Lauren Farrow – Australia's Attorney-General must raise current and past abuses, including the alleged Biak massacre of 1998, when he travels to Papua with the controversial Indonesian minister Wiranto, Human Rights Watch says.

A Yogyakarta-based West Papuan student has filed a pretrial motion challenging the Yogyakarta Police's decision to name him a suspect in a alleged assault on state officials.

The 21-year old Obby Kogoya was one of a group of Papuan students arrested by police in the Indonesian city on Friday.

Jayapura, Jubi – Papuan students in Yogyakarta were reportedly attacked by a group of people while Papua Governor Lukas Enembe was scheduled to meet Yogyakarta Sultan Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X on Wednesday (3/8/2016).

A Papuan student was hit in the mouth, in the presence of Enembe. Papua legislator Laurenzus Kadepa who was in Yogyakarta a couple weeks ago confirmed the incident.

Aatai John – Member of Parliament (MP) for West Makira Constituency acknowledges the consistent support shown by the solidarity group in the country for ULMWP's (United Liberation Movement for West Papua) full membership in the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

The Tongan Prime Minister is calling on Pacific leaders to unite on a call for United Nations intervention in the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua.

Akilisi Pohiva told the UN General Assembly in New York last year that it should investigate allegations of human rights abuses against Indonesia and take action against "brutal and inhumane activities".

Jayapura – Military and police personnel totaling 800 have been deployed to Timika, Papua, to secure the region after a tribal conflict in Kwamki Narama district on Sunday.

"Four hundred military personnel and 400 police officials have searched the area to find residents who took part in the clash," said Mimika Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Yustanto Mujiharso on Monday.

Benny Mawel, Jayapura – Indonesian Catholic students have called on the government to listen to the grievances of the people of Papua and resolve longstanding conflicts.

The call was made at the end of a four-day Catholic Student Association of the Republic of Indonesia conference in Jayapura on July 31.

Clashes in the remote Papua province of Indonesia on the weekend have left three people killed and dozens injured, along with 25 houses burned down.

Bambang Muryanto, Yogyakarta – A mediation session between Yogyakarta Governor Hamengkubuwono and Papuan students in Yogyakarta on Friday failed to bridge their differences. The provincial leader insisted on banning the students from engaging in political activities.

Andre Brahmin – On July 13, Indonesian delegates – angry because the Morning Star Flag, emblem of the United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP), was flown alongside other members' flags – walked out of the first day of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) leaders' summit.

Eko Widianto, Jakarta – Dozens of members of Papuan Student Association (IPMP) staged a rally in front of Malang City Hall, Wednesday, July 27, 2016. They demanded protection and more humane treatment following intimidation directed at them in the past month.

Bambang Muryanto, Yogyakarta – The Association of Papuan Students in Java and Bali has demanded Yogyakarta Sultan Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X apologize from statement he made that accused Papuan students studying in Yogyakarta, Central Java, of embracing separatism.

Nethy Dharma Somba and Bambang Muryanto, Jayapura/Yogyakarta – Papua Governor Lukas Enembe has sent a team to Yogyakarta following an attack by a number of community organizations at a Papuan student dormitory in Kamasan, Yogyakarta, on July 15.

Following the move by the Melanesian Spearhead Group to defer a decision on the United Liberation Movement for West Papua's application to become full members, Vanuatu's prime minister Charlot Salwai says there is a need for membership criteria to be developed which better reflects the group's founding principles.

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Ryan Dagur, Jakarta – Indonesian Church officials and activists have accused police in Yogyakarta of racism and using excessive force after six Papuan students were arrested for singing Papuan songs in their college dormitory.

Bambang Muryanto, Yogyakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) said on Thursday that human rights abuses might have occurred during a crackdown by the Yogyakarta police on Papuan students accused of promoting separatism.

Dateline Pacific – The United Liberation Movement for West Papua says its campaign to become full members at the Melanesian Spearhead Group is not deterred, following the latest MSG leaders summit in Honiara.

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West Papuan university students in various Indonesian cities fear for their safety under close security forces' surveillance.

Jane Joshua – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trades, Joe Natuman, believes other people are trying to use the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) to drive their own agendas, saying it is similar to Jesus who was betrayed and sold for 30 pieces of silver.

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) condemns racism, insults and assaults against indigenous Papuan students in the Papuan students dormitory at the Kamasan I Jalan Kusumanegara, Yogyakarta province, Indonesia.

Yogyakarta – Papuan students studying in Yogyakarta have refused to provide official information about police oppression they experienced to a female member of the Papuan Legislative Council (DPRP), Yanni, who visited them at the Papuan students dormitory in Kamasan, Yogyakarta.

Eruera Rerekura – A Melanesian academic is criticising Prime Minister John Key for focusing on economic trade ahead of human rights abuses against West Papuans while he is in Indonesia.

One of the main aims of the meeting between Mr Key and his Indonesian counter-part President Joko Widodo was to increase trade between the two countries – particularly beef exports from New Zealand.

Raising the issue of human rights abuses in West Papua is timely given the recent arrests of thousands of students peacefully protesting in the streets.

Prime Minister John Key expressed concern while meeting with President Widodo about trade in Indonesia yesterday afternoon. John Key said it was Indonesia itself that put the issue on that table.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua accepts the decision by leaders of the Melanesian Spearhead Group to defer its bid for full membership.

