Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Susi Air pilot of New Zealand nationality, Philip Mark Mehrtens, has been released by Indonesia's TNI-Polri security forces from the captivity of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) led by Egianus Kogoya in Nduga on Saturday, September 21, 2024, after being held captive for approximately 20 months.

Responding to the release of New Zealand pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens after more than 19 months held in captivity led by a pro-independence group in the Papua region, the executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia, Usman Hamid, said:

Surprising news came from Ndugama today when it was reported that New Zealand pilot Philips Mark Mehrtens was released by West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) commander Egianus Kogoya and his troops on Saturday September 21.

Fika Nurul Ulya, Diamanty Meiliana, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has stressed that all activities in Papua must be accompanied by security forces both from the TNI (Indonesian Military) and Polri (National Police).

Jakarta – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) attributed the release of New Zealand pilot Mark Mehrtens from the Free Papua Movement's (OPM's) captivity to the government's perseverance in seeking peaceful resolutions.

The Susi Air pilot was freed from the Egianus Kogoya-led armed separatist group after being held captive for about a year and a half.

Duncan Graham – Fresh from its latest failure to protect Palestine in the UN, the Australian government also handles brittle Indonesia tenderly lest it snaps off trade and security deals with its spacious but under-occupied neighbour.

Graham Readfearn and agencies – New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been freed after more than one-and-a-half years in captivity in Indonesia's West Papua region, Indonesian police have said.

Graham Readfearn and agencies – New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens said he was looking forward to being reunited with his family after being freed after more than one-and-a-half years in captivity in Indonesia's West Papua region.

His release follows an offer of terms made this week by rebels in the region.

Niniek Karmini, Jakarta, Indonesia – Separatist rebels in Indonesia's restive Papua region warned Friday that increased Indonesian military attacks in recent days to rescue a New Zealand pilot who was taken hostage over a year ago could instead threaten his safety.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Head of the Indonesian Military Information Center (Kapuspen TNI), Major General Hariyanto, denied claims made by the Free Papua Movement (OPM) regarding a military-police operation to free Susi Air pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens. He asserted that no deployment of troops or special operations has been undertaken for this mission.

Racism, torture and arbitrary arrests are some examples of discrimination indigenous Papuans have dealt with over the last 60 years from Indonesia, according to a new report by Human Rights Watch.

Indonesia, West Papua – As of September 2024, more than 79,867 people in West Papua remain internally displaced as a result of armed conflict between Indonesian security forces and the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB).

Indonesia, West Papua – On 14 August 2024, members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) in the Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province, experienced acts of intimidation and unauthorised search by members of the 1715 Kodim (military district command) and Brimob (mobile brigade corps).

Tria Dianti and Victor Mambor in Jakarta and Jayapura, Indonesia – An international human rights watchdog has detailed what it calls entrenched racism and systemic discrimination against the indigenous ethnic Melanesian people in Indonesia's Papua region in a new report released on Thursday.

A rebel group in Indonesia's conflict-hit West Papua has proposed terms for the release of a New Zealand pilot held hostage for a year and seven months while appealing to all parties to support the "humanitarian mission."

Nineteen-year-old Alfa Hisage was arrested on August 30, 2019, for joining a student-led protest against anti-Papuan racism in Jayapura, a city in the Indonesian territory of West Papua. He told Human Rights Watch that at the police station, officers beat and racially abused him, particularly for his dreadlocks. "They pushed my head on the table," he said.

Jakarta – The Indonesian government's suppression of widespread protests after a 2019 attack on Papuan university students highlighted longstanding racial discrimination against Indigenous Papuans in Indonesia, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.

Jakarta – An armed rebel group in the easternmost region of Papua released a proposal on Tuesday to free New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens, who they kidnapped more than a year ago.

Laurens Ikinia, Jakarta – The Land of Papua is widely known as a land full of milk and honey. It is a name widely known in Indonesia that refers to the western half of the island of New Guinea.

Its natural wealth and beauty are special treasures entrusted by the Creator to the Papuan people who are of Melanesian ethnicity.

Jordyn Beazley – Rebels in Indonesia's West Papua region have proposed terms for the release of the New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens a year and seven months after he was detained.

Indonesia, West Papua – The Indonesian government's ambitious plan to create a one-million-hectare rice field in the Merauke Regency, Papua Selatan Province, is moving forward without proper consultation with indigenous communities and despite significant environmental risks.

West Papuan independence advocate Octo Mote is in Aotearoa to win support for independence for West Papua, which has been ruled by Indonesia for over 60 years.

Mote is the vice-president of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), and is being hosted in New Zealand by the Green Party, which Mote said had always been a hero for West Papua.

Alakihihifo Vailala – Octovianus Mote was a child when Indonesian troops occupied his homeland, sparking the beginning of his lifelong fight for the independence of West Papua New Guinea.

Mote is now the vice president of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua and hasn't been back home in over two decades, after fleeing the country due to his line of work.

Antara, Jakarta – The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM) claims to have shot dead a police officer and another person in Lanny Jaya, Papua Pegunungan Province. TPNPB-OPM spokesman Sebby Sambom said Brigadier Johan Herik Sibarani, 32, was killed in the shooting. The shooting also injured a civilian, Adi Fallo, 20, who was taken to the hospital.

Kiki Siregar, Keerom, Papua – Playing together at home with his two cousins of roughly the same age, four-year-old Berto stands out.

