The Australia West Papua Association condemns the arrest of 41 KNPB activists in Jayapura on Friday 29 April. The activists were arrested simply because they were handing out leaflets informing people of a rally to be held on the 2nd May.

The Australia West Papua Association today condemned the arrest of 41 KNPB (National Committee of West Papua) activists in Jayapura yesterday. "The activists were arrested simply because they were handing out leaflets informing people of a rally to be held on May 2," said AWPA in a statement.

Several Pacific leaders are headed for London to participate in the International Parliamentarians for West Papua meeting at Westminster.

The IPWP is a cross-party global network of politicians who support self-determination for West Papuans, the indigenous people of Indonesia's Papua region.

Jane Joshua and Len Garae, Port Vila – The Melanesian Spearhead Group Special Leaders Summit scheduled to be held in the Vanuatu capital of Port Vila next week has been postponed to a date yet to be confirmed.

Jayapura, Jubi/BenarNews – Papuans reacted coolly to the central government's plans to resolve alleged human rights violations in Papua, saying that they doubted that the victims would be involved.

Mitra Tarigan, Antara, Jakarta – Chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) Imdadun Rahmat has urged the government to immediately bring two gross human rights violations in Papua to court. The two cases are human rights violations in Wasior in 2001 and Wamena in 2003.

Jayapura, Jubi – Coordinating Minister of Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan on Monday (25/4/2016) led a coordination meeting on alleged human rights violations in Papua and Papua Barat provinces.

Edo Karensa & Robert Isidorus, Jakarta/Tolikara – A clash over village fund disbursement has left two dead and at least 96 homes damaged in the Tolikara district, Papua, this month. Police and military authorities continue to deny the incident.

An American Samoan has demonstrated her support for West Papuan independence during the territory's Flag Day ceremony at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Pago Pago

Jane Joshua – The incumbent Government led by Prime Minister Charlot Salwai wants to see the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) become a full fledged member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

Daily Post was informed this was part of Decision 57 of 2016 on the MSG in the Council of Minister's (COM) 9th Ordinary meeting.

The British prime minister David Cameron has been urged to challenge Indonesian President Joko Widodo over his country's human rights record, including West Papua.

The call from Amnesty International comes as President Widodo visits the United Kingdom this week as part of his European tour.

Margaret Wise, NADi, Fiji (The Fiji Times/Pacific Media Watch) – Giving voice to the voiceless and championing the rights of all people is essentially about telling the truth.

And that is how journalists in Fiji and the Pacific should approach the ongoing human rights violations happening in West Papua.

Len Garae – Thousands of members of civil society organisations and the public in Port Vila and rural communities around Efate, are expected to take part in a peaceful march from Fatumaru Bay to the Melanesian Spearhead Group Secretariat at Independence Park, to demand the MSG Leaders to give full membership of the Melanesian Sub Regional Organisation to the people of West Papua next Friday on

Whilst abroad for a study exchange year in Melbourne, Connor Woodman discovered that Indonesia's effort to thwart the independence movement of its troubled Papuan provinces spreads all the way to Australia's urban heartlands.

Arnold Belau, Jayapura – The Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Jakarta) reports that 63 people have been arrested over the last nine days in West Papua. Most of those arrested are activists from the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) and the Regional People Parliament (PRD).

The head of Indonesia's leading human rights organisation has described how the nation is in a type of denial about festering rights issues in Papua region.

Haris Azhar, the co-ordinator of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence, or KONTRAS, says there has been no improvement in the area of rights in Papua since president Joko Widodo took office in 2014.

Yesterday's demonstrations in West Papua have been described as a sign of widespread support for integration with the wider Melanesian community.

The peaceful demonstrations in the main cities of Indonesia's Papua region were attended by thousands of West Papuans under the banner of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.

Arnold Belau, Jayapura – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) reports that on April 12 district police arrested 15 KNPB activists and vandalised the KNPB secretariat in Kaimana district, West Papua.

Demonstrations in support of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua have been taking place in cities across Indonesia's Papua region today.

Ground reports said large peaceful demonstrations have been held in the seven main cities of Papua and West Papua provinces: Jayapura, Yakuhimo, Manokwari, Fak-Fak, Merauke, Timika and Sorong.

Nethy Dharma Somba – A number of liquor businesspeople in Jayapura, Papua, are protesting Papuan Governor Lukas Enembe's policy to ban the distribution of alcoholic beverages in the province.

They are set to file a lawsuit against the policy with the Jayapura State Administrative Court (PTUN) as they consider it contradicts existing rules.

A coalition of rights groups demanded on Tuesday that the National Police and the Indonesian Military (TNI) remain calm over the simultaneous rallies planned in seven cities across Papua on Wednesday.

Edo Karensa, Jayapura – Eleven activists were arrested when a peaceful rally in support of full membership for the Papua independence movement in the Melanesian Spearhead Group was interrupted by police in Jayapura on Wednesday (13/04).

Benny Mawel, Jayapura, Indonesia – Peaceful demonstrations supporting Papuan independence were held in several parts on the predominantly Christian Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua April 13.

No. 792/SK-RILIS/IV/2016

A delegation from the Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands has made a trip to West Papua, visiting the Catholic faithful in Jayapura.

