Kennial Caroline Laia – A 2-year-old girl chews on an areca nut, while a drunken man slumbers by the roadside that morning. A group of children walks to school barefooted in a village where proper housing is scarce, as are health care facilities and school buildings, and where infants are undernourished. This is the Waris district of Papua's Keerom region.

Jakarta – A joint police and Indonesian Military (TNI) patrol has killed a suspected separatist and arrested four others in Papua.

"The military and police encountered the illegally armed men in Kota Mulia, a regency of Puncak Jaya, on Saturday," Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Tito Karnavian said in Jayapura on Tuesday as quoted by Antara news agency.

The Free West Papua campaign is calling on ethnic Papuan people to boycott upcoming elections in the disputed Indonesian province.

A campaigner, Benny Wenda, says voting in the provincial elections, held by Jakarta, would only allow Indonesia's control of the province to continue.

Port Vila (Radio New Zealand International/Vanuatu Post) – Two leaders of the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation have been warned that they face assassination by the Indonesian military, say media reports.

Jayapura – The Papua Police are on the hunt for the instigators of the communal clash in Timika that broke out on March 4, resulting in the deaths of seven people while 300 others have been left injured.

The following statement has been released by independence leader Benny Wenda in response to the upcoming Indonesian elections

The Office of Benny Wenda
United Kingdom

16 March 2014

We will not vote!

In 2014 the Republic of Indonesia will try to hold elections in West Papua. We the Papuan peoples refuse to vote in these elections. Why?

Winston Tarere – Former Papuan activists Franz Albert Joku and Nicholas Simion Messet are calling on all West Papuans in exile to return home.

This was followed by a special request to the new Vanuatu Ambassador to Fiji Nikenike Vurobaravu, to tell members of the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation (WPNCL) based in Vanuatu to return to West Papua.

There are at least 76 political prisoners in West Papuan jails, a new report from Papuans Behind Bars has revealed.

At least 22 of the prisoners were arrested last month during military incursions into Sasawa village in Yapen island, and in the days following the raids.

Jayapura – Vanuatu Prime Minister Moana Carcasses Kalosis said his remarks highlighting human rights abuses in West Papua at the UN Human Rights Council's 25th session have won praise from other leaders and human rights groups.

Banjir Ambarita, Jayapura – Tension between the Moni and Dani tribes in Papua continued to flare after police reported that six houses were burned to the ground on Wednesday, a day after Indonesia's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) shot dead two men in Kuala Kencana district.

Jayapura – Human rights issues raised by Papuan diplomats overseas only revolve around their campaign for independence, Jayapura Bishop Leo Labaladjar said. He was commenting on Vanuatu Prime Minister Moana Kalosil's speech at the session of the UN Human Rights Council on March 4.

Banjir Ambarita, Jayapura – Two Papuans from the Moni tribe were shot dead by the National Police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) on Tuesday during a clash with police in Jayanti, Timika.

Police claimed the two victims were part of a group that attacked police with arrows. Papua Police spokesman Sr. Comm. Sulistyo Pujo confirmed that police had fired on the group.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Three more people were killed in communal tribal clashes in Timika, the capital of Mimika regency in Papua, on Tuesday, raising the death toll to seven in the clashes which have taken place since March 4, 2014.

West Papua Media team and stringers in Jayapura – Several hundred students and civil society members led by the Papuan Student Movement (GEMPAR or "Uproar") holding a peaceful demonstration in Jayapura today were again blockaded by around 200 armed riot Police who imposed a ban on the gathering, after a similar gathering on March 4 drew world attention.

Banjir Ambarita, Jayapura – Vanuatu's prime minister has addressed the United Nations, urging a resolution to investigate allegations of human rights violations in Papua.

As global media focus on Crimea's forthcoming referendum on whether to join Russia, we remember another 'Act of Free Choice' in West Papua in 1969 – which set off 45 years of military occupation, theft, repression and murder.

