This morning the Freedom Flotilla to West People received communications from protest rallies organisers in West Papua yesterday, with reports indicating further celebratory activities are planned today for the coming arrival of the flotilla.

A group of Australian activists say threats of force by Indonesia have not hindered their determination to make it to Papua's shores.

Their three-boat convoy with about 20 activists is planning to reach Merauke in southern Papua in the coming weeks.

A group of Australian activists says it has been granted authority to enter Indonesia's Papua province by local people who have a sovereign right to grant access to their own land.

The Freedom Flotilla, a three-boat convoy of about 20 activists, is planning to reach Merauke in southern Papua in the coming weeks.

Scores of non-violent activists from the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) were arrested across Papua over the last two weeks, when Indonesian Police carried out pre-emptive sweeps ahead of a day of mobilisation on August 15, a day intended to celebrate Papuan cultural identity and demand rights to free expression be respected.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The Papua General Elections Commission (KPUD) confirmed that 662 legislative candidates will contest 56 seats at the Papua Legislative Council (DPRD) in the elections slated for April 9, 2014.

An activist from the Indonesian province of West Papua says Indonesia is lying and not honouring its promise to the leaders of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

In a risky and symbolic act of defiance, unidentified West Papuan pro-independence activists raised the banned symbol of West Papuan liberation, the Morning Star flag, atop a foggy Mount Syclop, Sentani near Jayapura during the Indonesian Independence day on August 17 this year "as a form of celebration and rejection of the presence of Indonesian Papua, " according to involved activ

Despite claims published by Indonesian website merdeka.com that the Freedom Flotilla is not proceeding, Freedom Flotilla co-founders, Jacob Rumbiak, Uncle Kevin Buzzacott and Izzy Brown today asserted collectively they are, "More determined than ever, to make this historic journey to West Papua".

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-113-2013

Dear friends,

Daniel Drageset, Auckland – Aboriginal elder Kevin Buzzacott, who is on board the West Papua Freedom Flotilla, says media attention is "very important" in order to "expose what's happening" in West Papua.

Jayapura – The second Deputy Chairperson of the MRP, Engelberta has urged leading politicians in Papua to show respect for indigenous Papuans in their ability to become heads of local administrations. She said that this is in line with the spirit of the Special Autonomy Law for Papua (OTSUS).

Jakarta – All police units in Papua have been warned of a possible unauthorized visit by foreign ships carrying activists campaigning for a free Papua.

"All units in coastal areas must be on the lookout for illegal visits by foreign vessels," Papua Police spokesman Sr. Comr. I Gde Sumerta Jaya said in Jayapura on Friday as quoted by Antara.

Bagus BT Saragih and Nethy Dharma Somba, Jakarta, Jayapura – Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said on Tuesday he believed authorities in Papua New Guinea (PNG) would take decisive measures against Freedom Flotilla West Papua, a group of pro-West Papuan independence activists from Australia who intend to enter Indonesia via the neighboring nation.

Jakarta – The Australian government does not have the authority to stop its citizen from sailing out of Australian ports as long as it is legal. However Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carr confirmed that the Indonesian government has the authority to deal with the matter if the ships enter Indonesia illegally.

Dedicated activists and Indigenous elders of the Freedom Flotilla reaffirmed their commitment to travel to West Papua, and sent messages of inspiration to counter Bob Carr's despondence despite the Foreign Minister this evening stating there will be no consular support if they are arrested.

Last week the Indonesian President made a speech which touched on West Papua, but did not mention peaceful dialogue. Imprisoned West Papuan leader Selpius Bobii responds from Abepura State Prison.

Marni Cordell – The Indonesian government has said it hopes it will not be necessary to use lethal force against a boatload of activists planning to land illegally in Merauke, West Papua, in the coming weeks.

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-111-2013

Dear friends,

A group of Australian and West Papuan activists have set sail on a Freedom Flotilla bound for the Indonesian territory of West Papua.

Bagus BT Saragih and Ina Parlina, Jakarta – Reports over a plan by West Papuan activists from Australia to illegally sail to Indonesian territory came only a day after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono appealed to nations to respect Indonesia's sovereignty over Papua.

Bagus BT Saragih, Jakarta – The Indonesian Military has been ordered to be prepared to intercept the journey of two boats carrying pro-West Papua independence activists from Australia, Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto said on Sunday.

Benjamin Soloway – A flotilla carrying approximately 50 West Papuan and indigenous Australian protestors bound for the Indonesian territories of West Papua began its journey from Queensland, Australia this weekend. Two boats are currently at sea and a third will leave Australia on August 20.

Peter Alford and Brendan Nicholson – Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has appealed to friendly countries to prevent political activity that disrupts good relations as a "freedom flotilla to West Papua" threatens to expose the rawest nerve in the Australia-Indonesia relationship.

Indonesian authorities have warned Australian activists on a "freedom flotilla" to avoid entering West Papua or risk being arrested.

In his Independence Day speech to parliament yesterday, Indonesia's President urged friendly countries to intervene to prevent political activities that could damage diplomatic relations.

Jerry Omona, Jakarta – General Coordinator of the Free Papua Organization (OPM), Lambertus Pekikir on behalf of the OPM members wished Indonesia a Happy 68th Independence Day.

"We appreciate and respect Indonesia's independence day and do not wish to hinder the celebration," said Lambert Pekikir, Friday, August 16, 2013.

Jakarta – While the country celebrates Independence Day, the Oikoumene Churches Forum in Papua called on the central government to organize a dialogue to channel Papuans' political aspirations for independence from Indonesia.

