Jayapura, Jubi – A public lecture titled "Exploring Nonviolent Alternatives in Papua" was organized by the Student Executive Board of the Jayapura University of Science and Technology (USTJ) in Jayapura City on Saturday, May 13, 2023, where several prominent individuals and human rights activists participated in the discussion.

A New Zealand advocacy group has appealed to the government to heed the call of West Papuan church leaders for Indonesia to withdraw security forces and impose a "humanitarian pause" while negotiating for the release of captive pilot Philip Merhtens.

Jakarta – A group of telecommunications workers taken hostage by an armed rebel group in the Papuan Highlands has been released, the local police have said, in the latest kidnapping crisis in the restive region.

Antara, Jakarta – A Papuan separatist group attacked six workers involved in the construction of a base transceiver station (BTS) tower in Okbibab, Pegunungan Bintang District, Papua Pegunungan Province, and held four of them hostage.

Two other workers were injured in the incident on Friday (May 12).

Jayapura, Jubi – On Thursday, May 11, 2023, the Jayapura District Court carried out a follow-up trial for the case of alleged treason involving three students from Jayapura University of Science and Technology (USTJ).

Uday Bakhshi – On April 14, the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) shot at a small plane that was landing at an airstrip in Intan Jaya Regency in Indonesia's restive Papuan provinces (Twitter/@udayxSEA, April 14). [1] The TPNPB asserted that it would continue to target aircraft and pilots, including foreigners, after the attack.

John McBeth – Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold (FCX) chairman Richard Adkerson has twice flown to Jakarta this year as he tries to persuade President Joko Widodo's administration to make an early decision on extending the American mining company's contract over the fabled Grasberg mine beyond 2041.

Amnesty International is calling on Indonesia to release West Papua National Committee spokesperson, Victor Yeimo.

Yeimo was sentenced on Friday to eight months in prison for his involvement in an anti-racism protest in Papua in August 2019.

Jayapura, Jubi – Ha-Anim Women's Association (PPHA) chair Febi Koten highlighted eight cases of sexual violence against children that took place in Merauke Regency, South Papua Province between 2021 and 2023. The protection of children and women from sexual violence and abuse is a matter that requires the attention and efforts of all parties.

Nur Janti, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Stefanus Roy Rening, a lawyer of suspended Papua governor Lukas Enembe, as suspect of obstruction of justice and is detaining him for 20 days.

London – With the ink now drying on the laws creating the new provinces in West Papua, claimed by Jakarta to have support from Papuans, TAPOL's new report, 'West Papua 2022: Freedom Of Expression And Freedom Of Assembly', shows a picture of increasing incidents, including arrests, dispersals, intimidation and killings for expressing dissent.

Jayapura, Jubi – In a bid to protect their land and forests, a group of environmental activists from the Awyu region has filed for intervention at the Jakarta Administrative Court.

Merauke, Jubi – The community and customary landowners in Kaliki Village, Kurik District, Merauke Regency reject various logging and plantation companies from entering their village. The community is worried that company activities will damage the forest.

Timika, Jubi – On Monday, May 8, 2023, Pastor Paniur Tabuni (40) underwent surgery at Mimika Regency Hospital to remove a bullet. He got hit by a round allegedly fired by TNI members in Gingga Baru Village, Sinak District, Puncak Regency.

Singgih Wiryono, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid is urging the Indonesian government to unconditionally release Papuan political activist Victor Yeimo, who was sentenced to eight months in prison on May 5 for to his involvement in anti-racism protest in Papua in August 2019.

Yogyakarta, Jubi – The Constitutional Court has, in fact, revoked in 2007 the article used by the panel of judges of the Jayapura District Court to sentence Viktor Yeimo, the international spokesperson of the West Papua National Committe (KPNB), to 8 months in prison. Viktor Yeimo's lawyer Latifah Anum Siregar revealed this on Saturday, May 6, 2023, a day after the conviction.

