Jayapura – A group called the Federated State of West Papua, known by its Indonesian initials as the NFRPB plans to mark the first anniversary of the Third Papua Conference on 19 October held last year. It was at the third conference that the Papuan people declared the restoration of their independence.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The Papua gubernatorial election process has resumed with the issuance of the Papua General Elections Commission (KPUD) Decree No. 33/2012, dated Oct. 5, 2012, on the time schedule of the election.

A specialist in Papua affairs says Indonesian lawmakers are displaying inconsistent approaches to the ongoing security problem in Papua region.

This comes as leading members of Indonesia's House of Representatives urged Jakarta to support any military offensive against Papuan separatists in order to keep the region part of Indonesia.

Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – The House of Representatives has urged the government to take concrete actions to stem the burgeoning support for the separatist movement in Papua.

A commander from the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN) has categorically denied any responsibility or involvement in an alleged bombing campaign against security force targets in Wamena and Jayapura, joining a chorus of Papua observers raising doubts about the Indonesian police allegations against pro-independence activists

An Australian-funded police unit in West Papua has again been implicated in a crackdown on the region's independence movement.

Leigh Sales, presenter: An Australian funded counter-terrorism unit in West Papua is facing new accusations of abusing its power in the troubled Indonesian province.

WPM and local sources – Over a thousand people who had gathered in Manokwari on Tuesday (2/10) to demonstrate in support of the independence movement in Papua were attacked by police who fired tear gas and live ammunition in the air, after hundreds of banned Morning Star independence flags were unfurled.

Farouk Arnaz – Convicted terrorist Abu Bakar Bashir has blasted the police's "lenient" action against members of a Papuan pro-independence group allegedly plotting a coordinated bombing attack, calling it proof that the government was waging war against Islam.

To: The Australian Ambassador in The Netherlands.
His Excellency Mr. Neil Mules.
C/- Australian Embassy
Carnegielaan 4
2517 KH The Hague.

The Hague, 2nd October 2012.

Your Excellency,

I am writing you this email on behalf of the Dutch Foundation Pro Papua.

Dear Friends of West Papua,

Dear friends,

Further information on UA: 109/12. Index: ASA 21/040/2012

On 17 September, prisoner of conscience Filep Karma received medical treatment after the Abepura prison authorities allowed him to travel from Abepura prison in Papua province to a hospital in Jakarta, the Indonesian capital.

Farouk Arnaz & Jonathan Vit – Papua Police arrested seven members of the pro-independence West Papua National Committee (KNPB) on Saturday in connection with an alleged bomb plot that has human rights advocates crying foul.

Scott Waide – After decades of maintaining a relatively neutral stance, the Papua New Guinea Government will finally be making a strong representation to Indonesia to raise concerns over human rights abuses committed by the Indonesian Military in West Papua.

A major raid occurred on Saturday by troops from the Indonesian army (TNI) and Australian-trained Detachment 88 counter-terror unit on activists from the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) in Wamena, according to several credible sources in the West Papuan highland town.

Alex Rayfield – Two West Papuan activists currently in police detention in Yapen Island in West Papua are being threatened with twenty years jail by the Indonesian police for organising a nonviolent march in support of the United Nations International Day of Indigenous People which this year celebrated the role of indigenous media.

Jonathan Vit – New Zealand's public pension fund pulled more than $1 million in investment from Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold over allegations of human rights offenses committed by security forces around the company's controversial Grasberg mine in Papua.

Deputy chairman of the House of Representatives' Commission II on regional autonomy, Ganjar Pranowo, said that lawmakers would support a proposal for the formation of a new province in the southern part of Papua.

Timika, Papua – Police in Papua's Mimika district will use CCTV recordings to help identify members of a 300-strong mob that attacked a Freeport Indonesia office on Friday.

Mimika Police still have not named any suspects in the vandalism of the Freeport office in Kuala Kencana and the arson of dozens of vehicles.

IHRC is delighted that the NZ Superannuation Fund has decided to pull its investments from the Freeport McMoran mining giant. (NZ Superannuation Fund Media Release 26 September, 2012)

Jayapura – Buchtar Tabuni, 32, human rights activist and leader of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), was sentenced to eight months in prison for vandalism at the Jayapura Prison in December 2010.

Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – Activists and rights campaigners have called on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to use his visit to Papua next month to initiate a dialogue with all members of the Papuan community to find a lasting solution to tension in the country's easternmost province.

UA: 273/12 Index: ASA 21/039/2012

Papuan human rights lawyer Olga Hamadi has been threatened after investigating allegations of police torture and ill-treatment in Wamena, Papua province, Indonesia. There are concerns for her safety and she is at risk of further intimidation and attacks.

A mob of some 300 people on Friday attacked an office of gold mining company Freeport Indonesia in Timika, Papua.

The angry crowd also burned two cars and threatened to burn down the Mimika district office if Freeport failed to fulfill their demands.

Jim Elmslie – Allegations that Australia is funding death squads in West Papua have brought the troubled province back to Australian attention. Blanket denials by both Indonesian and Australian governments – standard policy for such reports in the past, no longer cut the mustard.

The players respond

Jakarta – The bounty offered by a separatist group, the Free Papua Movement (OPM), for the arrest of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during his October visit to Britain has no legal basis, according to an observer.

