Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Despite having special autonomy for 10 years, Papua has been compared to a sick person in need of the right therapy, with a forum held to discuss the urgency of evaluating the implementation of special autonomy.

The chairman of Papuan Anti Militarism Solidarity, SRPAM, Elias Petege, has called the DPRP, the provincial legislative assembly, a body that always breaks its promises. So no one should be surprised that many of the people's aspirations have not been met.

To all components of West Papuan society,
inside and outside of the Land of Papua

Liberation greetings,

Jayapura – Jakarta frequently intimidates Papua in the name of the unity and integrity of the Republic of Indonesia, even though such a stance creates a culture of fear among Papuan officials with strategic positions in regional administrations, an activist says.

The statement was made by Papua Human Rights Working Network coordinator Fien Yarangga on Monday.

Banjir Ambarita, Jayapura – The number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Papua and West Papua has jumped by more than 30 percent to over 17,000 in just four months, an official said on Thursday.

Kostan Karma, head of the Papua AIDS Prevention Commission (KPA), said the spike in infections was very worrying, and blamed it on the prevalence of unprotected sex.

Richard Chauvel – I first met Filep Karma in the Papuan capital, Jayapura, in November 2000. Even in the relatively open political climate that prevailed in Papua during the first years after the fall of Suharto, he was a courageous and striking figure.

Jakarta – Puncak Jaya Regent Lukas Enembe has ordered soldiers not to carry weapons during peacetime, particularly when in the town, saying it scares residents.

An activist who campaigns for the protection of Papuan forests says an agreement between the European Union and Indonesia over illegally sourced timber probably won't save kwila hardwood from extinction.

Thousands of demonstrators from the West Papua National Committee (Komite Nasional Papua Barat, KNPB) again demanded that a Referendum be held in Papua. Demonstrators carried a number of smaller banners, and two large ones. The masses planned to bring their demands to the Papuan office of the House of Representatives in Jayapura, Monday (2/5).

Nethy Dharma Somba – The election of Hana S Hikoyabi as a member of the Papua People Assembly (MRP) representing women has been rejected by the Home Ministry for the 2011-2016 term due to suspicion of separatism activities.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The Indonesian Military (TNI) is engaging in non-combat activities in an attempt to repair its image among locals. The military and police are perceived as ineffective in tackling a recent spate of violent crime.

Thousands of people have joined mass rallies in cities and towns around Papua to mark the handover from UN to Indonesian control in 1963.

Local and provincial Police stopped demonstrators from continuing on their route to the House of Representatives of Papua building in Jayapura.

Hundreds of dock workers demonstrated on Monday at the Port of Merauke, demanding wage increases from $US8 (70,000 rupiah) to $US23 (R200,000) per each ship unloaded.

The demonstration went ahead from 7am resulting in delays of the loading and unloading of goods and congestion at the port. The demonstration was peaceful.

Today, May 1, 2011, We the people of West Papua mediated by the West Papua National Committee [KNPB] give our statement that:

1. We the Indigenous People of West Papua have never and will never accept the Unitary Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) to occupy our territory, West Papua.

The anti-militarism coalition of Papuan Students, KoMPAM, has urged the Indonesian government to immediately end the use of repressive measures which continue to be used by the security forces in the Land of Papua.

The statement was issued in relation to the bloody incident that occurred a few days ago in Moanemani, district of Dogiyai.

The inhabitants of Sanggase kampung, district of Okaba, district of Merauke, have submitted a demand for compensation of sixty-five billion rupiahs from PT Medco for their operations in the kampung for the past three years, but they have had no response from the company.

In other words, the company has simply washed its hands and is not prepared to pay any compensation.

In the aftermath of the bloody tragedy that began on April 13 2011, the people of Dogiyai Regency have fled their homes. On April 13 and 14, TNI (Indonesian Military) and POLRI (Police) units killed two local civilians (Dominikus Auwe and Aloisius Waine) and left three others in critical condition (Otin Yobe, Matias Iyai and Albert Pigai).

Banjir Ambarita, Camelia Pasandaran & Markus Junianto Sihaloho – Officials in Papua on Monday defended the decision to deposit development funds worth Rp 1.25 trillion ($145 million) at a state bank and denied allegations that the money had been misused.

Banjir Ambarita, Jayapura – Thousands of people are at risk of starvation and disease after heavy flooding in Papua's Paniai district, an official said over the weekend.

Following a number of shootings of inhabitants in the district of Dogiyai in the past few weeks, the place is now like a ghost town. Many of the inhabitants along with their wives and children have left town.

Banjir Ambarita, Jayapura – A Papuan legislator has called for the firing of the provincial police chief following the shooting deaths of two people in Dogyai district this week.

Chairman of Commission A Parliament of Papua together with Dogiyai citizens went to the Papua Police Headquarters on Friday (15/4) in connection with the bloody incidents that have occurred in the District of Moanemani Dogiyai.

AI Index: ASA 21/010/2011

The Indonesian authorities must ensure a prompt, impartial and effective investigation into the unnecessary and excessive use of firearms by security forces that led to the deaths of at least two Papuans and injuries to three others.

Following a police raid on gambling at a market in Papua on Wednesday, hundreds of people retaliated by attacking the police chief and the precinct office. Two people were injured in the incident.

Police raided the Moenamai market in Dogyai district at noon to close down gambling locations there.

