Michael Bachelard – Police and military brass in Indonesia have begun distancing themselves from blame for the shooting deaths of five young West Papuan civilians in the highlands region of Paniai.

Michael Bachelard, Jakarta – Indonesian President Joko Widodo has agreed to "follow up" Monday's shooting deaths of up to five civilians by security forces in the restive West Papua region.

The men who were protesting in a village square in Paniai were shot dead when police fired into the crowd.

Index: ASA 21/032/2014

Amnesty International is extremely concerned about reports that Indonesian security forces opened fire and killed at least five men, all students, in Paniai, Papua province. The new government must put an end to the climate of impunity for perpetrators of such abuses. Amnesty International is calling for an investigation into the killings.

Jakarta – The Indonesian authorities should prevent the use of excessive force, which has often led to fatalities, in dealing with civil protests in Papua, a New York-based human rights group has said.

Ezra Sihite, Jakarta – Indonesia's National Police chief on Wednesday denied police were behind a fatal shooting in Papua which killed at least four people and injured more than 20.

Police dispatched a special team to the mountainous Paniai district on Tuesday to investigate the incident, which they say left four people dead, but a human rights monitor says killed five.

Hasyim Widhiarto, Jakarta – The public should not be too quick to place blame on the law enforcers allegedly involved in a recent deadly shooting in Papua as the incident might have been triggered by unknown parties, a senior minister has said.

Kennial Caroline Laia, Ezra Sihite & Banjir Ambarita, Jakarta – Monday's deadly shootings of unarmed protestors by security forces in Papua that killed as many as five teenagers, has sparked fears that a new era of violence in Indonesia' easternmost region has begun.

The Indonesian government needs to investigate why security forces found it necessary to fire into a crowd of peaceful protesters. – Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Five civilians were shot and killed and 21 others were injured on Monday when security personnel dispersed a crowd that was gathering and dancing at the Karel Gobai Field in Madi district, Paniai regency, Papua.

Jakarta – Indonesia's National Police have launched an investigation following the fatal shooting of at least four teenagers at the hands of security forces in Papua.

A spokesperson for the newly-formed United Liberation Movement for West Papua, Benny Wenda, says its creation is one of the West Papua independence movement's most significant steps in dealing with Indonesia.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The Papuan Provincial Police deployed an investigating team to Enarotali, Paniai, Papua, on Monday to carry out an investigation into the deaths of five Papuans who died when police opened fire on protesters.

Banjir Ambarita, Jakarta – Six people were reportedly killed while several others remained in a critical condition after a group of police officers and soldiers allegedly opened fire on demonstrators in restive Papua province on Monday morning.

Oktovianus Pogau, Jayapura – The most saddening Christmas gift for the Papuan people this December was the death of five civilians in Paniai regency, Papua, who were shot dead by a joint unit made up of the municipal police (Polresta) and the Indonesian military (TNI) on Monday December 8 at around 10am.

Michael Bachelard – Five West Papuan people were shot dead and 12 others injured when Indonesian troops and police fired into a crowd of civilians in the highlands region of Paniai on Monday.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Four civilians were reportedly shot and killed by a joint police and military force in an incident at Karen Gobai Square in Madi district, Paniai regency, Papua, on Monday.

West Papua's bid to join the Melanesian Spearhead Group is one step closer, after delegates at a meeting in Vanuatu agreed to form an umbrella organisation to represent their interests.

Ricardo Hutahaean, Paniai – The situation in Paniai regency remains tense following a shooting by a joint unit of Indonesian military (TNI) and police (Polri) on Monday December 8. The shooting, which was intended to disburse a group of protesters, left five people dead, three in a critical condition and 22 others injured.

Five civilians were shot dead by a joint force of Indonesian Police and Military in Paniai, on Monday 8th December.

First reports in the local media indicate that the incident seems to have occurred over an altercation between children and a police patrol car.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Yotje Mende said he would provide three days for whomever was behind the recent shooting death of two police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) personnel in IIaga, Papua. If they failed to show up, he added, a team would be sent to hunt find them.

Rofiqi Hasan, Denpasar – The International Partnership Mission to Indonesia, an international and regional organization working in the freedom of expression, urged the government of Indonesia to open more access for foreign journalists to cover news in Papua.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The situation in Ilaga, the capital of Puncak regency in Papua, remained tense following the deaths of two Papua Police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) members who were shot as they assisted a church congregation with Christmas preparations at a church on Wednesday.

Farouk Arnaz, Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) is urging President Joko Widodo to build a palace in Papua, so that he can be closer to the people and soothe separatist sentiments in the remote region.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo plans to attend a Christmas celebration in Papua on Dec. 27.

The celebration, which will be held in Lanud square in Jayapura, will also be attended by Papuan officials, religious group representatives and thousands of residents.

Auckland (Pacific Media Watch) – The editor of the independent West Papua Media news service monitoring the two Indonesian-ruled provinces has called for more vigilance and better training for "safe witness" journalism.

Vanuatu's former prime minister, Barak Sope, says the people of his country are convinced that West Papua will one day gain its independence from Indonesia.

In 2000, Mr Sope asked the United Nations for West Papua to be officially added to its decolonisation list.

