Jayapura – Around 700 members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) at the Papua Legislative Council (DPRD) supported on Thursday the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) by proposing that Papua become a member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

Robert Isidorus, Jakarta – Three activists have been named suspects for participating in a rally on Wednesday in support of West Papuan membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

Papua Police have arrested Alexander Hanekem, Nopinus Humawak and Othen Gombo, all of whom have been accused of "provoking the masses" during a rally in Manokwari, West Papua.

Jayapura, Jubi – Indonesian Police have arrested and mistreated activists of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) in several locations while they were distributing leaflets calling for action, the organization said.

KNPB said police arbitrarily arrested its activists and other Papuans in Sentani, Biak and Manokwari.

Jewel Topsfield, Jakarta – Indonesian President Joko Widodo's visit to West Papua was as ephemeral as spray – the next day there was no indication it had happened, according to a Papuan MP.

Mr Joko released five political prisoners and announced an end to a decades-long restriction on journalists reporting on West Papua during a visit earlier this month.

An Indonesian organisation, the AIDS Prevention Commission, says that over ten percent of the population of the Papua town of Wamena is infected with HIV/AIDS.

The Highlands town with a population of almost 49-thousand has now reached 5,100 cases of HIV/AIDS, which the Jayawijaya-based Commission attributes largely to rampant prostitution.

The country could gain significant economic benefits if it supports West Papua's submission for membership in one of the regional's powerful body, the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

Robert Isidorus, Jayapura – Police in West Papua detained 70 activists rallying in support of West Papuan membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) on Wednesday.

Dozens of protestors, including students and members of pro-independence group the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), took to the streets of provincial capital Manokwari.

The West Papuan independence leader Benny Wenda says he has no idea why he was blocked from traveling to the United States last week.

Mr Wenda was hoping to travel from London, where he lives in exile, to Los Angeles for a speaker's tour of California and Hawai'i.

Jakarta – House speaker Setya Novanto has welcomed the government's decision to open access to Papua for foreign media.

"The House viewed that the government's policy to give freedom to foreign journalists to enter Papua is a positive move to give information to the global community, " he said at the House complex in his speech to open the House 4th session for 2014-2015 on Monday.

Jayapura, Jubi – At around 11:50 Papua time, police disbanded a gathering of activists at the secretariat of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) and Regional People Parliament (PRD) in Merauke, an activist said.

Jayapura, Jubi – The Papua Students and People Movement (GempaR) urged President Joko Widodo to keep his promise to solve the conflict in Papua.

The spokesperson for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua says he's not concerned about Indonesia's bid to become an associate of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

The foreign ministers of the MSG are scheduled to meet on Thursday, where the ULM's application for full MSG membership is likely to come up.

The West Papuan independence leader Benny Wenda says he has no idea why he was blocked from travelling to the United States last week.

Mr Wenda was hoping to travel from London, where he lives in exile, to Los Angeles for a speaker's tour of California and Hawai'i at the invitation of Free West Papua groups in the US.

About 150 people turned out at a protest in Fiji's capital, Suva, on Friday to call for West Papua's inclusion in the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

The MSG foreign ministers will meet on Thursday, when the United Liberation Movement for West Papua's application to become a member will be considered.

Jayapura, Jubi – The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) of Papua said President Joko Widodo's decision to lift the ban on foreign press I Papua was the right decision and should not be questioned.

Jakarta – After giving amnesty to five political prisoners in Papua recently, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo plans to free 90 more political prisoners in the country's easternmost, resource-rich province.

At 14:00, 13 May 2015 the United States (US) office of homeland security stopped West Papuan Independence leader Mr Benny Wenda from boarding a Virgin Atlantic flight from London to Los Angeles.

After check-in staff found an alert on their passport system, Mr Wenda was questioned by an official from the US Homeland Securities bureau office at London's Heathrow Airport.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions has renewed a memorandum of understanding with the Federal Republic of West Papua (FRWP), pledging support for the cause of West Papuan self-determination.

Marie Dhumieres – It could be a game-changing step for West Papua. That is, if it gets implemented and foreign journalists are any good at their jobs.

"Starting from today, foreign journalists are allowed to and can visit Papua as freely as they can any other part of Indonesia," Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said last weekend.

Members of the civil society organization under the umbrella body of Solomon Islands in Solidarity for West Papua gathered in numbers on Thursday to renew their call on the Solomon Islands Government to support the bid for West Papua to gain full membership in MSG.

London – In his visit to Papua last weekend, Indonesia's President Joko Widodo granted clemency to five Papuan political prisoners and announced that foreign journalists were no longer restricted from entering Papua.

Jakarta – A House of Representatives lawmaker says President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's decision to revoke tight requirements applied to foreign journalists wanting to report on Papua is a reactive move.

Dylan Amirio, Jakarta – In response to a move by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to remove barriers to access for foreign journalists seeking to report in Papua, an Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker says that journalists aiming to use this right must also be aware of the legal limitations.

