Antara & Yuliawati, Jakarta, Indonesia CNN – Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, took a pilgrimage to the tomb of Papuan leader Theys Eluay located next to the football field Sentani, Jayapura district, this morning.

Wamena, Jubi – Human rights activists criticized law enforcement operation plans in 'red triangle' regions of Puncak, Puncak Jaya and Lanny Jaya regencies by security forces.

The chairman of the Papua Human Rights and Law Enforcement Advocacy, Theo Hesegem, said law enforcement operations in Papua central highlands are not a solution to resolve the problems.

Jayapura, Jubi – Papua councilor Laurenzus Kadepa criticized the Jayapura Municipal Police for not allowing the students of Cenderawasih University to conduct a peaceful rally against a minister's plan to visit Papua at the end of the month. He said police made up excuses for banning the protest.

Maire Leadbeater – It is great to watch the Solomon Islands establishing itself as a champion of human rights for West Papua. Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, current Chair of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, nailed his colours to the mast at the UN General Assembly last year and now he is on a determined diplomatic offensive around the region.

In Jakarta, the Foreign Minister will meet with her Indonesian counterpart, Foreign Minister Retno Maraud, and other senior ministers. She will formally open Australia's newly constructed embassy in Jakarta and a new Australian Consulate-General in Makassar.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura, Papua – A member of the Papua Legislative Council (DPRD) from the Hanura Party, Yan Mandenas, said the noken voting system implemented in the Pegunungan Tengah mountain range region was not in line with the principles of direct, public and free elections because a community gave authority to one person to select a candidate in an election.

Jakarta – Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said on Thursday that armed rebels have no place in the country, including those attempting to free Papua from Indonesia, because allowing them to keep existing would only create fear among the people.

Solomon Islands has raised concern about human rights violations in the Indonesian Province of West Papua at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Its diplomat in Geneva, Barrett Salato, has told the Council that human rights violations need urgent attention by the world community.

Hipolitus Yolisandry Ringgi Wangge & Djali Gafur – Far from bringing them closer together, Papua's integration into Indonesia in 1969 was a controversial and deeply flawed process that has driven a wedge between the two ever since – a spear through the heart of good relations.

Flori Geong, Wamena, Indonesia – When nurse Geno Wetipo first visited Samenage in Indonesia's Papua province in December 2013, she recalled seeing thin-limbed children with distended bellies.

Solomon Islands has raised concern about human rights violations in the Indonesian Province of West Papua at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Its diplomat in Geneva, Barrett Salato, has told the Council that human rights violations need urgent attention by the world community.

Jakarta – The West Papuan National Liberation Army, or WPNLA, has claimed responsibility for a shooting attack in Punck district, Papua, on Tuesday (15/03) at a construction site of the government's Jalan Trans Papua project, prompting a government leader to suggest heightened military operations in the area.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) has suggested that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo appoint a special envoy to prepare a dialogue aimed at pursuing peace in the easternmost region.

Ina Parlina, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has stepped up efforts to develop Papua and is asking the military and the police to adopt a soft approach there.

Cypri Jehan Paju Dale, Jakarta, Indonesia – Indonesian Father John Djonga has continually found himself in trouble with security forces in West Papua.

Tevita Vuibau – The MSG says while it respects the sovereignty of Indonesia over West Papua, it will still vigorously pursue the reports of the violation of human rights in the country that is struggling for self-determination.

Mark Bowling – Allegations of recent military and police intimidation, beatings and torture, kidnapping and murder in West Papua, have been documented in a new Church report.

The report documents Muslims being radicalised in the once predominantly Christian Papuan provinces, and "very active" Muslim militias that burn down Papuan houses.

Stefani Ribka and Nethy Dharma Somba, Jakarta/Jayapura – In the latest twist to serial fugitive Labora Sitorus' recent escape, the former low-ranking police officer has surrendered and been locked up – this time under closer guard.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) just held its extraordinary summit in Jakarta from 6 to 7 March, with the theme "Independence is the right of all nations". The Government of the Republic of Indonesia reaffirmed its support for the independence and sovereignty of Palestine.

Fana Suparman & Erwin C Sihombing, Jakarta – A former police officer turned convict who escaped from West Papua's Sorong Prison last week turned himself in to authorities in the early hours of Monday (07/03).

Benny Mawel, Jayapura, Indonesia – Dozens of young Catholics in West Papua protested in the provincial capital Manokwari March 2, demanding that police stop harassing an activist priest recently questioned for treason.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Papua Governor Lukas Enembe called on residents on Tuesday to maintain tolerance and respect following a demand from a group of churches to ban the construction of a mosque in Jayawijaya regency.

West Papua Action Auckland
Box 68-419
Auckland

25 February 2016

Fax 04 817 6510

Hon Murray McCully,
Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Parliament Buildings,
Wellington.

Dear Mr McCully,

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAU-002-2016

Dear Friends,

AWPA has written to Foreign Minister Julie Bishop concerning the intimidation of West Papuan representatives from the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) and other activists who attended the opening of an office in the town of Wamena in the Papuan highlands on the 15 February.