Indonesia's government has been increasing efforts to strengthen diplomatic ties with Pacific Island countries as it seeks to become a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group. However, as Johnny Blades reports concern is only growing about rampant rights abuses continuing in Indonesia's restricted Papua region.

Transcript

A Catholic Women's group in West Papua has called for regional support for their people's plight, after a visit to the Indonesian territory by Catholic Bishops from other parts of Melanesia.

23 Bishops from Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Fiji visited West Papua last week. Among them were the Archbishop of Port Moresby, John Ribat, and the Archbishop of Honiara, Adrian Smith.

Jayapura, Jubi – Dozens of civil society organisations comprising elements of the labour, student, women's, urban poor and other social movements support the Papuan people's right to freedom of expression.

Indonesia's leading human rights organisation says there has been no improvement in the area of rights in the Papua region since president Joko Widodo took office in 2014.

President Widodo has pledged more focus on a socio-economic approach to resolving issues for West Papuans.

There are more questions over the motive behind Indonesia's bid to become a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

Indonesia was last year granted associate member status in the MSG but its Political and Security Affairs minister Luhut Pandjaitan visited Papua New Guinea and Fiji last week to lobby for greater participation by Jakarta.

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) condemns the forced dispersal of peaceful protesters and their illegal arrest in Kampung Bhintuka-SP13 field in Mimika, Timika district, Papua on Tuesday, 5 April 2016. We have been informed that 12 protesters were taken into police custody in Kuala Kencana for further investigation and questioning.

Jayapura, Jubi – The biggest challenge to the Regional Regulation on Liquor Restriction is its implementation, an observer at the Cenderawasih University, Marinus Yaung, said.

"It's good on paper. The points are clear, but how to implement it is the challenge," he told Jubi in Jayapura on Thursday (07/04).

The chairman of Vanuatu Free West Papua Association, Pastor Allan Navuki says his association's position to push for West Papua's full membership in the Melanesian Spearhead Group has not waned.

Pastor Navuki says in fact his association's position is not only to ensure West Papua's full membership but also to see Indonesia don't get full membership.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua says Papua remains an issue for the wider Melanesian region despite Indonesia's efforts to internalise it.

Since the Liberation Movement was granted observer status in the Melanesian Spearhead Group last year, Indonesia has increased its diplomatic engagement with MSG member states.

A Papuan political activist has been detained as a result of his peaceful political activities. The activist has been charged with the "rebellion (makar)" and could face up to life imprisonment. Another Papuan political activist has also been charged with committing maltreatment and could face up to 32 months' imprisonment.

The Australia West Papua Association condemns the intimidation of members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) on the 5th April. The Timika branch of the KNPB were simply holding a prayer meeting ("Prayers for the Papuan People's recovery") with local people from the area and also in support of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP).

Jakarta – At least 12 activists of pro-independence group the West Papua National Committee, or KNPB, were detained after a rally turned violent in Kampung Bhintuka-SP13 field in Mimika, Timika district, Papua on Tuesday (05/04).

Donny Andhika Mononimbar, Jakarta – Indonesia should have a larger presence in the South Pacific, as parts of the archipelago share the same cultural values with Melanesia, a top minister said.

The 'Free West Papua Campaign' is asking Internet users to post photos supporting the hashtag #LetWestPapuaVote.

Jayapura, Jubi – A visit by Coordinating Minister for Security, Legal and Political Affairs Luhut Panjaitan to Fiji ostensibly to deliver the Indonesian government's aid to Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama should be seen as an attempt to influence the Pacific nation on the issue of Papua.

Jayapura – Papuan activists met with US Ambassador to Indonesia Robert Blake in the provincial capital on Tuesday to discuss human rights, politics and US-owned Freeport Indonesia.

Punks For West Papua deals with the ongoing West Papuan genocide. Can you give a brief rundown of the conflict for those who might not be aware of the tragedy?

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua has objected to a move by Indonesia to commission an envoy to the Pacific on behalf of its Melanesian population.

Port Moresby, PNG – The Government of Papua New Guinea (PNG) has supported Indonesia to get the status of associative member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) and later become a full member in due course of time.

The Pacific Conference of Churches says donors and foreign governments must treat victims of disaster with dignity and not attach conditions to relief efforts.

The call coincides with this week's visit to Fiji of Indonesia's Co-ordinating Minister for Political Affairs, Law and Security, Luhut Binsar Padjaitan.

Nurul Fitri Ramadhani, Jakarta – The Indonesian Military (TNI) has finished a major part of an initial project to construct the 4,325 kilometer trans-Papua highway in the country's easternmost region.

Jayapura, Jubi – Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said a military operation was a last resort for to overcome the insurgency in Papua.

"We can have military operation at any time, but it is a last option," said the minister in Jayapura on Tuesday (29/3/2016).

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura, Papua – The noken voting system will be still used in regional elections in Papua, as the social custom of the Papuan people, which has been passed across generations, has many good values, an election official has said.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Alcohol distribution and production are officially prohibited in Papua province starting Thursday to save Papuans from the disastrous effects of alcohol consumption, the Papua governor has said.

Tama Salim, Suva – Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan on Wednesday said he would propose assigning an official from the Foreign Ministry to engage with the easterly neighbors and underscore Indonesia's commitment to resolving complicated issues surrounding Papua.