Jakarta – The government is being urged to prioritize dialogue over a militaristic approach in resolving the Papua problem. It is precisely this militaristic approach that is provoking continued violence. Because of this therefore, violations of civilian human rights must stop.

Karishma Vaswani, Jakarta – The US mining firm Freeport McMoRan has been accused of everything from polluting the environment to funding repression in its four decades working in the Indonesian province of Papua. A recent spate of strikes by workers has brought all those uncomfortable allegations back to the surface.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono must take strategic action to defuse the violence in Papua that has already claimed many lives, the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) said.

Jakarta – At least 50 people from Papua are scheduled to meet President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Monday to discuss intentions to form a new Central Papua province.

Adianto P. Simamora, Jakarta – Heads of state institutions have called on the President to pay close attention to Papua and Aceh to ensure their special autonomy status benefitted local people, and to prevent growing tensions there from igniting as regional elections draw near.

FU UA: 188/11 Index: ASA 21/023/2011

Human rights defender Yones Douw has received medical treatment after he was beaten by military officers on 15 June. However, he continues to fear for his safety and the safety of his family after he received information that he is under surveillance by members of the Indonesian security forces.

Banjir Ambarita, Papua – The separatist Free Papua Organization on Friday admitted that it was responsible for a series of recent attacks against the military in Puncak Jaya district.

Thin Lei Win, Bangkok – Indigenous Papuans are at risk of further marginalisation and the forests and ecosystems on which they rely face destruction due to an ambitious food security project by the Indonesian government, activists say.

Markus Junianto Sihaloho & Banjir Ambarita – As the separatist Free Papua Organization claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on soldiers in the Puncak Jaya district, lawmakers on Friday warned foreign countries to stay away from Papuan issues.

Farouk Arnaz & Camelia Pasandaran – The National Police said on Wednesday that they had sent members of their elite counterterrorism unit to Papua after a recent spate of violence in the restive region.

The Indonesian Army has threatened to take firm military action against separatists allegedly involved in the recent spate of violence in Papua.

"We will take military approaches against anyone who disturbs us," Army Chief Gen. Pramono Edhie Wibowo said on Wednesday.

This week marks the 48th anniversary of the West Papuan struggle for independence from Indonesia. Thousands have taken to the streets and international lawyers are making a strong case for West Papuan self-rule.

Jakarta – Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said the demand for a referendum as voiced by a group of Papuan people recently was supported by few members of the region's community.

Jakarta – The Indonesian army said here on Thursday that it had launched no military action in reaction to recent attacks and ambushes by alleged separatist OPM members.

[The following essay by Surya Anta was written in response to a series of questions, I emailed him yesterday, August 4, 2011. - Max Lane]

'I am here to give solidarity, not as a provocateur'

Mariel Grazella, Jakarta – The chairman of the Papua and Aceh special autonomy supervisory team, Priyo Budi Santoso, urged the government to send the military to Papua if the referendum movement escalated to a mass rebellion.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The Papua Police said on Wednesday that the killing of four people in Nafri on Monday was simply a criminal act and had nothing to do with the separatist group the Free Papua Organization (OPM).

That assessment contradicted the Jayapura Police's statement that the OPM could be behind the attack.

Surya Anta, a leading member of People's Liberation Party (formerly KPRM-PRD), was arrested by the Metro Jaya regional police in Jakarta at 12noon on August 1.

Jakarta – Indonesia needs to boost economic development in Papua, human rights activists say, a day after thousands in the restive region rallied for independence.

"There's growing discontent among Papuans. The government needs to act fast to address various humanitarian issues," Haris Azhar, coordinator of the human rights group Kontras, told IRIN on 3 August.

Jakarta – The People's Liberation Party (Partai Pembebesan Rakyat, PPR) has slammed the arrest of comrade Suryanta Ginting (a PPR member) by the Metro Jaya Regional Police when he was giving a solidarity speech during an action by the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) in front of the State Palace on Tuesday August 2.

Manokwari – Residents of Manokwari, West Papua, held a protest on Tuesday August 2 by marching through the city's major streets.

Manokwari – Thousands of Papuan civilians in Manokwari, West Papua, took to the streets on Tuesday August 2 to demand a referendum. The participants at the action are convinced that a referendum is the middle road to resolve the political status of West Papua.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura/Jakarta – Thousands of people in Papua staged coordinated rallies Tuesday in a show of support for the conference of International Lawyers for West Papua (ILWP) in London to pursue a referendum for independence.

Around 10,000 Papuans have been demonstrating in support of independence from Indonesia. Witnesses say protesters defied a heavy police presence a day after an ambush police blamed on separatist rebels.

Banjir Ambarita & Camelia Pasandaran, Jayapura – Government officials confirmed on Monday that the recent deadly brawls plaguing the newly established district of Puncak Papua were closely linked to local politics.

Jakarta – The Indonesian government said it was not worried about demonstrations held in London on Tuesday demanding Papuan independence.

