Deborah Cassrels – Under cover of darkness, 43 West Papuan asylum-seekers clambered aboard a dugout canoe at midnight. The cue to flee Indonesian persecution in the province of West Papua in January 2006 was urgent.

Tika Primandari, Jakarta – Deputy Foreign Minister Abdurrahman Mohammad Fachir denied that the Foreign Ministry has imposed a ban against foreign journalists from entering Papua to cover human rights cases.

According to Fachir, journalists can enter Papua regardless of reporting material. "There is no ban," said Fachir on Wednesday, January 13, 2016.

Victor Mambor, Jayapura, Jubi – Vanuatu based West Papua National Coalition for Liberation Acting Chairman Andy Ayamiseba has welcomed the latest initiative by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo calling for dialogue or negotiations with all sides of the conflict which has lasted to the present day in Papua.

Reports from Indonesia's Papua province say extra police have been deployed to a part of Puncak Jaya regency where three officers were killed in an attack late last month.

Tabloid Jubi reports that about 150 police personnel were deployed to hunt for the perpetrators of the attack on the Sinak Police Headquarters.

Edo Karensa, Jakarta – Media freedom organization Reporters Without Borders has condemned the Indonesian government for imposing a ban on a French journalist after releasing a documentary on the conflict in Papua.

The group called on President Joko Widodo to honor his promise of opening up the restive province to foreign media.

The chairperson of the Melanesian Spearhead Group Manasseh Sogavare is calling on Indonesia to commission a fact finding mission to discuss the situation in West Papua with members of the Pacific Islands Forum.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns the Indonesian government's refusal to let French journalist Cyril Payen visit Indonesia following the documentary he made about West Papua, the Indonesian half of the island of New Guinea, that France 24 broadcast last October. RSF points out that Indonesian President Joko Widodo promised to allow foreign reporters to visit West Papua.

Victor Mamborm, Jayapura, Jubi – About 150 police personnel were deployed to hunt for the perpetrators of the attack on the Sinak Police Headquarters at Puncak Jaya Regency, Papua, which killed three officers. No one has been arrested as of Thursday.

One of the Pacific's smaller island states, Vanuatu stands taller than the larger nations with its consistent, principled stand on social justice, parliamentary democracy and corruption.

Where other countries have fallen short, Vanuatu has punched well above its weight, holding its leaders to account and going beyond its borders to call on foreign leaders act justly.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Hundreds of villagers in Mamberamo Raya in Papua have fled into the woods to live as they fear the Indonesian Military (TNI) will blame them for the death of an officer last year, a regional lawmaker said on Thursday.

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-003-2016

Dear Friends,

A prominent West Papua independence activist has questioned the credibility of the head of Indonesia's police over claims made against him that were later retracted.

Last week, Badrodin Haiti was reported by media of accusing Benny Wenda, who lives in exile in Britain, of organising an attack against Indonesian police officers in West Papua.

Victor Mambor, Wamena, Jubi – President Joko Widodo's visit to Papua in late December 2015 failed to address the issue of human rights violations, rights activist and religious leader Pastor Jhon Djonga said.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The community in Sinak district has declared its opposition to the presence of the National Liberation Army/Free Papua Movement (TPN/OPM), a Papuan separatist group, and will impose customary sanctions against residents who are found accommodating or harboring the rebels.

Jakarta – Papua has lodged the most regional head election dispute claims with the Constitutional Court, a court official has said.

Benny Mawel, Abepura – Protestant and Catholic leaders in Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua have denounced a series of killings that occurred last month and have urged an end to the violence in the troubled region.

Ina Parlina, Jakarta – The government said on Monday that it would prioritize a soft approach in addressing separatism, including by engaging in negotiation and dialogue, as well as the possibility of granting clemency and unconditional release to political prisoners.

However, it added that it may still take a hard approach met with resistance.

Jakarta – The approach adopted by State Intelligence Agency (BIN) Chief Sutiyoso to handle the Din Minimi-led armed rebel group in Aceh could be implemented in Papua, University of Indonesias political observer, Arbi Sanit, stated here, Tuesday.

"This is the first time that the state is adopting a peaceful approach and dialog to counter separatism in the country," he pointed out.

Dear everyone,

Farouk Arnaz, Jakarta – Police say they have identified two suspected members of the group that attacked a police station in Papua's Puncak district on Dec. 27, killing three officers and wounding one.

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo witnessed the first sunrise of 2016 at the Waiwo Beach dock in Raja Ampat, West Papua, on Friday.

Antara news agency reported that Jokowi walked out onto the dock at about 6:15 a.m. local time before the sun had completely risen. Seeing the beauty of Raja Ampat, Jokowi said that he wanted more tourists to visit Indonesia.

Godwin Ligo – "Christian churches are the conscience of the nation, and therefore have the duty to be the voice of the voiceless and must continue to stand in solidarity with our Melanesian brothers and sisters in West Papua who are still under oppression, and are still living in the current environment which can only be described as one of institutionalized enslavement and suppression of human

Jayapura, Papua – Armed groups in the easternmost Indonesian province of Papua have stolen 32 firearms of different types from the police in 2014 and 2015, a senior police officer stated.

Agus Salim, Wamena, Papua – The Indonesia government is open to holding a dialog with anyone in the context of development, including in Papua, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated here on Wednesday.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Papua Governor Lukas Enembe is expecting the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police to capture the perpetrators who shot and killed three police officers at the Sinak Police station in Puncak, Papua.

"This is an armed crime. I hope the TNI and police are able to arrest the perpetrators," Enembe emphasized on Tuesday.

