The Solomon Islands government says it's not in a position to respond to a warning from Indonesia's government not to speak out about West Papua.
Indonesia's Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu has urged Australia to pass on a message to Pacific Island governments to not interfere in Indonesian domestic affairs.
A conference getting underway in Sydney today looks to address two major areas of concern to people in the Pacific region in the same sitting.
'At the Intersection: Pacific Climate Change and Resource Exploitation in West Papua' runs for two days, hosted by Western Sydney University and the University of Sydney's West Papua Project.
A warning by Indonesia's Defence Minister for Pacific countries not to speak out about West Papua has been described as an odd and backward form of diplomacy.
The Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu urged Australia to rebuke Pacific states, in particular Solomon Islands, for raising West Papua in global forums and inviting Papuans to join the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).no caption
Leader of the Australian West Papua Association (Sydney) (AWPA), Joe Collins, has spoken out against reports that Jakarta has requested Australia to pass on a message to the Solomon Islands to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of Indonesia.
The Dutch royals were welcomed to Canberra by a little half-Dutch girl, a protester for West Papua, and a slew of Australians with Dutch heritage.
It was a family gathering of sorts when the Dutch King and Queen met Australians with heritage from the land of tulips and windmills.
Nethy Dharma Somba Jayapura – The Papuan People's Assembly (MRP), an institution formed as part of the implementation of the 2001 Law on Special Autonomy for Papua, will focus on the rescue of Papuan culture, which is in crisis as a result of the rapid influx of other cultures.
Grasberg mine in the Indonesian province has been a source of untold wealth for its owners, but local communities say it has brought poverty and oppression
Amanda Hodge – Indonesia has asked Australia to caution its Pacific Island neighbours against interfering in the West Papua issue and to urge them to withdraw support for West Papuan membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, warning that the issue could pose a "stumbling block" to closer bilateral ties.
News that the Indonesian government is upping the ante against supporters of West Papua comes as no surprise, a well-placed senior government source said.
"It is no surprise to us, and I think it is not right to say that we are interfering with the internal affairs of Indonesia, we are simply raising an issue of concern regarding our Melanesian brothers of West Papua.
Indonesia's Defence Minister has urged Australia to rebuke Pacific Island states who raise issues relating to West Papua in global fora.
Ryamizard Ryacudu met with Australian government representatives including Foreign Minister Julie Bishop in a meeting in Bali where the two countries reaffirmed security ties.
During her visit to Indonesia, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Indonesia's Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu discussed efforts to deepen military relations at the 2+2 meeting held in Bali last Friday.
A member of the provincial parliament in Indonesia's West Papua province has called for an investigation into last Thursday's deadly shootings in Manokwari.
Reports from Indonesia said police in the provincial capital allegedly opened fire when rioting broke out in the town, leaving ten people injured and one person dead.
Jayapura – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) will investigate further the death of a civilian, Onesimus Rumayom, during a rally outside a police office in Manokwari, West Papua, on Thursday.
Preliminary investigation has revealed that Onesimus was shot in his right thigh, which caused severe bleeding and eventually led to his death.
There are questions over the effectiveness of a push by Indonesia to have Australia lean on Pacific countries to not talk about West Papua.
Aditya Mardiastuti, Nusa Dua – Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu has emphasised that the sovereignty of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) cannot be challenged.
Ryacudu made the remark at a meeting with Australian government representatives during the 2+2 Meeting in Bali on Friday October 28.
Ever since the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) established the Ad Hoc investigation team for the Paniai case, under the decision 1 March 2016 letter of the Chair of the Komnas HAM (Number 009/Komnas HAM/III/2016), there is no progress in this case (see case details at AHRC-UAC-089-2015 and a related joint statement here).
Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Nearly a week after President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo visited Yahukimo, Papua, where he promised lower fuel prices and infrastructure development, a clash broke out in Manokwari, West Papua, late Wednesday, leaving one person dead and some injured.
Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto has called for an immediate investigation of the riot in Manokwari, West Papua.
"I ask that the riot be investigated. Reports about it are still uncertain. We are still waiting for official reports," the minister said here on Thursday.
Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – While government teams are working to identify fatal incidents that have led to human rights abuses in Papua to gain the trust of its people, former political prisoner Filep Karma said on Tuesday that a referendum should take place to determine the future of the restive region.
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.