The gathering, known as the International Lawyers for West Papua (ILWP) conference, was held at Oxford University in London and demanded the independence of West Papua.

Nivell Rayda & Banjir Ambarita – Papua was wracked with tension on Monday after an early-morning ambush by suspected separatists in Abepura district left four people dead, including an army officer.

The attack followed weekend clashes between supporters of two local politicians in Puncak Papua district that left 17 dead.

Jerry Omona, Jayapura, Indonesia – A rebel commander in the Indonesian province of Papua on Tuesday denied involvement in an ambush that killed four people, as tensions rose ahead of a pro-independence rally.

Jakarta – Seventeen people were killed and dozens injured when the supporters of rival candidates in a local regent election clashed throughout Saturday and Sunday in Ilaga district in Puncak Jaya regency, Papua.

Jayapura, Papua – Unidentified gunmen early on Monday morning stabbed and shot dead three civilians and a Defense Forces (TNI) official near Nafri village in Jayapura, Papua.

Reliable sources said that besides the four fatalities, seven others were wounded in the shooting and stabbing incident which occurred at 3.15 am East Indonesia Standard Time (WIT).

Jewel Samad – Suspected separatist rebels killed four people including an army officer in Indonesia's restive Papua province on Monday, the first such attack in almost four months, police said.

The unidentified attackers blocked a road near the provincial capital Jayapura, opened fire on passing vehicles and then attacked the shocked passengers with machetes, police said.

Jayapura – Syamsul Arief Rivai has been installed as Papua's caretaker governor amid legal uncertainties about the next election.

Alex Rayfield – In an extraordinary media statement dated Monday 18 July the chief of the Army in Indonesian occupied West Papua, Major-General Erfi Triassunu, issued a very public apology to the leadership and congregation of the Kingmi Papua Church.

Who will speak Iniai in 2050? Or Faiwol? Moskona? Wahgi? Probably no one, as the languages of New Guinea – the world's greatest linguistic reservoir – are disappearing in a tide of indifference.

Yoseph Wally, an anthropologist at Cendrawasih University in Jayapura, Papua, keeps his ears open when he visits villages to hear what language the locals are speaking.

Banjir Ambarita, Jayapura – A military tribunal in Papua indicted three low-ranking soldiers on Wednesday for the killing of a civilian in Puncak Jaya district last year.

Banjir Ambarita – An Indonesian soldier was killed in an ambush at Puncak Jaya district in Papua on Thursday.

The incident took place when a group of armed men ambushed a military security squad patrolling Angin village at 9.30 a.m. One of the soldiers, First Private Lukas Yahya Kafiar, was shot in the head and died instantly.

The Honorable Hillary Clinton
Secretary of State
Department of State
Washington, D.C.

July 20, 2011

Secretary Clinton,

Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) says the government needs to evaluate its military operations in Papua, as more soldiers and civilians are injured by gunfire.

Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)
PO Box 28, Spit Junction, Sydney, Australia 2088

The Hon Kevin Rudd MP
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Parliament House
Canberra
ACT 2600

19 July 2011

Dear Mr Rudd

Banjir Ambarita, Jayapura – The military denied allegations that a woman and three children were shot and wounded during operations to combat suspected separatists in Papua's Puncak Jaya district.

Jayapura – Five soldiers were wounded in a gunfight with a group of armed people in Puncak Jaya, Papua, on Tuesday.

The five, who were evacuated to Jayapura, were identified as Jefry Satria, Nahor Awate, Heiberd Rivo Sipir, Sitorus and Manuel. Most of them were shot on the arms.

Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that the West Papua Advocacy Team (WPAT) has named him the 2011 recipient of the John Rumbiak Human Rights Defenders Award. Faleomavaega was presented the award on Thursday July 7, 2011.

In honoring Faleomavaega, WPAT stated:

Striking workers at Freeport-McMoran's gold and copper mine in Indonesia's Papua province have returned to work after their union said the firm agreed to its demands in the latest round of talks.

In recent weeks, highly regarded West Papuan non-governmental and religious organizations which promote respect for human rights have spoken out forcefully regarding the deteriorating human rights situation in the territory.

Organizations based in more than a dozen countries today issued a statement of support for West Papuan organizations appealing for justice and human rights.

Alfian Kartono, Timika, Indonesia – A few clicks on the keyboard of his computer was enough to get Simon Windesi and his friends riled up about the low wages their employer, a global mining giant, pays in this far-flung Indonesian province.

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-121-2011

Dear friends,

Lauren Zumbach – A major military operation has been launched in West Papua following the ambush of an Indonesian military patrol last week, reports said on Tuesday.

Declaration on peace In Papua

With thanks to Almighty God,

Banjir Ambarita – Raja Ampat Police on Monday denied reports that legal advocate Johnson Panjaitan has been held hostage as a result of a dispute between two mining companies in West Papua.