Ato 'Lekinawa' da Costa, Dili, Timor-Leste – A solidarity group for the independence of West Papua raised West Papuan flag during Pope Francis' visit to Timor-Leste.

Jayapura – The arrival of Pope Francis in Dili, the capital of East Timor, on the afternoon of Monday September 9, was welcomed by the Catholic community. The flag of the struggle of the West Papuan nation, the Morning Star flag, was also flown in Dili.

The Morning Star flag was raised by a West Papuan solidarity group in East Timor.

Harlyne Joku and Sue Ahearn, Vanimo, Papua New Guinea, and Melbourne – A visit by the head of the Catholic Church Pope Francis to a small remote town in north-west Papua New Guinea has seen an historic opening of the land border with Indonesia.

Dorian Malovic, Jakarta – "Papua has been living a nightmare of unimaginable violence for over half a century. No one cares about the tragic fate of the Papuan minority, who suffer from the injustices of the ruling powers and the Indonesian military, who accuse them of being separatists," said Father Alexandro Rangga.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 29 August 2024, members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) arbitrarily arrested two indigenous Papuans in Sugapa District, Intan Jaya Regency, Papua Tengah Province.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 13 August 2024, an incident of arbitrary arrest and intimidation against Papuan activists occurred in the town of Sentani, Jayapura Regency, Papua Province.

Victor Mambor and Tria Dianti in Jayapura and Jakarta – Hundreds of indigenous Papuans staged protests on Wednesday to highlight ongoing violence and displacement in the conflict-torn Papua region as Pope Francis met with Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

Maria Baru, Jayapura – West Papua National Committee (KNPB) General Chairperson Agus Kossay was released from the Class IIA Abepura Penitentiary (Lapas) in Jayapura city, Papua, on Tuesday September 3. He had been imprisoned for one year.

Indigenous Christians in Papua province took to the streets on Sept. 4 to seek the pope's attention and intervention against the Indonesian government's military operations in their troubled province.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 24 August 2024, a 17-year-old Papuan named Justa Kobak was reportedly beaten by members of the Mobile Police Brigade Corps (Brimob) during a night patrol in the town of Dekai, Yahukimo Regency.

A National Strategic Project (PSN) in Bintuni Bay (Teluk Bintuni Regency), Papua Barat Province, has sparked concerns about the potential violation of indigenous land rights.

The project, handled by Genting Oil Kasuri Pte. Ltd, is facing criticism for lack of transparency and adherence to the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC).

Liam Pritchett – A planned five million-acre sugarcane megaproject in Indonesia's Papua province could threaten its uniquely biodiverse rainforest and the Indigenous Papuans who depend on it.

Fitri Ramadhani, Jayapura – Pope Francis' visit to Indonesia is expected to bring a fresh breeze to the land of Papua. Through his Papal encyclicals the Pope has made calls for environmental sustainability and respect for the dignity of fellow human beings.

Nanda Perdana Putra, Jakarta – A protest action was held by a number of people across from the Vatican Embassy in ??South Jakarta shortly before Pope Francis returned from the Merdeka Palace in Central Jakarta today, Wednesday September 4.

Ali Mirin – Members of the Indonesian mobile police (Brimob) fatally shot Tobias Silak, a 24-year-old Papuan employed by the local election supervisory agency (Bawaslu) and seriously injured 17-year-old Papuan, Naro Dapla, in Dekai, Yahukimo District, West Papua, on August 20.

Jayapura – The High School and University Student Front for Human Rights Concern held a peaceful action at the United Nations Representative office in Jakarta on Friday August 30 during which they reported cases of human rights violations, genocide, ecocide and ethnocide to the UN.

Alex Bainbridge, Magan-djin/Brisbane – More than 100 people marched through the streets of Magan-djin/Brisbane on August 30 as part of a School Strike 4 Climate student strike for West Papua.

"Right now my people, the people of West Papua are living through a painful reality," a message from Papuan activist Jeffrey which was read to the crowd said.

Paul Gregoire – Indonesian president-elect Prabowo Subianto was in Canberra early last week to meet with soon-to-be counter-part-prime minister Anthony Albanese and to further negotiate a new defence deal, in his current capacity as Indonesian defence minister with our own defence minister Richard Marles.

As President of the ULMWP and on behalf of the people of West Papua, I welcome the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Communique reaffirming the 2019 call for a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights visit to West Papua:

Leaders recalled their decision from 2019 and 2023 and noted the update from the Special Envoys.

Indonesia, West Papua – A member of the Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) special unit shot Mr Charles Kogoya, 24, in front of the GIDI Jerusalem Church in Karubaga Town, Tolikara Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province, on 21 August 2024.

Indonesia, West Papua – In late June 2024, Ms Tineke Rumkabu participated in the 53rd session of the Permanent People's Tribunal (PPT) in London via Zoom.

Lydia Lewis, in Nuku'alofa, Tonga – The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) wants to have a meeting with Indonesia's incoming President Prabowo Subianto to address ongoing human rights concerns in West Papua.

The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has admitted to facing significant delays in investigating a torture case involving indigenous Papuan civilians in Puncak Regency, Central Papua Province.

The 2024 Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders' Meeting is a critical moment for Pacific leaders to show courage and leadership on one of the biggest issues facing our region: West Papua.

Lydia Lewis, Nuku'alofa, Tonga – West Papua is within the sovereignty of Indonesia, so responsibility lies with them in addressing independence demands, Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister, James Marape, says.

But the leader of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Benny Wenda, told RNZ Pacific the issue was not about sovereignty.