Markus Makur, Timika, Papua – A soldier and a police officer were injured when a military vehicle was shot by an unidentified man on Wednesday at the mining site of US mining firm PT Freeport Indonesia in Papua, a military spokesman has said.

Camelia Pasandaran – A team from the State Ministry for People's Welfare is slated to visit Yahukimo, Papua, to find out what is happening in the district, where at least 92 people have reportedly died this year from hunger.

West Papuan people are hopeful that the re-elected President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will fulfil his election promise to resolve the West Papuan issue. A promise, he did not fulfil in his fist term in office.

Jakarta – Human right activists are urging the government to initiate a dialogue with representatives of various groups in Papua to find a peaceful solution to violence and separatism in the resources-rich province.

The spokesman for the military wing of the Papua separatist group, the West Papua National Liberation Army, has been arrested by Indonesian police on subversion charges.

Markus Makur, Timika – At least two people were injured as a group of unidentified persons attacked a PT Freeport Indonesia security bus on Saturday at Mile 42, both of whom were rushed to the Kuala Kencana clinic for intensive care, a police officer has said.

Markus Makur, Timika – Monolithic mining company PT Freeport Indonesia should be forthright on the problems taking place within its concession area, a member of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) said Thursday.

Markus Makur, Timika – Despite an increase in the number of security officers guarding PT Freeport Indonesia's mine in Timika, Papua, a military car was shot at by unknown gunmen in the area on Wednesday.

Markus Makur, Timika – The All-Indonesian Workers Union (SPSI) of US mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia has submitted an official proposal to the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) asking for protection following a series of shootings by unknown gunmen.

Union secretary Ronny G. Kadrun gave the letter to commission member Nur Kholis in Tembagapura on Thursday.

Mimika – Coordinating Minister for the People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie presented government housing assistance Tuesday to former members of the separatist Free Papua Movement (OPM) in the Pegunungan Bintang and Lanny Jaya regencies of Papua.

John Pakage & Antara – At least 600 soldiers have arrived in Timika, Papua, to tighten security around PT Freeport Indonesia's mining site after a series of deadly attacks on the company's employees, a police officer said on Tuesday.

"The troops will help Timika Police maintain the outer ring of security," Papua Police spokesman Chief Comr. Agus Rianto said on Tuesday.

The operators of major resource extraction projects in the Indonesian province of Papua could face tough criminal penalties if they are found to have caused excess levels of environmental pollution.

Seven suspects from Timika in Indonesia's Papua are set to face trial over recent shootings near the Grasberg mine run by mining giant Freeport.

Police have handed dossiers of the seven over to the Timika Prosecutor's Office which may press charges over the recent wave of shootings which have targetted Freeport staff convoys and claimed three lives.

Markus Makur, Jayapura – The Papua Police Office has handed over to the Timika Prosecutor's Office dossiers of seven people accused of being involved in a riot at the US-mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia that claimed the lives of at least two workers.

The Indonesia Human Rights Committee has written to New Zealand's Foreign Minister Murray McCully urging him to ask the Indonesian Government to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to reopen its office in Papua.

The Red Cross was forced to shut its office and leave Papua earlier this year after its staff members visited prisoners in jail.

A conference in Dili to mark the tenth anniversary of East Timor's independence from Indonesia has demanded an end to impunity for the perpetrators of the killings of Papuan political leaders and human rights activists.

At least 600 army officers will help secure the working areas of the PT Freeport Indonesia mine in Timika, Papua, starting on September 2, following a number of armed attacks on the site.

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – Eight years after the introduction of "special autonomy" scheme developed by the central government for Papua and West Papua, major problems remain, with much of the regions population yet to see intended improvements to their social welfare, a discussion concluded recently.

The man who led President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's campaign team in Papua for the July presidential election urged the government on Sunday to pay more attention to the province, where he said conditions were becoming "more and more precarious."

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Scores of residents seeking compensation for land they claim was taken away from them, closed down the Sentani Airport in Jayapura on Friday, suspending flights for about two hours.

Nurfika Osman – The company uniform at the world's largest copper-and-gold mine in Papua is looking decidedly more severe these days.

Amid a spate of roadside ambushes from gunmen over the last few months, employees of PT Freeport Indonesia have started wearing flak jackets and helmets, the company's spokesman said on Friday.

Jakarta – Drivers working for the US-based company PT Freeport Indonesia have demanded a security guarantee in the wake of shootings near Grasberg mine in Mimika, Papua, in recent months.

Close to a hundred drivers are gathering Thursday morning at a bus terminal near Timika Airport, where Freeport management representatives have arrived to meet them.

The Jakarta office of the International Committee of the Red Cross says as far as it knows negotiations are ongoing over the agreement under which it operates in Indonesia, covering its activities in the Papua region.

However an Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman on Friday said that the ICRC would not be allowed to re-open a branch office in Papua.

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

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
President of Indonesia
c/o The Ambassador
Embassy of Indonesia
8 Darwin Avenue,
Yarralumla,
ACT 2600

22 August 2009

Re: Concern for the health of Filep Karma

Dear President Yudhoyono,

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The granting of special autonomy to the Papua region has not proven sufficient enough to quell the ongoing internal struggle of its people for independence and separation from Indonesia.

"The root of the problem is Papua's political status, which is not recognized by Indonesia or the world.