Amy McQuire – Planned celebrations to mark the brief independence of West Papua will go ahead in Melbourne today, despite pressure from Indonesia. Amy McQuire reports.

Jakarta – Papua's Puncak Jaya regency was again the scene of a shooting on Wednesday, with two police officers shot dead by an unidentified armed group.

The two were attacked as they were moving chairs and tarpaulin at a GKII church event, Papua Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Sulistyo Pudjo Hartono said in Jayapura on Wednesday.

West Papuan delegates are converging on Vanuatu's capital to try and form a unified bid to get West Papua membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

The three-day conference follows a march through Port Vila, and other centres around the world, on Monday to mark what separatists call West Papua Independence day.

Jamie Tahana reports.

Mere Naleba – The Pacific Network on Globalisation yesterday organised a vigil remembering the people of West Papua while creating awareness of the organisation's "We Bleed Black and Red" campaign.

The campaign, launched in July, remembers people suffering from suppression and other injustices in West Papua.

Vanuatu's former Prime Minister, Edward Natapei, says he hopes a united political force for West Papua will be formed as a result of a conference being held in Port Vila this week.

The three-day conference is an attempt to try and form a unified bid to get West Papua membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

Made Supriatma – In his meeting with TNI elites, President Joko Widodo reportedly agreed to a proposal to expand the army's territorial command in West Papua.

Jayapura – Police in Papua have been prepared to disperse any separatist Free Papua Organization (OPM) anniversary commemoration event to be held on December 1.

Papua regional police deputy commander Brigadier General Paulus Waterpauw said to ANTARA News here on Sunday police personnel stood by in anticipation against any OPM anniversary activity.

Michael Bachelard, Jayapura, West Papua – Ten years after he was jailed for raising the outlawed "Morning Star" flag, West Papuan independence leader Filep Karma has called on Indonesian President Joko Widodo to voluntarily grant independence to West Papua so that Indonesia is not embarrassed in international forums.

The Australia West Papua association has written to the Australian Foreign Minister about concerns of a possible crackdown on peaceful demonstrators celebrating West Papuan National Flag Day on the 1st December. (Letter below).

Timika – Activities at the PT Freeport Indonesia (PT FI) Amamapare Port Site in Timika, Papua, returned to normal on Thursday after access to the location – which had been blockaded by residents and employees from seven tribes possessing customary rights to the PT FI mining concession – was reopened.

Waitangi Day controversies are minor compared to this battle for identity and self-determination.

Waitangi Day, New Zealand's national day, comes with controversy, robust historical debate and challenges to do more to address the grievances of the past.

The chair of Vanuatu's West Papua Unification Committee is confident next week's summit will produce a united West Papuan bid to join the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

About 200 West Papuans are expected at the conference, which is to begin from the 1st of December, following a march of solidarity for the West Papuan people in Port Vila.

Vanuatu's West Papua Unification Committee says it is aiming to ensure all opinions will be well represented at its summit next week.

The meeting hopes to form a united bid for Papuan membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

Hipolitus Yolisandry Ringgi Wangge – During his presidential campaign, Joko Widodo, widely known as "Jokowi," visited the Indonesia's most eastern province, Papua, three times.

By Camellia Webb-Gannon and Jim Elmslie

Introduction

Jayapura – On Wednesday November 19 West Papua National Committee (KNPB) member Ansalmus Pigay suffered a gunshot wound to his right leg after security forces broke up a KNPB demonstration calling for the separation of Papua from the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) in Moenamani, the capital of Dogiyai sub-district in the Papuan central highlands.

Today is the 6th anniversary of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) which was formed on the 19 November in 2008. There has been a call for rallies to take place throughout West Papua to commemorate the anniversary

Jayapura – Hundreds of Papuan students held a protest to reject the transmigration program in Papua. They voiced their opposition to the program to the Papua Leigslative Council on Monday (17/11).

The students led by Pontius Mogodaman handed out leaftets that read: "Transmigration is a Human Right Violation" and "Papuans Reject Transmigration".

Jayapura – A new local political party, Papua Bersatu (Papua United), will be declared next week, its chairman said.

The declaration was to be on Monday (18/11) in Jayapura, the General Chairman of Papua Unite Party, Cris Fonataba said. He said the establishment of a local party is in accordance with article 28 of Special Autonomy (Otsus) Law.

Sorong – Residents in Salfi Sub-district of Sorong Selatan Regency rejected the local government's plan to invite a palm oil plantation company to their area, said Customary Council community leaders.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Experts have said Papua still has huge potential to contribute to land-based carbon emission reduction efforts because it has a lower level of carbon emissions from the land sector compared to other regions in Indonesia.

Bobby Anderson – Marwan Jafar, President Joko Widodo's new minister for village development, disadvantaged regions and transmigration, announced on Oct. 31 that he would make Papua more attractive to Javanese migrants by working with the police and military to provide security there.

Ryan Dagur, Jakarta – Maintaining Indonesia's transmigration program in Papua will threaten indigenous culture and further destabilize an already troubled area, critics of the controversial policy say.

The concerns come after Indonesia's newly appointed minister in charge of transmigration said the program will continue in Papua province under his watch.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The Papua Police have announced the arrest of five civilians in Manokwari, West Papua for allegedly trading in firearms.