Jayapura, Jubi – Students from Cenderawasih University took a firm stance against the scheduled public lecture by Ganjar Pranowo, one of the presidential candidates.
Their demonstration on Tuesday aimed to challenge the university's decision to host only Ganjar for a lecture without including the other two presidential contenders.
Jayapura, Jubi – Following the incident of a 10-year-old student in Sugapa District's Titigi Village suffering injuries from an explosion on November 9, 2023, the Intan Jaya Students Association (IPMI-J) from Jayapura urged local authorities, the military, and the police to take the matter seriously.
Mehrtens, who was a pilot for Susi Air, was taken hostage by TPNPB fighters in February this year, shortly after landing at a remote airstrip.
A new video circulating on social media shows Mehrtens surrounded by armed men. The video said Mehrtens had been given two months to live before he will be shot dead.
Jakarta – Presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo was warmly received by thousands of supporters during his visit to Papua on Tuesday.
Upon his arrival in the provincial capital, Jayapura, Ganjar was greeted by leaders from various ethnic groups, students, and religious figures, amid the radiant sunlight in Indonesia's easternmost province.
Jakarta – The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organisation (TPNPB-OPM) has spoken out about the circulation of a video containing a threat to shoot Susi Air pilot Philip Mehrtens who has been held hostage by the group since February.
Jayapura, Jubi – In Merauke Regency of South Papua Province, the local police disbanded a peaceful rally on Saturday (18/12/2023), detaining 20 demonstrators who were advocating for the Awyu indigenous people who embroiled in a legal dispute at the Jayapura State Administrative Court.
The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) is holding its first ever congress in Jayapura.
Five thousand West Papuans from all seven regions are in Port Numbay, Jayapura, for the three day gathering.
Jayapura, Jubi – Efforts by the central government to address historical human rights violations, including the Wamena incident on April 4, 2003, persist through non-judicial means, evident in their recent meeting. However, this meeting excluded the involvement of the victims' families.
Jayapura, Jubi – Several civil coalitions expressed dismay over the apprehension of 20 individuals associated with the South Papua People's Student Alliance (AMPERA PS) by Merauke Police on November 18, 2023.
Uday Bakhshi – On August 28, the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) killed a Papuan social worker, Michelle Kurisi Doga (suara.com, August 31). The group alleged that she was collecting data on Papuan refugees and mapping out TPNPB camps for Indonesia's security forces in the restive territory of Nduga.
Nabire, Jubi – Father Yance Wadogoubi Yogi, chairman of the YPPK Regional School Board in Intan Jaya Regency, criticized the placement of explosives in the Titigi Parish area. This act led to the severe injury of a 10-year-old student named MH from the YPPK Titigi Elementary School on November 9, 2023. The perpetrators remain unidentified as of today.
Jayapura, Jubi – In the midst of ongoing discussions surrounding the incorporation of Freeport shares in Indonesia and the potential extension of mining licenses – a matter reaching its final stages – there is an urgent plea directed at President Joko Widodo and PT Freeport Indonesia.
Jakarta – The Indonesian government said it would complete a contract extension for PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) by the end of this month, as it seeks to increase its ownership in the copper and gold mining giant., resident Joko "Jokowi" Widodo met on Monday with Freeport-McMoran CEO Richard Adkerson in Washington, DC, in a show of commitment to supporting the company's operation in
Antara, Jakarta – Statistics Indonesia (BPS) Papua Province revealed that China is the province's one of the six biggest export destinations with US$138.38 million as of October 2023.
Head of BPS Papa Adriana Helena Carolina stated that amongst the exported commodities are ores, slag, and ash (HS26).
Jayapura, Jubi – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has thrown its support behind the proposed humanitarian pause aimed at alleviating the armed conflict in Papua, as advocated by national leaders.
Nabire, Jubi – Teachers and students from the Titigi Catholic Education and School Foundation Elementary (SD YPPK Titigi) protested at the Intan Jaya Regent's Office in Sugapa, the capital of Intan Jaya, Central Papua Province, on Tuesday (14/11/2023).
Jayapura, Jubi – Students and indigenous advocates protested at the Southwest Papua Forestry Office in Jayapura's Kilo 7 on Monday (13/11/2023), pleading to the Indonesian Minister of Environment and Forestry to revoke the licenses issued to PT Mancaraya Agro Mandiri and PT Hutan Hijau Papua Barat for forest exploitation.
Jayapura, Jubi – Head of the Komnas HAM Papua Frits Ramandei confirms his party would pursue justice in the murder case of two women, identified as IS and AK, in Yahukimo Regency, Mountainous Papua Province.
Ade Ridwan Yandwiputra, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission or KPK announced that it had arrested Acting Regent of Sorong Yen Piet Mosso and four regional officials in a sting operation.
Jakarta – A number of religious figures and prominent human rights activists have called for dialogue to end violence in Papua, where incidents of violence continue as a result of conflict between armed separatist groups and the military and police.
Manokwari, Jubi – Hundreds of local fishermen protested at the West Papua Marine and Fisheries Office on Thursday (9/11/2023). They called on the Fisheries Office to prevent fishing vessels from outside West Papua from operating in the local waters.
Jakarta, Jubi – Several prominent figures in Indonesia issued a collective plea for a humanitarian ceasefire to stop the ongoing armed conflict in Papua.
Riani Sanusi Putri, Amelia Rahima Sari, Jakarta – Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman stated that the government readied the development of a sugar factory in Merauke, Papua. Minister Amran claimed to have discussed the matter with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.
Jayapura – Victor Yeimo, leader and political figure of the West Papuan independence struggle, has just been awarded the 2023 "Voltaire Empty Chair Award". The international award in the field of human rights was given to Yeimo by the Australian organistion Liberty Victoria on Friday November 10.
William James, London – Scientists have rediscovered a long-lost species of mammal described as having the spines of a hedgehog, the snout of an anteater and the feet of a mole, in Indonesia's Cyclops Mountains more than 60 years after it was last recorded.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 – 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 – 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 – 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.
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.
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.
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.