Andi Firdaus, Raka Adji, Jakarta – Chief of the Presidential Staff (KSP), Moeldoko, has said that the government is increasingly strengthening its communication with traditional and religious leaders in Papua to free New Zealand Pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens.
Mehrtens has been held hostage by an armed separatist group since February this year.
Novianti Setuningsih, Jakarta – Eight national figures representing religious leaders, leaders of community organisations (ormas) and human rights activists have called on the government to create peace in the land of Papua.
Anish Chand – The people of West Papua who are part of Indonesia are our kinsmen, says Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.
He said his appointment as Melanesian Spearhead Group special envoy to Indonesia wasn't to appease Fijians who were West Papua supporters.
Liberty Victoria is awarding the 2023 Voltaire Empty Chair Award to Mr Victor Yeimo, a strong advocate for West Papua's independence from Indonesia and an international spokesperson for the National Committee for West Papua (KNPB) and the Papuan People's Petition.
Evarukdijati, Rahmad Nasution, Jayapura, Papua – Chief of the Papua Police, Police Inspector General Mathius Fakhiri, has urged the Egianus Kogoya-led armed group to release New Zealander pilot Phillip Mark Mehrtens before the current year ends.
"I hope the armed group will immediately free the hostage, and his release will become a Christmas gift," Fakhiri said.
Kelvin Anthony – The Melanesian Spearhead Group has appointed Fiji and Papua New Guinea prime ministers Sitiveni Rabuka and James Marape as special envoys to Indonesia to "address the West Papua issue", a move that has been welcomed by the Pacific Conference of Churches.
Jayapura, Jubi – Following the rejection of the Awyu Indigenous People's lawsuit against the Papua Province Investment and One-Stop Integrated Services Office (DPMPTSP) by the State Administrative Court in Jayapura, various environmental and community groups, as well as students, expressed their disappointment.
Jayapura, Jubi – According to Ridwan Herdika, the Papua Representative of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM), individuals accused of committing human rights crimes in Papua and brought to the human rights court often end up being acquitted.
Wamena, Jubi – In three districts within Yahukimo Regency, Mountainous Papua, hundreds of residents have been grappling with hunger since August due to crop failures. As many as 23 residents have lost their lives in this dire situation. The affected districts are Amuma, Panggema, and Anggruk.
Jayapura, Jubi – Benhur Wally, the chairperson of the Jayapura chapter of the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN) expressed concerns about the shrinking space for the freedom of expression for Indigenous Peoples in Papua.
Jayapura, Jubi – In Papua, the Press Freedom Index is quite low, with a rating of 64.01, lower than West Papua's index which is 68.22, says Hans Bisay, the chairman of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) Papua.
Dear Pacific Islands Forum leaders,
On behalf of the Australia West Papua Association (Sydney), I am writing to you concerning the issue of West Papua.
There has been no improvement in the human rights situation in West Papua since the last Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) was held in Suva, Fiji in July 2022.
Douglas Gerrard –- A recent military escalation in West Papua is the latest episode in a long history of repression and dispossession since the island came under Indonesian control. But the authorities in Jakarta still haven't been able to stabilize their rule over West Papua.
Jakarta – An Indigenous tribe in Indonesia is at risk of losing vast swathes of ancestral forest after a court threw out its lawsuit against a palm oil firm, rights groups say.
Jakarta – An armed criminal group (KKB) attacked the Amuma community health center (Puskesmas) in Yahukimo regency, Papua, on Tuesday, injuring five healthcare workers, a security official said on Thursday.
Jayapura, Jubi – In an incident that unfolded in Maybrat Regency, the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) claimed to have destroyed a heavy construction vehicle and shot a member of the Indonesian Military (TNI).
Jayapura, Jubi – Jackub Fabian Skrzypsi, a Polish citizen convicted of treason, was granted parole on September 22, 2023, from the Abepura Prison in Papua's Jayapura City. His legal counsel, Latifah Anum Siregar, made this announcement on October 27, 2023.