On August 15th 2013, we opened a new office in The Hague, Netherlands. Scores of people attended this historical day, another very important step on the road to West Papuan self-determination and independence.

The spokesman of the Chief of Police in Papua, Commissioner I Gede Sumerta Jaya, said that the security situation in Papua remained calm throughout the territory of Papua when the KNPB [National Committee of West Papua] organised several demonstrations to commemorate the New York Agreement on 15 August 1962. He alleged that the police had acted with tolerance.

Demonstrations proceeded peacefully in several main centres of West Papua yesterday marking the region's incorporation into Indonesia despite a reported police ban on the protests.

Marni Cordell – A group of Australian and West Papuan activists will set sail from Cairns on Saturday for the Indonesian territory of West Papua, despite fears they could face arrest or worse for arriving in the country illegally.

Yogyakarta – "Self-determination, the Democratic Solution for the Papuan People", shouted West Papuan students protesting the New York Agreement of August 15, 1962, and supporting the opening of a Free West Papua Campaign office in the Netherlands today, during an action coordinated by the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) on Thursday August 15 in the Malioboro shopping district in the

Arie Sunaryo – The Surakarta district police have seized two large banners depicting symbols of the Morning Star flag belonging to Papuan students that was to be used in a protest action at the Gladag traffic circle in the Central Java city of Solo on Thursday August 15.

Bogor – The momentum in the lead up to Indonesia's 68th Independence Day was used by scores of Papuan students to demand freedom and self-determination for the Papuan people. These demands were conveyed during a demonstration at the Tugu Kujang intersection on Jl. Padjajaran in Bogor, West Java, on Thursday August 15.

Joel Magarey – Australian and West Papuan activists are set to sail to the disputed Indonesian territory of West Papua without permission.

The "peace mission" has united Aboriginal and Papuan activists in support of the West Papuan independence struggle and will see 15 sailors leave on Saturday in a "freedom flotilla" of two yachts headed for the town of Merauke.

Jenny Denton – A group of Australian Aboriginal, non-Indigenous and West Papuan activists will set sail from Cairns for West Papua on Saturday, on a journey that organisers describe as both cultural exchange and act of resistance.

Jakarta – Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Tito Karnavian has announced a plan to conduct a flag-hoisting ceremony on Papua highest peak, Mount Cartenz, on Wednesday. The ceremony is part of a series of activities to observe the country's 68th Independence Day, which falls every Aug. 17.

Ezra Sihite & Novy Lumanauw – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has sought to quell growing support for Papuan self-determination among Indonesia's Pacific island neighbors, on Monday seeking to demonstrate the area's recent economic progress to visiting Solomon Islands Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo.

Police in Indonesia's Papua region have reportedly banned a number of protests and cultural parades planned to protest against the signing of the 1962 New York Agreement.

The deal between the UN, the Netherlands and Indonesia was a precursor to the Act Of Free Choice seven years later which led to Jakarta imposing its rule on the former Dutch colony.

A number of peaceful protests and cultural parades, planned to protest the signing of the New York Agreement on the 15 August 1962 have been banned by the police in West Papua.

Semarang – Some 650 military personnel of Infantry Battalion (Yonif) 410/Aloguro left Tanjung Emas Seaport at Semerang, Central Java, for Papua on Monday to strengthen Indonesia-Papua New Guinea border security.

Jayapura, Papua – A man was wounded after being shot at when trying to grab a weapon of a patrolling police officer in Timika on Sunday, police said.

The incident occurred after patrolling police asked a group of four men, who were consuming alcoholic drink late that night to stop and told them to go home.

An Indonesian Brimob police officer has shot dead an unarmed mentally ill Lani youth in Wamena on Thursday, after the youth allegedly verbally ridiculed the passing heavily armed police patrol on Jalan Ahmad Yani, according to witnesses interview by West Papua Media stringers.

The KNPB (West Papua National Committee) and PNWP (West Papua National Parliament) will march through the streets of West Papua on August 15th on a Papuan cultural parade in support of the Free West Papua Campaign opening a new office in the Netherlands as well as in rejection of the "New York Agreement" of 15 August 1962 where the USA and the government of the Netherlands sold West

Rochelle Jones – West Papua – officially under Indonesian rule since 1963 – is located in the Western half of the island of New Guinea, 250km north of Australia. In 2012, West Papua Media conducted interviews with four West Papuan women who are active in the nonviolent movement for freedom. Here, AWID gives some background, and excerpts from the interviews.

An independence campaigner in Indonesia's remote Papua province says a deadly shooting last week was the fault of Indonesian soldiers, who shot at an ambulance.

Reports from local media say one man, Erik Yoman, was killed, and several others injured, including medical officers.

Jayapura – Papuan indigenous traders are very worried about the fact that they are not able to compete economically because of the arrival in Papua of immigrants who are 'taking over' the trade in many simple commodities which has for a long time been where Papuan women (mama-mama) are conducting their business activities.

A platoon of the Indonesian Police Mobile Brigade, or Brimob, has been deployed to Mulia, in Papua province's Puncak Jaya regency, in response to a fatal shooting last week.

A Senior Indonesia vice-presidential advisor says the government is serious about protecting human rights in West Papua and Papua provinces.

Alex Rayfield, Yapen – In dramatic scenes outside a remote West Papuan prison, local community leaders on Monday forced the Indonesian police to release to two independence activists jailed on charges of rebellion.

The Hague, West Papua – The Free West Papua Campaign is to open a new office in the Netherlands.

Earlier this year the Campaign, which is fronted by exiled West Papuan Independence leader Benny Wenda, opened an office in the British city of Oxford.