"Together for the History of the Star of the East"

The Free West Papua Association in Vanuatu has asked the coalition government of the prime minister, Sato Kilman, to clarify its position on the Papua issue.

The Association's President, Pastor Allan Nafuki, says it is well aware that some ministers don't support the decision by Mr Kilman to give Indonesia observer status at the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

Ina Parlina, Jakarta – The death of a prominent Papuan leader has sparked concerns over the security of the upcoming gubernatorial election in the volatile region.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The funeral for two employees of mining giant PT Freeport took place Sunday while a police report said the two died in a fire.

Banjir Ambarita, Jayapura – Two employees of mining giant Freeport were killed in Papua after the car they were traveling in overturned and caught fire, a company spokesman said on Friday.

The deputy chairman of the Papuan branch of Komnas HAM, the National Human Rights Commission, Mathius Murib, has accused the regional authorities of lack of commitment to solve human rights violations in West Papua.

He said that the local government had failed to enact a regional regulation known as Perda regarding human rights.

Ricky Binihi – The decision by Prime Minister Sato Kilman to ignore the wish of the people of Vanuatu and join Melanesian Spearhead Group leaders to accept Indonesia in MSG has angered the West Papua movement for Independence.

The Papua Peace Network says the credibility of the Melanesian Spearhead Group will be tested by its decision to grant Indonesia observer status.

The move has met with disapproval by many Papuan advocate groups who say West Papuans should have their own seat at the MSG.

Banjir Ambarita, Jayapura – A Freeport employee suffered from a gunshot wound after yet another shooting around the company's mining area in Papua. Freeport McMoran spokesman Ramd ani Sirait confirmed the shooting, which took place around 2:40 p.m. on Wednesday in Tembagapura, Papua.

A priest in Nabire has described the special autonomy law, known as OTSUS, as being a move by the Indonesian government that was intended to accelerate the extermination of the indigenous Papuan people.

Jayapura – All elements within the United Papuan Peoples' Coalition for Justice (KRPBK) are firm in their rejection of Special Autonomy – OTSUS, and call for the dissolution of the MRP as well as rejecting UP4B (Unit for Accelerated Development of Papua and West Papua) which was recently created by the central government.

Indonesia is willing to discuss the "Papua" issue with the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

Papua New Guinea Foreign Affairs Minister, Don Polye, while addressing the leaders yesterday, said his country welcomed this statement which was made at the forum ministers meeting on Tuesday. The people of Papua are seeking secession from Indonesia.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – National Commission on Human Rights chair Ifdal Khasim is urging the Papuan Police to stop accusing protesters in Papua of treason because the law ensures freedom of expression.

Yan Christian Warinussy, the executive director of LP3BH, the Institute of Research, Analysis and Development for Legal Aid, has called on the Dewan Adat Papua, the Papuan Customary Council, to submit the 'makar' – subversion – article in the Indonesian Criminal Code/KUHP to the Constitutional Court for a judicial review.

AWPA is encouraged by the statement from the Chairman of the MSG meeting, Ratu Inoke Kubuabol that "The Melanesia Spearhead Group feels for their brothers and sisters in West Papua". Joe Collins of AWPA said "we urge the MSG to grant West Papua membership at the leaders summit.

Australian unions have called on the Indonesian Government to respect international labour Conventions and human and trade union rights following the arrest of five nurses in West Papua.

Vanuatu's opposition leader, Edward Natapei, says the country should reconsider its membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

Last year, when Natapei was Vanuatu's leader, he was involved in an acrimonious spat with Fijian leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama af ter cancelling an MSG summit scheduled to be held in Fiji.

Jayapura – Thaha Alhamid, secretary general of Papuan Presidium Council, (PDP), has welcomed the initiative taken by the Papuan Peace Network, the JDP, to seek to solve the Papuan problem by means of a Jakarta-Papua dialogue, and says this should include all the leaders of the struggle for Papuan independence, here in the Land of Papua as well as abroad.

As the Melanesian Speahead Group meeting goes ahead in Suva, an Australia-based pressure group is calling for full membership for West Papua.

Vanuatu's opposition leader, Edward Natapei, says he has grave concerns at the decision by the Melanesian Spearhead Group giving Indonesia observer status. The MSG is meeting in Suva with a leaders' summit set for next Thursday.

KontraS Papua, the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence, is convinced that the detention of five nurses by the police in Papua is a violation of their human rights. KontraS Papua member, Olga Helena Hamadi said that the police should not treat the nurses as criminals, adding that the government should quickly act to resolve this case.

Repeka Nasiko – The Australian West Papua Association (AWPA) in Sydney has written a letter to Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) leaders urging them to discuss and speak out against the deteriorating human rights situation in the territory at the next MSF forum in Fiji.

In an open letter to the leaders of the MSG, AWPA calls on the MSG to give full membership to the Melanesian people of West Papua.

A West Papuan independence group has been angered by a decision to grant Indonesia observer status at a summit meeting of the Melanesian Spearhead Group next week. The decision was made by MSG leaders.

East Timor also has been granted observer status, while a founding member of the European Union, Luxembourg, has been invited as a special guest

Eight nurses and midwives have been arrested in Jayapura for their involvement in a strike that resulting in a halt to services at the general hospital in Jayapura – They face charges of inciting their colleagues to take part in a strike.