Benny Mawel in Jayapura and Ryan Dagur in Jakarta, Indonesia – Indonesian police are seeking to question a Catholic priest over possible treason charges for leading a prayer service attended by members of an alleged Papuan separatist group.

Lesley Sanga – Indonesia president Joko Widodo has turned down Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare's request for a meeting to discuss the West Papua issue.

In the wake of more intransigence from Indonesia, the Melanesian Spearhead Group has called for Jakarta to hold talks with the United Liberation Movement of West Papua.

At a meeting in New Caledonia the FLNKS spokesman, Victor Tutugoro, said the issue of West Papua must be pursued with vigour by the MSG.

A New Zealand journalist and film producer hopes her new short film about the plight of West Papuans will serve as the impetus for discussion about the situation in Indonesia's Papua region.

'Run it Straight' depicts the decision by a rugby league club in Wellington to demonstrate their members' support for West Papuans, who they consider fellow Pacific Islanders.

Jakarta – Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan has told the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), which campaigns for Papuan independence, to leave the country, as it could pose a threat to the country's territorial integrity.

Benny Mawel, Jayapura, Indonesia – Protesting tribal youths in Papua urged the Indonesian government to seize operations of the U.S.-based PT Freeport McMoRan copper mining company and install a Papuan as the company's head.

Jayapura – The Jayapura District Court sentenced on Thursday Jundi Wanimbo and Ariyanto Kogoya each to two months and 26 days in jail for inciting a riot that led to damage being caused to dozens of kiosks around a mosque.

"Hopefully the defendants will accept the verdict and return to Karubaga, Tolikara, and resume working," presiding judge Adrianus Infaindan said.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua says the opening of its new office in Wamena reflects its strong support among the indigenous people of Indonesia's Papua region.

Robert Isidorus & Alin Almanar, Jayapura/Jakarta – Police in Papua have detained two people deemed "mainly responsible" for allegedly establishing an office for the United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) in Wamena, a police official said.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua has opened an office in the town of Wamena in the Highlands of Indonesia's Papua province.

The Movement comprises leading West Papuan political organisations, representing the indigenous people of Indonesia's Papua region at the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says good progress is being made by Papua New Guinea on registering all West Papuan refugees in the country.

Jayapura – Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw has denied accusations that officers from the Mimika Baru Police assaulted and tortured a local man, a picture of whom, stripped and with his hands tied, has gone viral on social media.

Tama Salim, Jakarta – Lawmakers have criticized the government for lacking a unified approach in dealing with separatism in Papua, the country's easternmost province.

Jakarta – PT Freeport Indonesia has received a recommendation from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry for the extension of its export permit although the gold and copper mining giant has yet to pay a roughly US$530 million deposit as a guarantee for its development of a smelting plant.

The government will consider a request for an amnesty and living assistance from 10 former members of a Papuan separatist group known as the Free Papua Movement (OPM).

Victor Mambor, Jayapura, Jubi – What is needed most in Papua is not the construction of railways or the extension of Freeport Indonesia's contract, but a dialogue between Jakarta-Papua to seek a common ground, researcher for Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Cahyo Pamungkas said.

Jayapura – Police on Wednesday seized ammunition, two government-issued firearms and an airsoft gun from two houses in Sentani, Jayapura regency, Papua.

"We raided two houses and found hundreds of rounds of ammunition, two firearms and an airsoft gun," Jayapura Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Sondang Siagian told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Jakarta – The Free Papua Movement (OPM) has denied that hundreds of rounds of ammunition, firearms and explosives confiscated by police during a raid on Wednesday night belonged to the organization, and have accused the authorities of staging the arms find.

Victor Mambor, Jayapura, Jubi – Papuan legislator Laurenzus Kadepa accused the Indonesian Government of lacking ideas to solve problems in Papua.

As a result, authorities resorted to stigmatizing the resistance of civilians, including the Papua Free Movement, by branding them Security Disturbing Movements, separatists, armed groups and recently terrorists.

Victor Mambor, Jayapura, Jubi – Golkar lawmaker Tantowi Yahya urged the government to 'counter' news about Papua online. Tantowi made the remarks at a national seminar held by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) in Jakarta last week.

Jewel Topsfield, Jakarta – Indonesian authorities compiled a secret dossier of prominent Papuans that details their "weaknesses" – such as women and alcohol – and outlines a strategy to "suppress" the independence movement.

Ten former members of a Papuan separatist group, the National Liberation Army/Free Papua Movement (TPN/OPM), have asked the government to grant them an amnesty, a senior intelligence official has confirmed.

Victor Mambor, Jayapura, Jubi – The chairman of the Jayapura city branch of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), Victor Mambor, said although President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has declared that Papua is open to foreign journalists, the fact on the ground is different.

Raras Cahyafitri, Jakarta – Copper mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia will see its exports halted starting Friday after failing to realize its commitment to smelter development.

A documentary from Sydney musician-turned-filmmaker Anthony 'Ash' Brennan has seen a local charity gig for West Papuan blow up into a global event.