After criticism over New Zealand's police training programme in Indonesia's remote Papua province, the foreign minister says he will take reports of police violence seriously.

Murray McCully says there's no point criticising Indonesia from afar, and that is why the three-year, 5 million US-dollar programme is still in place, despite calls for it to be stopped.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Many residents in Papua are still living in poverty although the government has disbursed Rp 57 trillion (US$4.9 billion) in special autonomy, or Otsus, funds to the province since 2002.

PMC news desk – Vanuatu Prime Minister Moana Carcasses Kalosil has condemned the international community's "neglect" of the voices of the Papuan people in protest over the repression by Indonesia for four decades.

Addressing the United Nations Human Rights Council, he said his country was seeking to "amplify the concerns for human rights" in the West Papua region.

Jayapura – Using the right of reply, Indonesian Ambassador to the United Nations Indonesia's rejected the statement of Prime Minister of Vanuatu.

Please watch the reply by Indonesia's Amabassador here: http://webtv.un.org/watch/rights-of-reply-6th-meeting-25th-regular-session-human-rights-council/3292582057001/.

Suva, Fiji – An Indonesian delegation arrived into the country last night to strengthen the growing relations between Indonesia and Fiji.

The eight-member delegation is also here to hold public lectures at the three higher education institutions in Fiji – the University of the South Pacific, Fiji National University and the University of Fiji.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The Papua General Elections Commission (KPUD) has disqualified five candidates vying for a seat on the Papua Regional Representatives Council (DPD).

[From the West Papua Media correspondents in Jayapura and Geneva, with local sources. The original title of the article was: Historic united front in Papua defies police dispersals, supporting Vanuatu PM call on UNHRC in Geneva to address West Papua issue.]

A New Zealand group supporting West Papuans has called on their government to end its police training project in Indonesia.

Pax Christi Aotearoa New Zealand's National Coordinator, Kevin McBride, says the $5 million US-dollar programme should be canned. He says it's not clear which Indonesian police are being trained, and it's hard to tell on the ground who the police are.

Michael Bachelard, Indonesia – When the parents of Demianus and Seth Gobay died in their small West Papua village of Nabire perhaps five years ago, not all their six children could afford to stay at school.

Jayapura – Vanuatu's Prime Minister (PM), Mr Moana Kalosil Carcasses will raise demand of completion of the Papua issue to the international world.

For that, Prime Minister of Papua Moana plans to bring the issue to the Commission on Human Rights (HAM) at the meeting of United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland on March 4, 2014.

Jakarta – Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold said its Indonesian unit may need to declare force majeure on copper concentrate sales if a dispute with the government over export taxes drags on for a prolonged period.

Tomy Winata – In response to an article published on the Jakarta Globe's website on Feb. 21, with the headline "More Outcry Over Papua Cop's Light Punishment," I'd like to note the following.

Jayapura – Three police officers have been arrested for stealing cable belonging to gold and copper mining company PT Freeport Indonesia (FI) in Timika, Papua.

Jayapura – Even though mostly regions in Papua have lack of teachers, the Head of Education and Teaching Department of Paniai regency, Drs. Amatus A Tatogo confirmed, schools in Paniai region do not need more additional teachers from other professions, despite having skills.

Jeis Montesori, Jakarta – Judicial Commission chairman Suparman Marzuki has promised to investigate a suspiciously lenient sentence handed by a Sorong court to a police officer charged with money laundering and smuggling offenses.

From KNPB and West Papua Media sources in Jayapura – A cultural parade organised by university students in Jayapura was blockaded and then dispersed with force by Indonesian police on February 17, after Indonesian police refused to recognise West Papuan cultural expression.

Condemnation has erupted at the decision by a court in West Papua province to hand down a two-year sentence to a police officer for illegal logging, despite strong evidence that he may have laundered up to Rp 1.5 trillion ($127 million) in funds obtained from smuggling fuel and exporting a protected timber species.