Angelina Anjar Sawitri, Jakarta – The Legal Aid Institute (LBH) of Jakarta and Human Rights Violation Victims Solidarity (SKP-HAM) of Papua has asked President Joko Widodo to open a dialogue with the Papuan. Director of LBH Jakarta, Alghiffari Aqsa, urged the dialogue, following the bloody attack on Sinak Police, last Sunday.

Jakarta – The Papua Police have set up a joint team comprising police and military personnel to pursue perpetrators of an armed attack that killed three police officers at the Sinak Police headquarters in Puncak regency, Papua.

Angelina Anjar Sawitri, Jakarta – Deputy Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Hidayat Nur Wahid, expressed his concern about gunmen attack in Sinak Police Base in Puncak, Papua, on Sunday.

"Security threat in Indonesia is not limited to radicalism; separatism is also real and it is a threat," said Hidayat Monday, December 28.

Farouk Arnaz, Jakarta – Three police officers in the restive province of Papua were killed by suspected separatists on Sunday evening after armed men attacked their precinct, the National Police confirmed.

National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti said the Sinak subdistrict precinct in Papua's Puncak district was attacked by a barrage of gunfire at 8.45 p.m. on Sunday.

A group of armed men attacked Sinak Police subprecinct in Puncak regency, Papua, on Sunday night, killing three police officers.

Meanwhile, an aircraft carrying Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw was reportedly shot at on Monday. The Twin Otter plane, owned by Trigana Air, was returning to Jayawijaya regency from Puncak.

Jakarta – Vice President Jusuf Kalla has directed the security agencies to take stern measures against those involved in the attack on the Sinak police precinct in the easternmost Indonesian province of Papua.

"We must uphold the law everywhere in Indonesia. Anyone found guilty must face the strong arm of the law," he said here on Monday.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The recent shooting incident in Sinak, Puncak regency, Papua, in which three police officers were killed, had no connection with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's plan to visit Papua at the end of the year, a religious leader has said.

Rangga Prakoso & Alin Almanar, Jakarta – Mining giant Freeport Indonesia has submitted its request to extend its permit for concentrate exports, set to expire on Jan. 28.

Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu surprised his Australian hosts – and his own colleagues – on Monday with a blunt warning against any attempts to support the Free Papua Movement (OPM) in the country's easternmost territory.

The Indonesian defence minister has warned other countries to respect his country's sovereignty over the troubled region of Papua, as meetings with Australian ministers ended in mutual agreement about the strength of the bilateral relationship.

Erin Cook, Jakarta – Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu has used a "2 + 2" bilateral meeting in Australia as an opportunity to warn other countries to not become involved in the long-running Papua independence campaign and to respect the sovereignty of Indonesia.

Jakarta – Members of the House of Representatives have expressed support for immediately setting up a special inquiry to probe irregularities in mining company PT Freeport Indonesia following the controversy that prompted the resignation of Setya Novanto as House speaker.

Benny Mawel, Nduga – A scarcity of medical personnel in Indonesia's Papua province contributed to the mysterious deaths of 43 people, mostly children, in the Mbuwa area of Nduga district during October and November, activists claim.

Ayomi Amindoni – The government has been urged to immediately declare that the contract of work of miner Freeport Indonesia will not be extended when the current contract expires in 2021.

Energy think-tank Indonesia Resources Studies (IRESS) on Thursday called on the government to take control of the mine through a consortium of region- and state-owned enterprises.

Victor Mambor – Carrying banners and pamphlets "Expel Freeport, Save Papua", they demanded PT. Freeport Indonesia fulfill their obligations to the customary landowners in gold and copper mining areas, including the tenureship payment amounted to Rp 400 trillion.

Jakarta (UCA News/Pacific Media Watch) – A lack of trust between the Indonesian government and the people of Papua has jeopardised hopes for a lasting peace in the restive province, according to a prominent human rights activist.

Jakarta – The local theater company Teater Koma staged a politically charged performance of "Cahaya dari Papua" ("Light from Papua") at Galeri Indonesia Kaya last Saturday.

Nithin Coca – It is a region rich in natural resources, the biggest source of tax revenue for the fourth most populous country in the world and, under de-facto military rule – it is also a place where activists are jailed, tortured, disappeared and assassinated.

Papua New Guinea's deputy chief migration officer says processes are underway to grant citizenship to about 3,000 West Papuan refugees.

Esther Gaegamin says there are about 3,000 West Papuan refugees in camps in the Western Province, near the Indonesian border, that have been registered with the government.

Greenpeace says the impact of rampant forest and peatland fires in Indonesia's Papua region is having a devastating effect on West Papuan society.

Fires from land clearance on drained peatland have caused rampant fires across the republic including in Papua, catapulting Indonesia to being one of the world's largest emitter's of greenhouse gasses.

Victor Mambor, Jayapura, Jubi – Based on research conducted by the Institute for Women and Children in Papua (LP3AP), excessive alcohol is one of the main drivers of the rise in domestic violence in Papua.

Many cases are reported and handled by LP3AP as an advocacy organization for women and children. The majority of domestic violence cases that occur is due to alcohol.

Katharina R. Lestari, Jakarta – Human rights groups have accused the Indonesian government of dragging its feet in an investigation into the year-old killings of four students in Papua province's Paniai district.

On the first anniversary of the violent deaths of four West Papuans in Paniai, Indonesia's government has been urged to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.

Jakarta – When President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo visited Papua in December 2014, he led a ground-breaking ceremony to kick of the development of a market named Pasar Mama Mama Papua (Papuan Mamas' Market), but no progress has been made on its construction nearly one year after the ceremony, except the stone laid by the President.

Jakarta – Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said has been advised to revoke a letter to Freeport McMoRan Inc. board chairman James R. Moffet, which was considered to have given a guarantee that the Indonesian government would extend a contract with PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) to manage its gold mining site in Papua.