Ina Parlina, Port Moresby – Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister Peter O'Neill expressed support on Tuesday for Indonesia's inclusion as an "associate member" of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), deeming the plan as representative of a "unique understanding" between the two countries.

An outspoken Papua New Guinea MP says the Melanesian Spearhead Group has failed its original mandate and should be disbanded.

Gary Juffa, who is the Governor of Oro Province, says that the MSG's leadership does not act in a way that represents Melanesian voices.

Jayapura, Jubi – Indonesian President Joko Widodo's visit to Papua from 9-10 May included a stop at Pasar Pharaa, traditional market, at Sentani, the launch of the Institute of Public Administration (IPDN)'s new building, a visit to Holtekamp Bridge, the launch of public insurance cards and the granting of pardon for five Papuan political prisoners.

The Australia West Papua Association in Sydney has written to the MSG leaders on the issue of West Papua (letter below).

National Police spokesman Sr. Comr.

Port Moresby (PNG Today/NBC/PNG Loop/Pacific Media Watch) – Seven protesters were arrested and detained for staging a "mini gathering" during the arrival of Indonesian President Joko Widodo to Papua New Guinea yesterday.

The thorny issue of West Papua has stirred controversy during a state visit by Indonesia's President, Joko Widodo, to Papua New Guinea.

Mr Widodo left Port Moresby today after a two-day visit which saw allegations of media gagging and the arbitrary arrest of protesting West Papuan independence activists.

Following Indonesian leader Joko Widodo's move to free five political prisoners and lift media curbs in Papua, DW speaks to Gregory Poling about why so little progress has been made in solving the decades-long conflict.

WestPapuaMedia is greatly concerned that the statements made on May 9 by Indonesian President Joko (Jokowi) Widodo in Jayapura regarding the ending of the foreign media ban for journalists to visit West Papua, is not being given due diligence by foreign media, and reminds all foreign media workers that West Papua is and still remains an incredibly dangerous place for journalists to

Ross Tapsell, guest contributor – Over the weekend Indonesia's President, Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo, promised to give foreign journalists full access to Papua – the home of a decades-long separatist movement fighting for independence.

Church leaders, human rights organisations, academics and international observers have gathered in the capital of the European Union, Brussels, to discuss the human rights situation in Papua.

A New Zealand-based rights group has welcomed the Indonesian President's latest promise to open up West Papua to foreign media.

Ina Parlina, Merauke – In a bold move to fulfill his campaign pledge, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo opened access for foreign journalists and international organizations to enter Papua and West Papua. The move was immediately welcomed by journalism associations at home.

Merauke, Papua – Foreign journalists must first obtain permits if they want to cover Papua, and there will be screening, according to Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno.

"So, we will not be blamed if they go to forbidden areas," the chief minister affirmed here, Sunday.

Ina Parlina and Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – In an effort to foster peace in restive Papua province, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo granted clemency on Saturday to five political prisoners incarcerated in Jayapura.

Jakarta – Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto confirmed on Sunday that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo had made an official press statement revoking the restrictions that prevented foreign journalists from covering Papua.

He said the President made the statement while in Kampung Wameko, Hurik, Merauke, Papua, where he was attending a harvest ceremony, on Sunday.

The Indonesian president, Joko Widodo, told reporters on Saturday that the government would lift decades-old reporting restrictions for foreign journalists in West Papua and a group of political prisoners in the insurgency-hit eastern province would be released.

Jakarta – Human Rights Watch (HRW) says redress for human right's abuses against people who peacefully express support for self-determination in Papua is often obstructed by a lack of transparency fueled by official restrictions on media access.

Joe Collins of AWPA said, "although this first small step is encouraging, we should be cautious of Jokiei's motives.

Jakarta – President Joko Widodo has declared Indonesia's easternmost provinces of Papua and West Papua as open to foreign journalists, as part of what he calls a new paradigm in addressing longstanding grievances in the region.

Indonesian president Joko Widodo has ordered the release of a group of political prisoners in Papua in a rare conciliatory gesture to the restive eastern province.

The release of five prisoners raises hope that the many political prisoners still held would be freed, but they remain unlawfully behind bars. The Indonesian government should release all political prisoners with an immediate presidential amnesty rather than demand prisoners admit 'guilt' for convictions that violated their basic human rights. – Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director

Indonesian President Joko Widodo's visit to Papua New Guinea this week represents Jakarta's latest heavy-handed attempt to pressure members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) into not supporting West Papua's application for membership.

Jakarta – Amnesty International is calling on President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to take immediate steps to end the Indonesian security forces' increasing attacks on freedom of expression in the country's Papuan region.

Amnesty International calls on President Joko Widodo to take immediate steps to end Indonesian security forces' increasing attacks on freedom of expression in the country's Papuan region.

Ryan Dagur, Jakarta – The security situation cited by police to justify violent action in Papua is little more than a guise, rights activists warned this week, after calling on Indonesia's government to rethink its policy.

Jayapura, Jubi – President Joko Widodo should push for a resolution into the killings of four students in Paniai and other human rights abuse cases during his visit to Papua this weekend, a Papuan legislator said.