Farouk Arnaz – Papua's new police chief vowed to take a grassroots approach to stopping the violence that has plagued this restive province during his swearing in ceremony on Friday.

Bagus BT Saragih, Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has responded angrily over a move by pro-Papua independence activists who have offered a bounty for his arrest when he visits the United Kingdom next month.

John McBeth – It is time for the critics to forget about the Indonesian military's businesses for a moment and look at the money-making ventures of the national police that assumed responsibility for Indonesia's internal security over a decade ago.

A West Papua pro-independence group has offered a 50,000 pound reward to anyone who places President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono under "citizen's arrest" during his visit to the United Kingdom for human rights offenses committed in the restive Indonesian province.

Mimika, Papua – Another vehicle owned by mining giant Freeport Indonesia was fired on by unknown assailants while traveling along the dangerous Jalan Tanggul Timur road near Timika on Tuesday.

The House of Representatives (DPR) recently set up a committee to examine the government's policies on the resource-rich province of Papua. Lawmakers blame the recurring violence in the province on the ineffectiveness of special unit UP4B set up by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in October 2011. To get some insight on the performance of UP4B, The Jakarta Post's Margareth S.

The British government has promised to guarantee the safety of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on his planned visit to the United Kingdom in October, following the announcement of a reward offer for anyone able to arrest him during the visit.

Tito Summa Siahaan – There are two sides to every coin, but according to the chief of Freeport Indonesia, the local unit of US mining giant Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold, the media often go out of their way to tie the company to bad news, such as shootings near its Papua mine, or a royalty rate that is considered by many as too low.

Farouk Arnaz – Unknown gunmen fired on two cars along the road between Timika and the Grasberg mine operated by Freeport Indonesia in Papua on Friday but no casualties were reported, police said on Monday.

The Australian Greens fear the death of a Papuan freedom fighter – and its links to Australian defence personnel – is being swept under the carpet.

Greens senator Richard Di Natale has urged the federal government to reveal what progress it has made with Indonesian authorities over the killing in June of separatist leader Mako Tabuni.

Gunmen opened fire on a Freeport Indonesia car in Mimika, Papua on Friday in the latest instance of violence in the restive province.

Comr. Albertus Andreana, of the Mimika Police, told the Antara News Agency that members of the Indonesian Military (TNI) were riding in the car when unknown gunmen started shooting on Jalan Tanggul Timur.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – As many as 31 regions in Papua have demanded autonomy status, 29 as new regencies and three as new provinces.

Rangga Prakoso – Judges at the South Jakarta municipal court on Thursday rejected a civil suit filed by the Indonesian Human Rights Committee For Social Justice (IHCS) against a subsidiary of mining giant Freeport McMoRan in Papua.

Jayapura – Gustaf Kawer, one of the lawyers defending the former chairman of the KNPB – National Committee of West Papua – said that the judges hearing the case of Buchtar Tabuni should have the courage to release the defendant in the absence of any witnesses to testify against him.

A police officer reportedly guarding a road project in Jayapura, Papua, was gunned down by unknown assailants on Monday, police said.

The Australian Greens have today questioned the mixed messages the Australian Government is sending Indonesia about human rights in West Papua.

"The Australian Government needs to take a consistent stance in defence of human rights in our region, not just pay them lip service," said Australian Greens Leader and Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne.

Jayapura – At a time when the media is busily reporting about plans for a dialogue between Papua and Jakarta, following the visit to Papua by the Presidential Consultative Council under the leadership of Dr Albert Hasibuan, the KNPB – National Committee for West Papua, has responded by saying that there are issues that need to be discussed before any dialogue can take place.

Brig. Gen. Tito Karnavian, of Densus 88 is to become the head of police in West Papua. Joe Collins of AWPA said "this is of great concern particularly in light of the 7.30 program on the ABC which showed West Papuans testifying that Densus 88 was involved in the June killing of Mako Tabuni of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB).

Jayapura – One of the leaders of the OPM, Danny Kogoya along with seven others were arrested on Sunday just before midnight, in a hotel in Entrop. He is likely to spend many years behind bars.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called Monday on Indonesia to pursue dialogue and ensure autonomy for restive Papua but made it clear that the United States did not support independence.

Clinton, who rattled nerves in Indonesia last year by voicing concern over human rights, praised the government even as she urged more efforts to resolve the long-running conflict.

Farouk Arnaz – Six out of 25 members of the Free Papua Organization (OPM) who were arrested in a series of raids on Sunday and Monday have been named as suspects by the police, and remain in custody.

"Out of 25 persons that have been questioned by a Papua police detective, there are six who were positively named as suspects and detained," National police spokesman Brig.

Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – The House of Representatives Commission I overseeing defense has established a working committee to focus on solutions to the ongoing violence in Papua.

Commission I chairman Mahfudz Siddiq said on Tuesday that the committee would comprise 27 lawmakers and be chaired by leaders of his commission.

Banjir Ambarita, Jayapura – Papua Police on Sunday arrested 22 members of the Free Papua Organization (OPM), including its prominent leader Daniel Kogoya.

Farouk Arnaz – The former head of Indonesia's elite anti-terrorism unit is set to become the new Papua Police chief, according to a copy of the decision letter obtained by the Jakarta Globe.