Ismira Lutfia & Putri Prameshwari – The Indonesian government on Friday reiterated its position that the International Committee of the Red Cross would not be allowed to open an office in Papua, despite the Australian Senate's motion urging the government to allow the Red Cross unfettered access to the troubled region.

Australia's government has sent a quiet signal to Indonesia about mounting concern over human rights conditions in Indonesia's restive Papua region The Rudd government – facing accusations it's too quite on the issue – has allowed its Senators to support a motion in Parliament's upper house that calls for pressure from Canberra on Indonesia to allow the return of the International R

The Australian upper house has supported a motion to urge for the International Red Cross to be granted full access to Indonesia's restive Papua province.

The motion, put forward by Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young on Thursday morning, was supported by the country's Senate, including members of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's government.

Markus Junianto Sihaloho – The recent attacks in Papua, especially those around the Freeport mining complex, were aimed at provoking the military into committing human rights violations that would grab the attention of the international community, a military spokesman said on Tuesday.

The Organisation for Solidarity with Human Rights Victims in Papua claims a political prisoner is in intensive care after prison authorities in Indonesia ignored his requests for treatment for a chronic health problem.

Jakarta – The Mimika regency administration has alloted funds of Rp 200 billion (US$20 million) to establish its own Central Papua province, separate from Papua province.

Mimika Legislative Council (DPRD) spokesman Yosep Yopi Kilangin said Wednesday the DPRD had approved the Rp 200 billion budget.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The widespread raising of the outlawed separatist Bintang Kejora flag in Papua, even during Monday's Independence Day celebrations, was branded as a form of discontent voiced by the local people over the "unfair and ineffective development" in their restive province.

Papua police have identified a group suspected of supplying the ammunition used in a number of armed attacks against US-based gold miner PT Freeport Indonesia in the past month, an officer says.

Erwida Maulia – Indonesian Military Chief Gen. Djoko Santoso said the military would be taking action against any members of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) who wave the Morning Star flag in Papua at any point on Indonesia's 64th Independence Day on Monday.

Jacob Rumbiak
Foreign Affairs, West Papua National Authority
Provisional government of West Papua

President Barak Obama
White House, Washington
United States of America

Your Excellency Mr President,

Indonesia's Human Rights Watch group says eight Papuans detained by police in Timika in connection to last month's deadly shootings near the massive Grasberg mine are unlikely to be involved.

This comes as police in Timika increase security in the area after continued shooting attacks along the main road to the mine operated by US mining giant Freeport.

Jakarta – Gunmen fired Sunday at a bus carrying employees of US mining giant Freeport in eastern Indonesia, injuring five, a report said.

The official Antara news agency said the bus was attacked as it transported workers to the world's largest gold mine in Papua province. It said the five were hurt by broken glass.

Jakarta – Papua Police have intensified security measures along a road connecting Timika and Papua following three shooting attacks on the road Wednesday.

Sr. Comr. Agus Rianto, spokesman for the Papua Police, told tempointeraktif.com that police had closed the road and launched investigation at the shooting sites.

A West Papuan human rights activist is in New Zealand this week to lobby support for international dialogue on issues surrounding Indonesia's Papua region.

Australia-based Paula Makabori, who is a member of the Institute for Papuan Advocacy and Human Rights, says Australia and New Zealand could play a vital role in addressing the deteriorating situation in her homeland.

A West Papuan human rights activist visiting New Zealand has thanked local outdoor furniture retailers who have stopped selling products made of illegally-sourced kwila, or merbau, hardwood from Indonesia's Papua region.

Nethy Darma Somba, Jayapura, Papua – Papua military commander Maj. Gen. Azmyn Yusri Nasution called on the public Thursday to stop speculating about the involvement of the Indonesian Military (TNI) in a series of attacks on US-based gold miner PT Freeport Indonesia.

Lincoln Tan – A West Papuan activist is leading protests in Auckland to ban imports of kwila, an endangered tropical hardwood used in decking and outdoor furniture.

Heru Andriyanto – US mining giant Freeport McMoRan has criticized a lawsuit filed by Papua's Amungme people, who are seeking $30 billion in damages over the company's 40-year mining operation in the region, saying the action lacks legal credibility.

The Australian Labor Party's National Conference has adopted a motion recognising that West Papuans in Indonesia are experiencing serious human rights abuses.

The Conference has urged Australia's Government to raise concerns about the human rights situation in Papua region and Papuan Special Autonomy with the Indonesian Government.

Cairns – West Papuans in Cairns to lobby the two-day Pacific Islands Forum for observer status and a response to the abuse of human rights in the Indonesian province have been disappointed.

Neither of its requests is recognised in the official communiqui issued at the end of the forum – the 40th.

Vanuatu Prime Minister, Edward Natapei says there simply wasn't time to raise the issue of West Papua at the Pacific Islands forum meeting.

Edward Natapei says NGOs, like Amnesty International and Red Cross, have illustrated what is happening in Papua.

Heru Andriyanto – The Amungme tribe on Thursday filed a $30 billion lawsuit against Freeport McMoRan, one of the world's major mining firms, for alleged damages sustained over 40 years of operations on their ancestral lands in Indonesia's Papua province.

Leaders of the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation were in Cairns North Queensland to push hard for the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) to grant West Papua observer status and also for the forum to discuss many other issues affecting West Papuan people.

It is very disappointing that the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) leaders have again failed to condemn the human right abuses being committed by the Indonesian security forces in West Papua.

Border crossings between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea that were closed last month remain restricted due to the security situation in Papua province, a military official said on Tuesday.