Australia says it "unreservedly recognises Indonesia's territorial integrity and sovereignty over the Papua provinces" in response to a letter accusing it of betrayal, but it also "condemns violence".
The Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM) – Free Papua Movement – has laid into the US and Australian leaders.
Meirto Tangkepayung, Intan Jaya, Papua – The Papua Police have initiated the deployment of reinforcements to Intan Jaya regency in response to escalated attacks by rebel groups targeting both civilian and security installations over the past week.
A West Papuan resistance leader has condemned the United Nations role in allowing Indonesia to "integrate" the Melanesian Pacific region in what is claimed to be an "egregious act of inhumanity" on 1 May 1963.
Elisa Sekenyap, Jayapura – A peaceful demonstration by Papuan students in the Balinese provincial capital of Denpasar on Wednesday May 1 to commemorate the day Papua was annexed into the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) has been blocked and repressed by police.
Mita Amalia Hapsari, Jakarta – The government is set to unveil two food warehouses with a capacity of approximately 100 tons each later this year, a senior official said on Tuesday.
Jayapura – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB), the All Indonesia Papuan Central Highlands Indonesian Student Association (AMPTPI), the Papua Indonesia High School and University Student Association (IMPIP) and the Indonesian Student League for Democracy (LMID) in Gorontalo province held a peaceful action to commemorate Papua Annexation Day in front of the Gorontalo State Unive
Jayapura – Eight civil society organisations from the Papuan People's Front (FRP) held a peaceful demonstration on Jalan Gunung Fanindi in Manokwari, West Papua province, on Wednesday to commemorate 61 years since the annexation of the Papuan nation (May 1, 1963 to May 1, 2024).
Sevianto Pakiding, Intan Jaya – An armed criminal group (KKB) launched an attack on the Homeyo Police Station in Pogapa Village, Homeyo District, Intan Jaya Regency, Papua, on Tuesday at around 07:40 a.m. Eastern Indonesia Time.
Icha Rastika, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid is of the view that the change in the nomenclature used for Armed Criminal Groups (KKB) in Papua to the Free Papua Organization (OPM) could have a positive impact.
David Hutt – Last month, videos emerged of 13 soldiers from an elite Indonesian battalion in West Java torturing a Papuan man, Definus Kogoya. According to Human Rights Watch, Kogoya "had his hands tied behind him and been placed inside a drum filled with water. The soldiers taunted Kogoya with racist slurs, kicking and hitting him.
The West Papuan resistance OPM leader has condemned Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden, accusing their countries of "six decades of treachery" over Papuan independence.
The open letter was released today by OPM chairman Jeffrey P Bomanak on the eve of ANZAC Day 2024.
Radhiyya Indra, Jakarta – Shootouts between the Indonesian Military (TNI) and rebel groups continue to occur despite mounting calls for security forces to apply a different approach to curb conflict in the region.
Jakarta – Commander of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), General Agus Subiyanto, in a statement on March 10, vowed to act firmly to quell the Free Papua Organization (OPM).
"I will take firm action against what the OPM has done. There can be no country within a country," he stated, marking the start of a new chapter in the crackdown on the OPM.
Jakarta – Brace for more violence in Papua following the Indonesian Military (TNI)'s decision to call the Free Papua Organization (OPM) by its given name, eliminating the euphemisms it used in the past to avoid recognizing the group in the country's easternmost region as well as its separatist cause.
An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute's silence to mark the "blood debt" owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces.
In early March 2024, the Indonesian internet and its online periphery would be rocked by a shocking video: A Papuan native seemingly detained in a bucket of water and being punched excessively by what appears to be Indonesian military forces. Then, another soldier is seen mercilessly slashing the Papuan's back with a bayonet as the victim could do nothing but writhe in pain.
Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – A recent string of fatal clashes in Papua has led experts to call for more restraint in the Indonesian Military's (TNI) handling of tensions in the country's restive easternmost region.
'Alopi Latukefu – I came to this evening of short films not sure what to expect.
I have a history with West Papua (here referring to the Indonesian part of the island of New Guinea, which comprises five provinces, one named "West Papua") from my days fronting the legendary West Papuan band Black Brothers in the early 1990s.
Elisa Sekenyap, Jayapura – The Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) says it deplores the recent sadistic torture of indigenous peoples of Melanesia in West Papua committed by the Indonesian government through members of the TNI (Indonesian military).
Yohanes Maharso Joharsoyo, Jakarta – TNI commander General Agus Subiyanto issued an order to the military to use the term Free Papua Movement (OPM) to refer to the separatist group in Papua.
Dani Prabowo, Jakarta – The chairperson of Centra Initiative and Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial) senior researcher, Al Araf, says that the reuse of the term Free Papua Organisation or OPM will not solve the problems or the conflict in Papua.
Jakarta – Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman and the South Papua provincial government launched 500 thousand hectares of rice fields in the region to increase agricultural production, both regionally and nationally.
Jakarta – The Army's Cendrawasih Military Command in Central Papua said that a soldier died in Aradide district after allegedly being attacked by a group of Free Papua Movement (OPM) rebels.
The soldier was Second Lt. Oktovianus Sogalrey, a commander of Aradide district's military command in Paniai regency in Central Papua.
Jayapura – It has been proven that applying a security approach in Papua just continues to result in the sacrifice of civilians. It is hoped the Indonesian government will immediately open space for a peaceful dialogue to resolve the armed conflict in the land of Papua.
The Indonesian National Army's (TNI) crime of torturing civilians in Papua has attracted criticism and resistance from the ordinary people. Ranging from Jakarta to Papua, statements were made and demonstrations launched everywhere.
