assembly (UNGA).

Jayapura, Jubi – Papua legislator Laurenzus Kadepa reminded both current and future regional heads in Papua to urge the Central Government to change its military approach to Papua and put an end to human rights violations.

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned about six Pacific countries raising the subject of human rights violations in Papua in the General Debate of the Assembly's 71st Session, on 26 September 2016. The video can be accessed here < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYF12BhPPiQ>.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.'

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.

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.

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.