Jakarta – A court in Papua was unable to convict a low-ranking police officer of money laundering on Monday despite evidence of wire transfers totalling Rp 1.5 trillion ($129 million) from his bank accounts and the confiscation of 400,000 liters of fuel and tons of illegal lumber on a boat registered in his name.

Sentani – As many as 296 soldiers based in Papua have received teaching certificates, allowing them to teach in remote areas.

"The soldiers will undergo training in teaching for more than a month in order to make them ready to teach," said Commander (Pangdam) of Millitary Area XVII of Cenderawasih, Maj. Gen. Christian Zebua in Sentani on Saturday (2/15).

Indonesia's National Commission on Human Rights, Komnas HAM, has released its findings regarding serious human rights violations in the Freeport big Gossan tunnel cave-in that claimed the lives of 28 workers in Papua.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – A bloody clash between two groups in Timika, Papua, has claimed one life and severely injured 28 others. The clash lasted two days.

The police said the situation remained critical as there were no signs of peace from the conflicting parties.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The Jayapura Corruption Court sentenced on Monday former West Papua Legislative Council (DPRD) speaker Yosef Yohan Auri to 15 months in jail and fined him Rp 50 million (US$4,100) for misappropriating Rp 22 billion that initially came from the West Papua provincial budget in 2010.

Biak, Papua – The district court of Biak, Papua sentenced Oktavianus Warnares, defendant in the separatist "Morning Star" flag raising case in Biak Timur, Papua, on May 1, 2013, to three years imprisonment, here on Tuesday.

The chairman of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, Victor Tutugoro, says the group's special meeting to discuss the outcome of a visit to Indonesia's West Papua has been put off until the end of this month.

The trip, which was boycotted by Vanuatu, was meant to discover more about the West Papuan National Coalition for Liberation, which is seeking MSG membership.

Banjir Ambarita, Jayapura – Five Indonesian fishermen remained missing as of Sunday after military officers in neighboring Papua New Guinea allegedly told them to jump off their boat before setting it on fire.

Joe Collins from the Australia West Papua Association responds to Peter McCawley's item on Peter Cosgrove's views on Indonesia, a piece which also mentioned Ambassador Greg Moriarty:

Marni Cordell – Villagers in a remote West Papuan town have described being beaten and having guns pointed at their heads during a "terrifying" police and military operation at a local church.

Up to 30 activists were arrested during the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) visit to the West Papua provincial capital of Jayapura on 13 January. Supporters of West Papuan independence say the visit was hijacked by Jakarta to thwart the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation (WPNCL) bid to join the MSG.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Officials at Sentani Airport in Jayapura, Papua, arrested a man, identified as KDM, 30, because he was carrying eight 8.4 mm carbine cartridges on Monday.

Sentani Airport Police sub-precinct chief, First Insp. Abraham Soumilena, said that the airport officials found the ammunition in his bag when it was scanned by an x-ray device.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Police have arrested ten suspects from the Papua shooting incident that claimed an army personnel from 753 Battalion First Private Sugianto in Mulia, Puncak Jaya District on Friday.

"We have arrested ten persons. The interception was conducted in cooperation with the team," stated Chief of Indonesian Police General Sutarman here, on Monday.

Banjir Ambarita, Jayapura – The Indonesian security forces killed one member of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) during a firefight in Yapen Waropen district on Saturday, arresting 11 others in the latest crackdown on the separatist group this restive province.

Robert Matau – The Melanesian Spearhead Group heads into further talks this month to seek more answers from the MSG mission that failed to meet indigenous West Papuan leaders in West Papua last month.

Satria Sambijantoro, Jakarta – The Indonesian government said on Thursday that it would stick to its guns on the export tax for unprocessed ores, defying stern opposition and lobbying attempts from US-based mining giants Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold Inc. and Newmont Mining Corp.

Port Vila, Vanuatu – The head of the West Papuan National Coalition for Liberation, Andy Ayamiseba, said the Melanesian Spearhead Group's (MSG) fact-finding mission to Indonesia and West Papua fell short of its mandate.