Timika, Indonesia – Thousands of people rallied in Indonesia's eastern Papua region Friday to call for independence from Jakarta and a boycott of elections amid a police crackdown on dissent, activists said.

The West Papua National Coalition for Liberation says the Indonesian military may be sponsoring militia groups to masquerade as the Free West Papua Movement, or OPM, in ongoing fighting in Puncak Jaya regency.

Ronald May – Recent reports from Indonesia's West Papua of a raid on a military post by separatist fighters, and the news that a former West Papuan leader, Nicolaas Jouwe, has returned to Indonesia calling for a new dialogue on West Papua's political status, again draw attention to the long-running grievances of the Melanesian population.

Christian Motte & Fidelis E. Satriastanti – Indonesian authorities in Papua Province on Tuesday detained four Dutch journalists for reporting on a pro-independence demonstration in the provincial capital Jayapura, a journalist association said.

Jayapura – Over a thousand people rallied in Jayapura, the capital of Papua province, on Tuesday demanding a referendum on independence from Indonesia and rejecting the forthcoming elections, a Reuters witness said.

Independence activists in resources-rich Papua, on the western half of New Guinea island, have waged a campaign to separate from Indonesia for decades.

Jakarta – Indonesia's military denied Tuesday a disclosure by US mining giant Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (FCX) that the company pays for soldiers to guard a massive gold and copper mine in the Papua region.

Jakarta – US-based mining giant Freeport McMoRan (FCX) is paying Indonesian troops to protect a large gold and copper mine in Papua, despite regulations requiring the military to hand over to police.

Tom Allard, Jakarta – A co-founder of the outlawed Papuan independence movement, Nicolaas Jouwe, has returned to his homeland after more than 45 years in exile, calling for a new dialogue to resolve continuing separatist conflict in the resource-rich area but pointedly declining to recognise Indonesian sovereignty over the territory.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Co-founder of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) Nicholas Jouwe arrived back in his homeland of Papua on Sunday after more than 40 years in exile abroad.

He received a warm welcome from families and communities, but at the same time protesters from a pro-independence group were present who opposed his having changed his position.

Markus Junianto Sihaloho & Agencies – The military on Monday denied a report that it had received illegal protection payments from US mining giant Freeport McMoran in Papua Province, saying that it was no longer in charge of security in the area.

Jayapura – Papua Police has offered a Rp 10 million (US$900) cash reward for the capture of any of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) members responsible for the outbreak of violence in Puncak Jaya regency.

Erwida Maulia, Jakarta – Nicolas Jouwe, cofounder of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) has arrived in Jakarta after 40 years exile in the Netherlands to renounce the restive province's indepen-dence struggle, officials here said Thursday.

Markus Makur, Jakarta – Top figures from various tribes in Papua, including a number of tribe chiefs, are fighting for legislative seats.

They are campaigning for legislative seats as members of political parties contesting in the April 9 elections, sending signals that native Papuans want to be involved in the country's thriving democracy.

Jakarta – The co-founder of a Papuan rebel group fighting to split from Indonesia has returned after more than 40 years in exile to renounce the independence struggle, officials said Thursday.

At a high-level Indonesian intelligence meeting at Ifar Gunung, the Indonesian Army Base in West Papua, on Monday 11 June 2007, the Indonesian National Parliament set up a secret intelligence operation in West Papua against the (non-violent) independence movement.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Papuan voters have expressed a desire for young indigenous legislative candidates to represent them at a provincial level and address the major issues of poverty, education, transport and health afflicting the area, as well speed up special-autonomy programs in the region over the next five years.

Tom Allard, Jakarta – The killing of an Indonesian soldier in Papua, allegedly by separatist guerillas, has highlighted the risks of violent outbreaks undermining the country's elections.

Markus Junianto Sihaloho & Sally Piri – Despite increasing security disturbances in Papua Province, the military does not plan to deploy additional troops to the country's easternmost province, military chief Gen. Djoko Santoso said on Monday.

Jakarta – The Army is planning to increase its personnel at security posts in Papua province, particularly in the Tinggi-nambut area in Puncak Jaya regency, to counter separatist attacks there.

Jakarta – Indonesia's state news agency says separatists in the easternmost Papua province have killed a soldier.

Antara said Sunday that Free Papua Movement rebels opened fire on a remote military outpost on Saturday, killing an army private before setting a bridge on fire and fleeing. The report quoting police officials could not be independently verified.

Jakarta – Papua police chief Bagus Eko Danto reiterated on Sunday that local police would chase after members of the Papuan separatist group, the Free Papua Movement (TPN/OPM), following their destructive behavior towards security posts and civil society.

Melbourne's West Papuan community gathered at Flinders Street Station this morning to commemorate a group of imprisoned students on the anniversary of their arrest on charges of subversion. Despite a sudden downpour that flooded Melbourne's CBD around 500 flyers were handed out to passers-by and many stopped to find out more about the plight of political prisoners in West Papua.