At their summit in Honiara last week, MSG leaders said the group's secretariat needed to establish guidelines for membership and signalled that a decision should be reached on the bid by September.

Ina Parlina, Jakarta – Economic cooperation was the main focus of a bilateral meeting between Indonesia and New Zealand while both countries also discussed human rights with New Zealand saying it respected Indonesia's territorial integrity in Papua.

Bambang Muryanto, Yogyakarta – Hackers have attacked three websites belonging to Yogyakarta Police after taking repressive measures against Papuan students staging a peaceful rally at a Papuan students dormitory in Kamasan, Yogyakarta, last Friday.

The New Zealand Prime Minister has discussed human rights in West Papua and New Zealand's opposition to the death penalty during formal talks with the Indonesian leadership. John Key is on his final day of a two-day trip to Indonesia.

Haeril Halim, Jakarta – Repressive measures taken in the recent arrests of Papuan students in Yogyakarta on allegations of promoting separatism has sparked debate on the fine line the government must walk with regard to freedom of expression.

West Papua Action Auckland expects Prime Minister John Key to raise human rights concerns with Indonesian President Joko Widodo when he meets with him later today. He should call for Indonesia to respect the fundamental right to freedom of expression in West Papua.

Anggi Kusumadewi, Jakarta – Animal names and racist insults could be heard shouted at midday on Friday July 15. The shouts originated from members of mass organisations besieging the Kamasan I Papua student dormitory on Jalan Kusumanegara in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) remains positive despite the Melanesian Spearhead Group's (MSG) decision to defer its application for full membership.

ULMWP spokesperson, Benny Wenda, said this could be seen as a delay tactic but ULMWP acknowledges the technical issues highlighted by the leaders and senior officials of the MSG.

Bambang Muryanto and Nethy Dharma Somba, Yogyakarta/Jayapura – Yogyakarta Police arrested at least seven Papuan students for allegedly promoting separatism after the students were prevented from taking to the streets in the city's downtown.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) was not admitted as full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) during the MSG Leaders' Summit in Honiara Thursday this week.

Shinta Maharani, Yogyakarta – Students and activists at the Papuan student dormitory in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta have been besieged by hundreds of security personnel from the Yogyakarta regional police and the Mobile Brigade (Brimob) paramilitary police.

Yogyakarta, Bambang Muryanto – Police officers surrounded Papuan students in their dormitory in Yogyakarta to prevent them from attending an event organized by the People's Union for West Papua Freedom (PRPPB).

Alin Almanar & Donny Andhika Mononimbar, Jakarta – The Melanesian Spearhead Group has rejected an application for full membership status by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, which Indonesia deems a separatist group, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Jakarta – Indonesia's culture-based forays into the South Pacific and measured determination to extinguish the simmering heat of Papuan separatism has seemingly paid off.

Jakarta – Indonesia has hailed the decision of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) to reject the United Liberation Front for West Papua (ULMWP) as its member.

It is seeing the ULWMPs failure to win MSG full membership as its victory, according to a press statement of the Foreign Affairs Ministry here on Thursday.

Nether Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Local leaders have decried the results of selection for the Papuan People's Representatives' Council (DPRP), claiming the process was manipulated.

Melanesian leaders have deferred a decision on whether the United Liberation Movement for West Papua can gain full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

Margareth S. Aritonang and Nethy Dharma Somba, Jakarta/Papua – Two activists with pro-independence group West Papua National Committee (KNPB) have undergone questioning at a police station in Papua for allegedly leading a rally that promoted separatism.

Fiji's Opposition Leader said giving the United Liberation Movement of West Papua membership to the Melanesian Spearhead Group was the most responsible action any Melanesian Leader can do.

The Solomon Islands government says the United Liberation Movement of West Papua wants to move away from advocacy towards nation-building.

The Movement's general secretary Octo Mote says for West Papuans to gain international support for their push for self-rule, they need to be involved in nation-building.

The Catholic Church of Papua New Guinea has called on leaders of the Melanesian Spearhead Group to consider West Papua's membership application.

West Papuans have applied under the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMPW), which is a collaborative group comprised of united resistance organisations located both inside and outside of West Papua.

Aatai John – Indonesian province of West Papua is hopeful to see their full membership plea in the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), advance during this 4th Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) summit hosted in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

Edo Karensa, Jakarta – The Melanesian Spearhead Group, or MSG, will stage a leadership summit in Honiara on Thursday (14/07) to determine if it will grant full membership status to the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, better-known as ULMWP, or maintain the current observer status.

The West Papua National Committee wants a national action to be held over the next two days in West Papua (July 13th and July 14th) to mark its meeting with the MSG.

The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) Centre has called for a national action to be held over two days, the 13th and July 14th in West Papua.

The Pacific Islands Association of NGOs (PIANGO) executive director, Emele Duituturaga, has welcomed a call made by the World Council of Churches (WCC) for a solidarity visit to West Papua by an international ecumenical delegation, reports PINA.

The Indonesian Government is taking issue with claims it is not ensuring media freedom.

The country is to host the International Press Freedom Day event in May next year but the Pacific Freedom Forum this week called on Jakarta to first ensure it ends abuses against local media in Papua and West Papua and ensures open access for foreign media.