Indonesian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Papuans and those detained solely for their peaceful expressions, said Amnesty International Indonesia and Amnesty International USA following the guilty verdict and prison sentence against West Papua National Committee (KNPB) spokesperson, Victor Yeimo, in Jayapura.

Jayapura, Jubi – On Thursday, May 4, 2023, Viktor Yeimo, the International Spokesperson of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), presented a defense statement, or pledoi, in a hearing at the Jayapura Class 1A District Court in Papua Province, in relation to the treason case against him.

Putri Nurjannah Kurita, Sentani – The Jayapura District Court in Papua trying Victor Frederick Yeimo on charges of makar (treason, subversion, rebellion) sentenced him to eight months in prison on Friday May 5.

Timika, Jubi – The Pusaka Bentala Rakyat Foundation (Pusaka) has released a report titled "Dong Penjarakan Tong Pu Suara dan Pikiran" (They Silence Us), highlighting 26 cases of alleged violations of freedom of expression in Papuathroughout 2022.

Jayapura, Jubi – Director of the Papuan Justice and Human Integrity Foundation Theo Hesegem assessed that negotiations aimed at securing the freedom of Philip Mark Mehrtens, a Susi Air pilot held captive by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) since February, require independent negotiating team.

Tria Dianti and Arie Firdaus, Jakarta – The illegal sale of government-issued weapons and ammunition by Indonesian soldiers to separatist rebels in the Papua region surged in 2022, military officials said, warning that service members caught aiding the separatists could face execution.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The National Armed Forces (TNI) Head of Center for Information (Kapuspen) rear admiral Julius Widjojono on Wednesday said the pictures circulating online with a caption claiming that the image of the possessions of 16 army special forces (Kopassus) confiscated by Papuan separatists OPM is basically a hoax.

Church leaders in Papua, in a position statement directed toward government officials, said "the current situation is a human tragedy," expressed grave concern about extrajudicial killings and other violence, and called for immediate measures for a sustainable peace.

Muhammad Aulia, Jakarta – A judge at the South Jakarta District Court on Wednesday rejected a motion by disgraced Papua Governor Lukas Enembe who challenged his arrest and naming of a corruption suspect, meaning that his trial can begin anytime soon.

Timika, Jubi – The Timika City District Court on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, for the third time postponed the reading of the charges against four defendants in the murder and mutilation of four Nduga residents in Mimika Regency. The public prosecutor was reportedly not ready to read out the charges.

Jayapura, Jubi – Here is one unpopular fact: the reggae music in Indonesia was first popularized by Papuan musicians. Papuan musician Ian Chris Gebze, frontman and guitarist of Airmood, founded Kasuari Enterprise to perform reggae music every three months dubbed "Reggae Night" at Ancol Beach, Jakarta.

Jayapura, Jubi – On May Day this year, May 1, 2023, former workers of PT Freeport Indonesia demanded President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to keep his promise to resolve disputes related to the unilateral layoffs of 8,300 Freeport workers who went on strike in 2017. Until now, the workers have not been receiving their rights.

Edi Suhardi, Jakarta – As oil palm plantations can be a significant contributor to rural livelihoods in Indonesia, the government has been capitalizing on this commodity and strengthening Indonesia's position as the global leader in palm oil production by expanding plantations.

Ali Mustofa, Denpasar – An International Labour Day demonstration in the Balinese provincial capital of Denpasar, which fell on Monday May 1, ended in chaos after a clash between Papuan students and several social organisations.

Makassar – A demonstration commemorating International Labour Day on May 1 by a group of Papuan students from the Democratic Struggle Alliance has been broken up by police. Five people were arrested because they were suspected of being provocateurs.

Cafe Pacific – An Australian author and human rights advocate for West Papuan self-determination today sent an open letter to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the federal parliament calling for act of "decency" to correct years of alleged failure in foreign policy.

Antara, Jayapura, Papua – The Papua Police confirmed that Joni Botak, a wanted armed criminal group (KKB) leader active in Central Papua Province has been killed by a rival group in a quarrel.