Stephen Fitzpatrick, Jakarta – Five Australians trapped in Papua are in a "race against time" to escape by charter plane before "arrogant" Indonesian prosecutors pounce to overturn their not-guilty verdict.

Five Australians have spent a third day stranded at a West Papua airport as Indonesian prosecutors appeal against their release from jail.

William Scott-Bloxam, 62, his wife Vera, 54, and their three friends Karen Burke, 51, Hubert Hofer, 57, and Keith Mortimer, 60, have been stuck at Mopah airport since Wednesday.

The call made during a rally by the National Action Committee of the West Papuan People during a demo at the office of the DPRP earlier this week, which included a call to boycott the election has provoked responses from a number of political parties.

Denpasar, Bali – Five Australians freed from jail in West Papua have appealed to the Australian Government for help, after Indonesian prosecutors refused to grant authority for them to return home, their lawyer says.

Markus Junianto Sihaloho – Armed Foces Chief Gen. Djoko Santoso on Wednesday acknowledged that growing disappointment in Papua Province toward the central government that could potentially fan separatist movements and violent demonstrations.

Jakarta – Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Djoko Susilo says the main reason for many Papuans wishing to separate from the Indonesian republic stems from a massive disparity in economic development between the provinces.

Several hundred Papuans, rallying in the name of the National Action Committee of the West Papuan People took to the streets in Jayapura on Wednesday, calling for a referendum on Papua's right to independence.

Markus Makur, Timika – Hundreds of Kei tribal members staged a rally Tuesday at the Mimika Legislative Council to demand the police investigate a Jan. 25 shooting incident in which tribe member Simon Feder was killed.

Putri Prameshwari – Two men were shot and stabbed to death and another two badly injured after they were allegedly attacked by members of the separatist Free Papua Movement, or OPM, in Puncak Jaya subdistrict, Papua Provincial Police Chief Bagus Eko Danto said on Tuesday.

Merauke – Five Australians jailed for illegally entering Indonesia's sensitive Papua province by plane have been released after winning their appeal, their lawyer said Tuesday.

Five Australians jailed in Indonesia over an ill-fated sightseeing adventure in West Papua have been released from prison while their lawyers prepare an appeal.

Arientha Primanita – Armed violence erupted again in Papua Province on Friday morning leaving one man injured after a shooting incident by what police believe was a member of the Free Papua Movement, or OPM, separatist group, National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Abubakar Nataprawira said.

The Australia Secretary for International Development Assistance, Bob McMullan, says his government discusses issues around Papua with Indonesia a lot.

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAU-004-2009

Dear Friends,

An Australian activist says his government is going the wrong way about improving relations with Indonesia if it continues to ignore the West Papua issue.

This follows last week's conference in Sydney on Bilateral Relations called "Australia and Indonesia: Partners in a New Era".

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Around 300 supporters of a Papuan student activist facing trial for treason staged a rally at Jayapura District Court on Wednesday.

A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status.

Human Rights Council
Tenth session

The Prime Minister Kevin Rudd opened a conference in Sydney on Thursday the 19 February. The conference is on Bilateral Relations titled "Australia and Indonesia: Partners in a New Era".

The Conference is to include sessions on:

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-014-2009

Dear Friends,

Jakarta – The slow pace of development in Papua 12 years after the implementation of special autonomy has lead observers to believe that a reevaluation of the special autonomy law is needed. They believe that the stipulations enacted in the 2001 law have lost their spirit, namely bringing prosperity to the Papuan people.

Four people have been named suspects and face more than five years in jail over a violent clash between protesters and police in Indonesia's sensitive Papua Province, police said on Thursday.

Amnesty International is urging the Indonesian government to investigate the dispersal of a demonstration in Nabire, Papua Province, on Jan. 27, saying the police possibly used excessive force against the protesters and had denied the injured medical treatment afterward.

Jakarta – The Papua regional police said Wednesday they have yet to identify who was behind two mortar bombs set off in a concession area run by PT Freeport Indonesia in September last year, despite having evidence in hand.

Timika, Papua – Six members of the Forensic Laboratory of Makassar, South Sulawesi, and detectives from the Papua Police examined the shooting scene of Simon Fader at the Queen Bar in Kodok, Timika, on Thursday. The officers have not found any projectiles at the scene.

AI Index: ASA 21/001/2009

Timika – Four people were wounded Tuesday when Indonesian police opened fire on hundreds of people in Papua province during a protest against alleged police violence.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Manokwari – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono visited West Papua on Thursday, pouring hundreds of billion of rupiah in projects around the province.

Her Excellency
The Secretary of State
Ms. Hillary Rodham Clinton

Dear Secretary Clinton: