The National Police have arrested an alleged member of the separatist Free Papua Organization (OPM) who was accused of recently killing a soldier in Puncak Jaya, Papua.

Auckland (Green Party/Pacific Media Watch) – The Green Party is calling on the New Zealand government to end their $6.3 million police training programme in West Papua in light of new evidence from a New Zealand journalist about abuses being carried out by the police.

Banjir Ambarita, Jayapura – Local residents in the Mulia subdistrict of Puncak Jaya, Papua, have yet to resume their normal activities due to an ongoing firefight in the area between forces from the Indonesian Military, or TNI, and members of the separatist Free Papua Organization, known as the OPM.

Jayapura – Three Indonesian guerillas and a soldier were killed in an exchange of gunfire in the latest bout of violence in Papua province, home to a US-owned mine.

Paul Bensemann – The West Papuan farmer showed me scars on his head he claimed police caused nearly two years ago.

His eyes were still bloodshot after a beating by rifle butts, boots and rattan sticks. The left eye, scarred on its edge, seemed slightly out of place.

Margareth S. Aritonang and Bagus BT Saragih, Jakarta – In a move that will irk officials in Jakarta, a group of activists have spoken about the human rights situation in the West Papua and Papua provinces at the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights.

Hariet Conron – At the launch of its 2014 World Report on Wednesday, Human Rights Watch called on the government to lift the ban on foreign journalists entering the volatile provinces of Papua and West Papua.

Marni Cordell – Five West Papuan men are facing 15 years or more in jail for raising the banned morning star flag, while a sixth man has been deemed unfit to face trial after being beaten by security forces so badly that he now has mental health issues, according to the group's lawyer.

A member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group says it is not possible to accept the application of a West Papuan group into the MSG because it's not the only organisation that represents West Papuans.

The West Papua National Coalition for Liberation believes a visit by a Melanesian Spearhead Group delegation to Papua last week would have been revealing, despite no meetings with civil society groups taking place.

The director general of the Melanesian Spearhead Group has confirmed a special Leaders meeting will be held in Vanuatu next month.

Peter Forau says the agenda is still being consulted on but it will address issues of importance to MSG cooperation, notably the West Papua issue.

Jakarta – The European Parliament's hearing on human rights in Papua, Indonesia, is an important opportunity to raise concerns and press for improvements in the area's grave human rights situation, the New York-based group Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said.

Marni Cordell – Despite earlier pledging support for West Papuan independence, Pacific leaders bloc agrees not to interfere in Indonesia's affairs

A group of Pacific Island nations has agreed not to interfere in Indonesia's administration of West Papua, despite earlier pledging their support for the West Papuan independence push.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The condition in Mulia, the seat of Puncak Jaya regency, Papua, remains stable despite shooting incidents and the theft of assault rifles from the the police by separatists.

"The European Parliament's hearing on Papua should spotlight the serious human rights challenges and the Indonesian government's needed reforms. Indonesia should realize that abuses by state security forces are a recipe for instability and lawlessness." – Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director

The chairperson of the Vanuatu Free West Papua Association believes Indonesia is trying to divide members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group and weaken their stance on West Papua.

He says it is now unlikely the Vanuatu-based West Papuan separatist group will be admitted as a full member. Last week Mr Natapei boycotted an MSG foreign ministers mission to Indonesia, saying it's agenda had been hijacked by Jakarta. But he says Vanuatu won't be giving up on its quest to have the West Papuans admitted.

Presenter: Hiliare Bule

Ina Parlina and Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) member nations that have often voiced concerns over alleged human rights abuses in Papua said on Wednesday they fully respected Indonesia's sovereignty.

Jayapura – Indonesian military attack helicopters and dozens of armed soldiers "secured" the travel route in an attempt to stop Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) officials from seeing West Papuan protesters, activist sources reported.

The West Papua National Coalition for Liberation says the Indonesia visit by the foreign ministers from the Melanesian Spearhead Group has defeated the mandate given at the last MSG summit.

Vanuatu's Foreign Minister Edward Natapei believes recent events will make it more difficult to push for the admission of a West Papuan group into the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

Pacific Media Centre news desk – The West Papua National Coalition for Liberation says foreign ministers from the Melanesian Spearhead Group have been able to see first hand Indonesia's suppression of the Papuans, reports Radio New Zealand International.

West Papuans have sought self-determination since Indonesia seized control of the former Dutch colony in the 1960s.

The West Papua National Coalition for Liberation says foreign ministers from the Melanesian Spearhead Group have been able to see first hand Indonesia's suppression of the Papuans.

Papua has seen an insurgency since Indonesia took control of the former Dutch colony in the 1960s.

Gemima Harvey – The suspicious death of a rebel leader is the latest in a long line of alleged human rights abuses.

Bagus BT Saragih and Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is set to receive foreign ministers from Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) member nations at the State Palace on Wednesday, in a move seen by many as part of the government's attempt to woo the group, which has often voiced concerns over alleged human rights abuses in Papua.

Donvito Samartha dan Desa Apridini, Jakarta – A group of West Papuan students tried to block a vehicle transporting state guests from the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) as it was exiting the Borobudur Hotel in Central Jakarta on January 15.

The students were calling on the ministers to cancel a meeting with the Indonesian government.

Bagus BT Saragih and Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – At least 21 activists were reportedly arrested by the police when they staged a number of rallies during a visit made by the foreign minister of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) to Jayapura, West Papua.

Cunding, Jayapura – As many as 30 Free Papua activists were arrested by police at a demonstration on the grounds of the Papuan Regional House of Representatives (DPRP) in Jayapura city, Papua, on Monday January 13.

An intergovernmental delegation of Melanesian countries arrived in Papua on Monday on an official visit to assess the Indonesian province's application to become a member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

Arnold Belau, Jayapura – Papuan Central Highlands Indonesian Student Association (AMPTPI) General Secretary Markus Haluk, along with scores of other Papuan activists, were arrested by police in front of the Papuan Regional House of Representatives (DPRP) as they were holding a demonstration to welcome the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) delegation that arrived in Jayapura on Monday

Kanupriya Kapoor & Yayat Supriatna – Indonesia, one of the world's biggest resource exporters, halted all mineral ore exports on Sunday in a bid to promote domestic processing, but the country's president passed a last-minute regulation to ease the ban's impact on major miners.

The Vanuatu government has withdrawn from a Melanesian Spearhead Group Foreign Ministers delegation to Indonesia to discuss and visit West Papua.

Papua – A member of an armed group, which is believed to have threatened security forces between miles 45 and 50 at PT Freeport Indonesia's mining area on Thursday, was shot and killed by a joint team of Indonesian Military (TNI) and police personnel, who also seized an M-16 assault rifle and its magazine.

Victor Mambor, Jayapura, 10/01 (Jubi) – A delegation of foreign ministers from Melanesia Spearhead Group (MSG) member states will reportedly be visiting Indonesia in the next few days. The visit should have taken place last year.

Further information on UA: 237/12 Index: ASA 21/002/2014 Indonesia Date: 9 January 2014

Malukan prisoners of conscience, Johan Teterissa and Johni Sinay, have been ill-treated by security personnel in Batu prison, Central Java. Both men are now at risk of further ill-treatment.

Banjir Ambarita, Jayapura – An unidentified armed group fatally gunned down an ojek driver in the Wuyuneri hamlet, located in the Puncak Jaya district of Papua, on Tuesday morning.

Banjir Ambarita, Jayapura – A group of armed men attacked a police station in the Kurik district of Papua's Puncak Jaya regency on Saturday, taking hold a number of guns and ammunition from the site.

Sydney – The indigenous struggle for liberation in West Papua on the western half of the island of New Guinea in the south-west Pacific, with the loss of thousands of lives, is far from ending.

Banjir Ambarita, Jayapura – A group of gunmen fired on a convoy of trailer trucks owned by US mining giant Freeport Indonesia in Timika, Papua on Friday.

The trucks were driving from Timika to Tembagapura. During the convoy's journey, a group of shooters opened fire from both sides of the road, but the trucks continued onward.

The Asian Human Rights Commission is adding its voice to concerns at the death of West Papua separatist militia leader, Danny Kogoya.

A West Papuan activist in Papua New Guinea's Vanimo says they are still to resolve a dispute with Indonesian authorities over the body of a former Papuan military commander, Danny Kogoya.

Mr Kogoya, who had been a regional commander in the separatist militia, the OPM, lost a leg in an attack by Indonesian security forces in Jayapura more than a year ago.

Jayapura – The Free Papua Organisation (OPM) through Secretary General Anton Tabuni has refuted a statement by Puncak Jaya Regent Henock Ibo in relation to 100 OPM members under the leadership of National Liberation Army (TPN) commander Goliath Tabuni who came down from the mountains to rejoin society.

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-157-2013

Dear friends,

Alison Bevege – He was just a little kid, maybe six years old. Walking through the garden with his mother and two teenage aunties. Then the Indonesian soldiers came.

"My mum was in front, leading me in the middle and my aunties behind," said Benny Wenda, now 39. "My mum knows they will rape and she tries to defend."

Jayapura – The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Papua says violence against journalists doubled in 2013 from the previous year.

AJI Papua chairman Victor Mambor said in Jayapura on Sunday that the trend of this year's violence against journalists' was similar to that which had happened in the period of 2010-2012.

Jayapura – Throughout the year 2013, in the records Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Jayapura city occurred 20 cases of intimidation and violence against journalists in Papua. The number of these cases showed a significant increase from the year 2012 which amounted to only 12 cases. Of the 20 cases, 4 cases occurred in West Papua and Papua 16 cases occurred.

Banjir Ambarita, Jayapura – The Papuan government has prepared Rp 380 billion ($31 million) to build houses and train and educate hundreds of members of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) who opt to reconcile with the government and put down their arms.

[An interview with Jeremy Bally, Pedalling for Papua campaigner, published by the Asian Human Rights Commission.]

Banjir Ambarita, Jayapura – The head of Papua's Puncak Jaya district claimed on Thursday that the majority of the members of the local Free Papua Movement (OPM) faction – known as the National Liberation Army and led by Goliath Tabuni – have decided to leave the group and return to their villages.

The Australian president of the International Commission of Jurists is calling for the Indonesian Government to hold an inquiry into the massacre on the West Papuan island of Biak 15 years ago.

In July 1998, Indonesian soldiers launched a dawn attack on Papuans who had staged a peaceful demonstration, calling for independence.