Papua Police Chief Inspector General Mathius Fakhiri also confirmed that a video depicting the killing of Joni Botak and his accomplices circulating on social media is genuine.

David Robie – As part of an Indonesian-backed disinformation and troll campaign against West Papuan pro-independence activists, a Facebook page has emerged making bitter and slanderous attacks on campaigners, Papuan exiles and media people in the Pacific region.

Xiang Gao and Guy C. Charlton – The drawn-out hostage drama in West Papua over New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens has focused Western attention on this neglected area of the world. Mehrtens was abducted and his plane burned by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) on February 7, 2023.

Jakarta – Misinformation is rampant in this digital era, but the lack of transparency on the part of the government regarding the ongoing attempts to rescue a New Zealand pilot who was abducted by Papuan separatist rebels almost three months ago is equally disturbing.

They want an end to military operations in the crisis-hit province following the move to implement a 'combat alert operation'

In a rare gesture, Catholic and Protestant leaders in Papua have come together to appeal to Indonesian President Joko Widodo to stop military operations in the crisis-hit province following the latest move to implement a 'combat alert operation.'

Fajar Pebrianto, Jakarta – Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko issued a warning to separatist groups in Papua who have committed human rights violations against civilians, women, and children, in the form of murder and rape.

Jayapura, Jubi – Church leaders across denominations in Papua urge President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to stop military operations in Papua and instead, promote a humanitarian approach and negotiation in handling the Papua conflicts. Attempts to release New Zealand pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens who was taken hostage by the West Papua National Army (TNPPB) were highlighted.

Niniek Karmini, Jakarta – Separatist rebels in Indonesia's restive Papua region released a video Wednesday appearing to show the New Zealand pilot they took hostage in February saying that recent Indonesian military attacks threatened his safety.

New Zealand hostage Phillip Mehrtens, who is being held by separatists in West Papua, appears well in a newly-released video.

It comes as concerns were expressed for the pilot as fighting between Indonesian security forces and his captors, the West Papua Liberation Army, intensified last week.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Cartenz Peace Operation Task Force rebutted the statement that the joint Indonesian military (TNI) and police (Polri) team dropped bombs in Nduga as conveyed by a New Zealand pilot Philips Max Mehrtens held hostage by the Papuan separatist group in a video released on April 24.

The United Kingdom's commitments to upholding human rights came under question on Monday over the West Papua issue, resulting in a heated exchange between a government representative and five members of the House of Lords in the Upper Chamber of the British Parliament.

Indonesian security forces have intensified operations in various conflict areas in West Papua, reports Human Rights Monitor.

According to information received by the international watchdog, security force members have raided villages and set residential houses on fire.

Alfian Kartono and Niniek Karmini, Jayapura – Indonesian security forces recovered the bodies of four government soldiers who were killed in a separatist attack while searching for a New Zealand pilot taken hostage by the rebels in Indonesia's restive Papua region, officials said Thursday.

Papuans are growing increasingly anxious about their security after the Indonesian military warned of a special operation following the killing of four soldiers involved in a mission to rescue a foreign pilot abducted by rebels.

On Saturday the 15 April there was a clash between the Free Papua Movement (TPNPB) and the Indonesian security forces (TNI) in the Nduga District. The Security forces were searching for New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens, who has been held by the TPNPB since the 7 February.

Sentani, Jubi – Emanuel Gobay, the coordinator of the Papua Law and Human Rights Coalition and legal counsel to Viktor Yeimo, said there was often discrimination by the security forces when guarding the trial against Yeimo at the Jayapura District Court.

The long-running conflict in West Papua has slipped from the headlines in recent times as other regional issues took precedence in many newsrooms. But this week it's back on the news agenda – so what's going on there?

The Indonesian Military (TNI) has officially escalated its operational status in West Papua to "ground combat ready" following a clash with the West Papuan Liberation Army over the weekend with multiple casualties reported on both sides.

TNI commander Yudo Margono made the announcement in Jakarta on Tuesday upon returning from West Papua.