Theo Kelen, Jayapura – On Monday November 11 the Papua Council of Churches (PCC) and Papuan indigenous priests held a press conference in Jayapura city, Papua, to address the current situation in the land of Papua.

Church leaders in conflict-stricken Papua have urged the Indonesian government to stop the transmigration and new rice field programs that will destroy indigenous lands.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – The Cartenz Peace Operation Task Force (Satgas Ops Damai Cartenz) is hunting Aske Mabel, a former police officer suspected of joining the Free Papua Movement-West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB-OPM). Aske Mabel previously served at the Yalimo Police Resort (Polres) in the Central Highlands of Papua with the rank of second brigadier.

Jayapura – The struggle by Papuan indigenous people to save their customary forests from the invasion by corporations and the government has become harder after legal efforts reached a dead end with the Supreme Court's (MA) rejection of the Awyu tribe's appeal which challenged the environmental feasibility permit issued to the company PT Indo Asiana Lestari (IAL) by the Papua provin

Jayapura – An Alliance of Student Executive Councils (BEM) throughout Jayapura city together with students from various different universities held a peaceful action at the Abepura traffic circle on Monday November 4 to oppose the revival of the transmigration program in Papua.

Indonesia, West Papua – Human rights defenders documented a further extra-judicial execution in the Ilu District of Puncak Jaya Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province. Recently, such cases have increased significantly due to armed conflict escalations in the central highlands.

West Papua, Indonesia – On 16 October 2024, in the early hours of the morning, an attack targeted the Jubi editorial office, a prominent media house in Jayapura, Papua, known for its coverage of human rights and environmental issues.

Victor Mambor, Jayapura, Indonesia – Just one day after President Prabowo Subianto's inauguration, a minister announced plans to resume the transmigration program in eastern Indonesia, particularly in Papua, saying it was needed for enhancing unity and providing locals with welfare.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto visited the Papua region of Indonesia on Sunday to oversee the development of a key food programme aimed at creating three million hectares (7.4 million acres) of food estates across the country.

Larius Kogoya – According to the chairperson of the Malind and Condodigun Indigenous Peoples Forum in Merauke, Simon Petrus Balagagaze, the atmosphere of terror and intimidation began to be felt after August 27.

Agencies, Jakarta – The Supreme Court rejected on Friday an appeal by an indigenous tribe in Papua in its lawsuit against a palm oil firm, a decision a rights group said put the tribe at risk of losing vast swaths of ancestral forest.

Dr. Budi Hernawan – I was privileged to attend two important events in Jakarta on 16 and 18 October 2024 where representatives of the Malind and Ye tribes from the Southern Papua advocate for their rights to exist in their own land against the encroachment of the so-called Proyek Strategis Nasional Food Estate (the National Strategic Projects for Food Estate, hereafter PSN).

Andreas Harsono – In December 2008, I visited the Abepura prison in Jayapura, West Papua, to verify a report sent to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture alleging abuses inside the jailhouse, as well as shortages of food and water.

Gusty da Costa – An indigenous human rights activist has asked Jakarta to reconsider the transmigration program in Papua region as bringing in non-Papuans to the country's easternmost region will only create new problems and challenges for the native inhabitants.

Catholic leaders have warned against the transmigration program of new Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in conflict-stricken Papua, saying bringing in non-Papuans to the easternmost region will result in problems for the ethnic people.

Vedro Imanuel G, Jakarta – Minister of Transmigration, Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanegara, reveals the possibility for transmigrants to participate in food estate management. According to him, this will support Prabowo's food self-sufficiency goal.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 09 October 2024, members of the Yonif Maleo 509/BY command arbitrarily arrested and tortured, Mr Alex Sondegau, 30, inside the military post in the Mamba Village, Intan Jaya Regency, Indonesia. According to human rights defenders from Intan Jaya, Mr Sondegau suffered from a mental disorder.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Committee for the Safety of Journalists (KKJ) has reported the recent firebomb attack on the Jubi media editorial offices in Jayapura, Papua, to the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM). The KKJ wants Komnas HAM to take part in monitoring the case.

An exiled West Papuan leader has praised Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape for his "brave ambush" in questioning new Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto over West Papua.

Prabowo offered an "amnesty" for West Papuan pro-independence activists during Marape's revent meeting with Prabowo on the fringes of the inauguration, the PNG leader revealed.

Theo Kelen, Jayapura – The administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka is being asked to push for a resolution to the armed conflict and violence in the land of Papua. Violence and armed conflicts in Papua can only be resolved through peaceful dialogue.

Aaron Denison Deivasagayam – Indonesia's presidential election took place on February 14, 2024. Prabowo Subianto's election victory came with a surprise – success in almost all of the provinces of Papua.

Jakarta – An economist from the Universitas Pembangunan Nasional (UPN) Veteran Jakarta, Achmad Nur Hidayat, criticized the Indonesian government's food estate plan that has been conveyed by the Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan.

Indonesia will offer amnesty to West Papuans who have contested its sovereignty resulting in conflicts and clashes with that nation's law enforcement agencies, Prime Minister James Marape says.

He arrived in Port Moresby on Monday night from Indonesia where he attended the inauguration of President Prabowo Subianto last Sunday.

Indonesia, West Papua – This comprehensive 11-page document lists cases and developments including human rights violations and their patterns; escalation of armed conflict and its impact on civilians; significant political shifts in Indonesia affecting West Papua; and international responses and initiatives. It covers the period from 1 July to 30 September 2024.

Ali Mirin – In the lead up to the October 20 inauguration of President Probowo Subianto, Indonesia established five Vulnerable Area Buffer Infantry Battalions in key regions across West Papua – in a move described by Indonesian Army Chief of Staff Maruli Simanjuntak as a "strategic initiative" by the former defence minister and now president.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesian Minister of Transmigration Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara said President Prabowo Subianto has instructed the ministry to run a transmigration program to Eastern Indonesia, especially Papua. The program is intended to realize welfare equality across Indonesian regions, he said.

Jayapura – Anti-Terrorism Solidarity (Solat) action coordinator Mesak Dogomo says that the terror attack on the Jubi media offices in Jayapura that occurred on October 16 cannot be treated lightly.

Victor Mambor, Jayapura, Indonesia – With Prabowo Subianto, a controversial former general installed as Indonesia's new president, residents in the restive Papua region were responding to this reality with anxiety and, for some, cautious optimism.

Catherine Delahunty – A few weeks ago, the West Papua Liberation Army released Phillip Mehrtens, the New Zealand pilot they'd held captive for 19 months.

The release was a huge relief for his family and friends and was celebrated in parliament with a government motion to the House.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, Usman Hamid, urges President-elect Prabowo and Vice President-elect Gibran to evaluate the security approach in Papuan soil.

According to Usman, the ongoing violence involving state forces and the Papua pro-freedom groups has taken many lives.

Elisa Sekenyap, Jayapura – The Merauke food and energy National Strategic Project (PSN) in South Papua is taking away indigenous Papuans right to life and worsening the environmental crisis.

Irsyan Hasyim (Kontributor), Jakarta – Indigenous people from Merauke, South Papua, voiced their rejection of the National Strategic Project (PSN) food estate in their region, staging a protest at the Defense Ministry office on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, to demand its immediate halt.

Pizaro Gozali Idrus, Jakarta – An attack on the editorial office of Papua-based media outlet Jubi on Wednesday using Molotov cocktails set fire to vehicles but resulted in no casualties, Indonesian police said.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – The editorial office of Papua-based media Jujur Bicara, popularly known as Jubi, was thrown with Molotov cocktails in the early hours of Wednesday, October 16, 2024. Jubi's office is located on Jalan SPG Taruna Waena, Jayapura City, Papua Province.

Adlu Raharusun, Jayapura – A Molotov cocktail was thrown at the Jujur Bicara or Jubi media editorial office in Jayapura, Papua, on the morning of Wednesday October 16. The alleged terror attack has attracted concern as well as criticism from journalist organisations.

Theo Kelen, Jayapura – The Indonesian Military Headquarters or Mabes TNI has stated that they will use a humanist approach in supporting national food security programs in the land of Papua, especially the 1 million hectare rice field National Strategic Project (PSN) in Merauke regency.

Cat Woods – This year marks nearly 30 years of East Timorese independence, but for West Papua, despite legal, social and international campaigning and pleas to the UN, independence remains an illusive goal owing to ongoing Indonesian occupation despite the 1969 Act of Free Choice.

Eleisha Foon – The leader of the rebel group who took New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens hostage has denied a bribe was involved in his release, offering an explanation on the motive behind the kidnapping.

Johnson Raela, Hellena Souisa and Sean Mantesso – Three years ago, Lamberti Faan was sleeping in her village when armed men woke her.

It was September 2021, and the Indonesian military were hunting Papuan separatists. Three days later, she fled with her family, fearful for her life.

Indonesia, West Papua – The Permanent People's Tribunal (PPT) Judgement on State and Environmental Violence in West Papua was presented on 1st October at the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Ali Mirin – The Indonesian military announced the deployment of five battalions – an estimated 5000 soldiers – to occupied West Papua on October 2 to protect key government projects and help the expansion of industrial development.

Theo Kelen, Jayapura – There are fears that the involvement of the TNI (Indonesian Military) in food security programs in the Land of Papua will increase the risk of violence against civilians and human rights violations.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 3 September 2024, Mr Yeremias Magai, 34, a catechist at Stasi Kristus Raja Damai Nabire and a member of the Nabire District Government Pamong Praja Unit, reportedly died during custody at the Nabire Regional Police, Papua Tengah Province.

Aida Ulim, Jayapura – The South Papua Student Concern Front held a free speech forum on Monday October 7 in Jayapura city, Papua, rejecting investment and the deforestation of customary forests the Animha region of South Papua that the government want to transform into sugar cane and rice plantations.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 16 July 2024, the Indonesian military shot dead Mr Tonda Wanimbo, Mr Yotenus Wonda, and Mr Dominus Wonda in the Mulia District, Puncak Jaya Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 15 July 2024, Mr Herik Gombo died under suspicious circumstances during custody at the Merauke Police. Mr Gombo and his colleague had been detained following a motorcycle accident earlier that day. His family and legal representatives demand clarity and accountability from the police regarding his death inside the detention cell.

A side event to the 57th UN Human Rights Council entitled "Human Rights in West Papua," hosted by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and partner organizations on 1 October, addressed the dire human rights situation in the Papuan provinces of Indonesia, with ongoing violations that include extra-judicial killings, internal displacement due to armed conflict, restrictions on civil li

Hendrik Khoirul Muhid, Jakarta – Military observer and lecturer at the Brawijaya University Faculty of Law, Al Araf, believes that the formation of new Conflict Area Support (PDR) infantry battalions (Yonif) in five regions of Papua reflects the government's position of considering Papua a conflict prone region.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Petir Garda B, Jakarta – The Indonesian Military (TNI) has established new Infantry Battalions in five regions of Papua to bolster government programs in food production and infrastructure development. General Maruli Simanjuntak, the Army Chief of Staff, announced that similar battalion formations will be implemented in several other regions.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – A study by an Indonesian NGO challenges government claims that oil palm cultivation is a driver of economic welfare and development, showing that the environmental and social damage from plantations in the country's Papua region vastly outweigh any benefits.