Glori K. Wadrianto, Jakarta – The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) and the Free Papua Organisation (OPM) have revealed the conditions for the release of Susi Air pilot captain Philips Mark Mehrtens, who has been held hostage by the group since February 7, 2023.
Jakarta – Indonesia's military on April 13 denied using air strikes in a remote, restive part of the country, after a video of a New Zealand pilot kidnapped by Papuan rebels featured him saying military actions had made his position unsafe.
More videos appear to have been released by the West Papua Liberation Army showing Kiwi hostage Phillip Mehrtens.
The New Zealander was taken hostage more than a year ago on 7 February in Paro, Papua, while providing vital air links and supplies to remote communities.
Jakarta – The TNI (Indonesian military) headquarters has denied deploying combat aircraft and dropped bombs in Papua in the context of efforts to free Susi Air pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens.
Yohanes Maharso, Jakarta – Head of the TNI Information Center (Kapuspen), Major General Nugraha Gumilar, explained the purpose of changing the term armed criminal group (KKB) in Papua to the Free Papua Organization (OPM) by the TNI.
Yohanes Maharso, Jakarta – The Chairperson of the National Commission on Human Rights or Komnas HAM, Atnike Nova Sigiro, responded to the TNI (Indonesian Armed Forces) changing the term armed criminal group (KKB) in Papua to the Free Papua Organization (OPM).
According to him, the TNI Commander has the authority and considerations regarding the change of this term.
Jakarta – The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) on Friday described an attack by separatist rebels in Central Papua in which a sub-district military commander was killed as a serious violation of human rights.
Tragedy struck during a funeral gathering in the Yokatapa Village, Sugapa District, Intan Jaya Regency, Papua Tengah Province, on 8 April 2024, resulting in the death of thirteen-year-old Ronaldus Duwitau. Six-year-old Nepina Duwitau sustained multiple bullet wounds on the hand and the head. She is currently in a coma.
Meirto Tangkepayung, Jayapura – The Indonesian Military reported on Friday that a middle-ranking Army officer was discovered dead with gunshot and stab wounds in Paniai regency, Papua.
The Free Papua Movement (OPM) claimed responsibility for the killing of 2nd Lieutenant Oktovianus Sogalrey, who served as the commander of the Aradide District Military Command.
A 12-year-old boy was killed, and his six-year-old sister seriously injured in a gunfight between Indonesian security forces and an armed rebel group in Christian-majority Papua province, drawing strong condemnations and demands for a thorough probe by rights groups.
On 21 March 2024, an incident of police violence reportedly unfolded in the town of Timika, Mimika Regency, Papua Tengah Province, at approximately 2:00 pm. According to witnesses, a Papuan man, whose identity remains undisclosed, was collectively beaten by officers while purchasing cigarettes in a store near the Timika Indah field.
Fabian Januarius Kuwado, Jakarta – Indonesian military (TNI) commander General Agus Subiyanto has emphasised that they will not play around in crushing the Free Papua Organization (OPM).
The reason being that the OPM is creating terror, even committing acts of violence against communities as well as the TNI and Polri (Indonesian police).
Executive summary
Jakarta – Indonesian military (TNI) Commander General Agus Subiyanto says they have changed the nomenclature used to refer to Terrorist Separatist Groups (KST) in Papua to again become the Free Papua Organisation or OPM because this is the name they use themselves.
A Russian tourist, Mr Shmatov Ivan Aleksandrovich, was arbitrarily arrested by Indonesian security forces in the town of Enarotali, Paniai Timur District, Papua Tangah Province, on 11 March 2024.
Pizaro Gozali Idrus – A gunfight between separatist Papuan rebels and government security forces killed a 12-year-old boy and injured a 6-year-old girl who were caught in crossfire on Monday, security authorities and a rebel spokesman said.
Klas Lundstrom – I know what you think," the source tells me. "That it's fake. It's not fake. It's our life."
Jayapura – Two Papuan separatist leaders were killed in a shootout between security forces and their rebel group near one of the world's largest gold mines in Indonesia's restive Papua region, police said Sunday.
The Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) has declared its solidarity with civil society groups and student protesters demonstrating against the torture of a Papuan man, Defianus Kogoya, by Indonesian troops in West Papua last February.
The torture was revealed in a video that went viral across the world last month.
Doddy Morris – It has been 60 years since Indonesia has refused humanitarian agencies and international media access to enter West Papua.
Jayapura – Peaceful demonstrations by the Meepago people in Nabire, the capital of Central Papua province, on the morning of Friday April 5, were forcibly broken up by officers from the Nabire district police. A number of protesters were reportedly injured, some of whom were rushed to Nabire regional pubic hospital.
Reiner Brabar, Sorong – The group Anti-Militarism and Human Rights Care People's Solidarity in the Land of Papua held a free speech forum at Remu traffic lights intersection in Sorong City, Southwest Papua, on Thursday April 4.
In response to the brutal torture of a West Papuan man, Defianus Kogoya by Indonesian troops in West Papua in early February, a number of rallies and discussions groups were held by civil society groups in West Papua over the past 2 days.
The Papuan Student and Peoples Front Against Militarism (FMRPAM) called for peaceful protests against the militarisation in West Papua in various areas across the Jayapura Regency and Jayapura City on 2 April 2024. FMRPAM called for the protests in response to a video of military members torturing an indigenous Papuan in the Puncak Regency in February 2024.
An Australian West Papuan solidarity group has condemned a brutal crackdown by Indonesian police against student protesters demonstrating against torture by the security forces.