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.

Jakarta – A human rights watchdog has called on the United States' Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to support the release of all Indonesian political prisoners who are being held for the peaceful expression of their political views.

Australia categorically rejected Papuan independence Sunday saying it could not lead to a viable nation and would "completely rupture" ties with Indonesia were Canberra to weigh in.

West Papua Advocacy Team
c/o PO Box 21873
Brooklyn, NY 11202-1873
wpat@igc.org
+1- 575-648-2078

The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton
Department of State
Washington, DC 20520
via fax

Dear Secretary Clinton:

Ismira Lutfia & Ezra Sihite – Following an investigative report from Australian media alleging that the country's counterterrorism unit Special Detachment 88 killed a Papuan pro-independence activist, an analyst urged Indonesia to further probe the incident.

Dozens of Papuans in Semarang and Salatiga in Central Java and Yogyakarta rallied in front of Semarang Police headquarters on Thursday, urging the government to take steps to stop violence in Papua.

Afriza Hanifa, Semarang – Scores of Papuan protesters from Papua National Solidarity (NAPAS) held an action in front of the East Java regional police headquarters in the provincial capital of Semarang on Thursday August 30.

Michael Bachelard – A senior Indonesian legislator has hit out at Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr for having "double standards" after he called for an inquiry into the police killing of a West Papuan independence leader.

Alex Perrottet – Fresh allegations of human rights violations in West Papua implicating Australian military training on ABC's 7:30 Report this week have prompted calls for leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum in the Cook Islands to seek a fact-finding mission.

The Human Rights Law Centre is trying to pressure the Federal Government to act on allegations of torture and killings by an Australian-trained counter-terrorism group.

Philip Jacobson – There has been talk of an arms deal between the United States and Indonesia. Reportedly on the table are eight Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopters. These are top-of-the-line attack machines, the best in their class.

Jayapura – Brutal scenes occurred at a highland students dormitory in Abepura early on Sunday night (26 August) as a massive assault was carried out on students from the Liborang Asrama (dormitory) by a joint force of Army (TNI) and Police.

Canberra called on Wednesday for an Indonesian inquiry into the killing of a Papuan independence leader but could not say whether Australian-trained counter-terrorism police were involved in the death.

Hayden Cooper and Lisa Main – An elite counter-terrorism unit trained and supplied by Australia is being accused of acting as a death squad in Indonesia's troubled West Papua region.

The group, known as Detachment 88, receives training, supplies and extensive operational support from the Australian Federal Police.

Hayden Cooper and Lisa Main – Resistance leaders in the restive Indonesian region of West Papua say they are losing their struggle for independence as authorities step up a decades-long campaign of abuse and intimidation.

Mimika, Papua – A senior member of the Mimika Legislative Council called on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to investigate the "rampant" corruption present in Papua, claiming that fraudulence has contributed to the growing separatist sentiment of Indonesia's easternmost province.

UA: 251/12 Index: ASA 21/032/2012

Former prisoner of conscience Yusak Pakage is being denied access to medical treatment while in police detention in Papua province, Indonesia. He has reportedly been threatened with torture and has not had access to a lawyer since his arrest.

Banjir Ambarita & Arientha Primanita – Authorities in the Paniai district of Papua have imposed a curfew after a police officer was shot and killed this week, bringing a fresh wave of violence in the resource-rich province.

Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – The government has warned it will take all necessary measures to locate those responsible for the recent shootings in Papua.

The National Committee for West Papua (KNPB) has urged the police authorities in West Papua to agree to the transfer of Buchtar Tabuni who is now in custody and on trial to the special prison for narcotics offences in order to ensure that he receives the necessary treatment for a stomach complaint and low blood pressure.

Aditya Revianur, Jakarta – Speaking at a press conference in Jakarta, Papua National Solidarity (NAPAS) coordinator Martheen Goo called for the Panai district police chief and district military commander to be removed from their posts.

The call came following sweep operations by security forces in Paniai regency, West Papua, that have left the region in the grip of fear.

Rangga Prakoso & Tito Summa Siahaan – Little progress has been made in attempts by the government to renegotiate the mining contract held by Freeport Indonesia in an effort to improve the welfare of Papuans, a nongovernmental organization claims.

The district police chief in Paniai, Papua, on Wednesday said investigators had narrowed their search for suspects after the fatal shooting of a police officer at a local airport, a report said.

John Mcbeth – German biologist Pieter Helmut and his wife were walking up the beach after swimming near the Papua provincial capital of Jayapura when a bearded gunman suddenly got out of a van and opened fire.

Jayapura – An unidentified shooter shot a policeman to death at Enarotali airport in the Paniai district of West Papua on Tuesday morning, according to officials.

Papua Police Spokesman Sr. Comr. Yohannes Nugroho said Brig. Yohan Kasiwaitouw was shot while he was washing a car at the end of the airport runway.

Ayub Natanubun, head of the forestry agency of Papua's Sarmi district, was shot by an unidentified gunman near the border of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea on Saturday afternoon.

Surabaya (CARE) – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's speech on August 16 took up several issues related to West Papua, including that it is not easy to solve the Papuan problem, that it needs measures that are specific, basic and comprehensive, that we have to integrate these measures to accelerate development in Papua.

Suze Metherell – The "banned" Morning Star flag of West Papuan independence will be displayed in shop fronts across New Zealand next week.

Ryan Dagur, Jakarta – Dozens of Papuans rallied in front of the US Embassy in Jakarta on Wednesday, saying that New York Agreement signed 50 years ago had led to oppression and human rights violations.

Vitalis Yogi Trisna, Jakarta – Coinciding with the commemoration of 50 years since the New York Agreement, Papuan National Solidarity (NAPAS) held a protest action in front of the United States Embassy in the Gambir area of Central Jakarta on Wednesday August 15.

James Balowski, Jakarta – The killing of a leading pro-independence activist in West Papua during a raid reportedly led by members of the Australian-funded and -trained counter-terrorism unit Detachment 88 (Densus 88) raises serious questions about how Australian workers' tax money is being used in Indonesia.

Jayapura – West Papua Police have arrested 10 people for raising the banned Morning Star flag, a symbol of Papuan independence, during a rally in Manokwari on Thursday.