Jayapura, Jubi – Foreign journalists facing restrictions when reporting in Papua is a significant factor impacting the state of journalism in the area.
Lucky Ireeuw, the chairman of the Jayapura Independent Journalists Alliance (AJI Jayapura), highlighted this issue during a journalism training program at the Jubi Editorial Office in Jayapura City on October 30, 2023.
Jakarta – Since February, about 15,000 people in Papua have been affected by famine, Amuma district in Yahukimo regency being the most affected area, with 23 deaths by October.
Ihsanuddin, Jakarta – The presidential and vice presidential ticket of Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and Solo Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka from the Indonesia Onward Coalition (KIM) does not discuss the issue of the Papua region in its vision and mission document.
Jayapura, Jubi – The Democracy Alliance for Papua (ALDP) has revealed that the container port development in Depapre, located in Jayapura Regency, which is part of President Joko Widodo's Sea Highway policy, has been unsuccessful. This assessment is the outcome of an investigation carried out by ALDP from July 2021 to October 2023.
Jayapura – Indonesian security forces said Saturday they have recovered the bodies of six traditional gold mining workers who had been missing since a separatist attack at their camp in the restive Papua region almost two weeks ago.
Church groups in Indonesia's Christian-majority Papua region joined the government to provide food aid to hundreds of indigenous people hit by famine because of crop failure.
On October 14, West Papuan journalist Victor Mambor was informed that the police investigation into an explosion outside his home in January had been terminated months prior.
Jayapura, Jubi – The Papua Polica has provided four tons of rice and instant noodles to the Amuma District community in Yahukimo Regency, Mountainous Papua Province. The residents of Amuma District are grappling with food shortages brought on by a prolonged drought and crop failures resulting from extreme weather conditions since August 2023.
Pizaro Gozali Idrus, Jakarta – Indonesian police on Friday said they had found the bodies of six more civilians killed in an attack on gold miners by Papuan separatist rebels earlier this month, bringing the death toll to 13.
Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – A months-long famine in Papua Highlands province's Yahukimo regency has killed at least 23 residents, forcing the government to scramble to provide disaster relief and plan for long-term solutions to avoid similar disasters from happening in the area in the future.
Jayapura, Jubi – Hana Lay, the Coordinator of the Solidarity Movement for Students and People of Papua in Manokwari, is urging the Papua Police and the Yahukimo Police to promptly investigate the attack on two displaced armed conflict victims, identified as IS and AK.
Jayapura, Jubi – The investigation into the shooting of nine civilians on December 14, 2022, in Mappi Regency of South Papua Province remains incomplete, with both the police and the Papua representative of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM Papua) yet to make significant progress.
Jayapura, Jubi – Papuans are often misconceived as having limited access to education. The director of the Institute for Human Rights Studies and Advocacy (ELSHAM) in Papua, Rev.
Divya Karyza, Jakarta – Gold and copper mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) has announced plans to invest approximately US$1 billion in a new power plant to shift from coal as an energy source to the less-polluting liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Jayapura, Jubi – The Papua Office of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM Papua) has called upon the Papua Police and the Provincial Government of Mountainous Papua to identify the owner of a mine in the Ei River, Seradala District, Yahukimo Regency, which was targeted by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB).
Jakarta, Jubi – A group of around 70 individuals, mostly women and children, reportedly fled their village following the presence of strangers believed to be members of the Papuan National Liberation Army (TPNPB) in Eronggobak Village, Omukia District, Puncak Regency, They sought refuge at the Eromaga Post of the Yonif Raider 300 Task Force in the same district on Friday, October 20
Jayapura, Jubi – The Jayapura City Health Office has introduced a hotline service, reachable at 08114897788, aimed at addressing HIV/AIDS treatment in the city. This hotline serves as a telephone helpline for the public to seek information and provides guidance to individuals at high risk of HIV/AIDS to the nearest healthcare facility.
Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia sent 20 tons of building materials over the weekend to help Vanuatu fix its cyclone-hit Port Vila International Airport.
Jayapura, Jubi – The Cartenz Peace Task Force evacuated 25 gold miners who survived an attack by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) led by Egianus Kogoya in Kalai I, Seradala District, Yahukimo Regency on Monday (10/16/2023).
The International Parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP) held a major meeting in the UK Parliament yesterday (October 18th 2023), calling for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to be urgently allowed to visit West Papua.
Muhammad Aulia, Jakarta – The Jakarta Anti-Corruption Court on Thursday found former Papua Governor Lukas Enembe guilty of corruption and sentenced him to eight years in prison. In addition to the prison term, he was ordered to return Rp 19.7 billion ($1.2 million) in embezzled state funds and fined Rp 500 million.
Fransiskus W, Kenzu, Manokwari, West Papua – The Indonesian Military and National Police (TNI-Polri) seek to strengthen security in West Papua and Southwest Papua during the 2024 General Election by carrying out the Mantap Brata Mansinam Operation.
Jayapura, Jubi – The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) has claimed responsibility for the attack on a mine in Yahukimo Regency's Seradala District on Monday, October 16, 2023.
On Tuesday, TPNPB spokesperson Sebby Sambom said the gold mine in Seradala was operating without legal authorization and alleged the involvement of Indonesian spies as mine workers there.
Pizaro Gozali Idrus, Jakarta – Separatist rebels killed seven traditional gold miners in a remote district of Indonesia's Papua region, police said Tuesday about the deadliest attack on civilians there in more than a year.
Jayapura, Jubi – The Secretariat of Justice and Peace (SKP) of the Catholic Church in Papua reports that 46,926 civilians have been displaced from their villages due to the armed conflict between the Indonesian Military (TNI) and Police and the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB).
Manokwari, Jubi – Melianus Iba, a resident of Aroba District, Bintuni Bay Regency in West Papua, was taken into custody on Sunday, September 24, 2023, for allegedly firing shots at an Indonesian Military (TNI) post in the district. Subsequently, Melianus was identified as a suspect and detained at the Bintuni Bay Police Headquarters.
Dogiyai, Jubi – The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) held a meeting with Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian in Jakarta on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, to discuss the Walesi case in Wamena and the 2021 Maybrat displaced people.
Jayapura, Jubi – Indigenous Papuans' traditional rights have been safeguarded through a Special Regional Regulation or Perdasus, as mandated by special autonomy. However, the application of these regulations faces numerous challenges, notably a lack of public awareness on the part of the Papua Provincial Government.
Jayapura, Jubi – Pendinus Wanimbo of the West Baliem Office of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) stated that the suspect in Michele Kurisi's murder was either a KNPB supporter or regular member who operated independently outside of the organization's framework.
Jayapura, Jubi – The availability of dentists in Papua Province remains significantly inadequate to meet the needs of the local population, and their distribution is also uneven. These concerns were raised by Florence Fransiska, chairperson of the Indonesian Dentist Association (PDGI) Jayapura Branch, during an interview with Jubi on Tuesday, October 10, 2023.
Sentani, Jubi – Andreas Swewali, the Chairman of the Indonesian Teachers Association (PGRI) in Jayapura Regency, highlighted several factors contributing to the absence of teachers at schools. He emphasized that when teachers were assigned to a new location, a lack of comfort can lead to teachers not fulfilling their duties.
Jayapura, Jubi – The Papuan Council of Churches has drawn attention to the recent attack on the Kingmi Church Office in Keneyam, Nduga Regency on September 16, 2023.
Jayapura, Jubi – Ones Suhuniap, the spokesperson for the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), has refuted claims that speak KNPB's involvement in the murder case of Michele Kurisi. This response comes in light of statements made by the police, asserting that one of the suspects in Michele Kurisi's murder was associated with the West Baliem KNPB.