The pro-independence United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has welcomed Vanuatu Deputy Prime Minister Jotham Napat's comments on West Papua during this week's diplomatic visit to Indonesia.
In a joint press conference with Indonesian Vice-President Ma'ruf Amin, Napat restated his commitment to the "Melanesian way".
Jayapura, Jubi – The presence of Indonesian Military (TNI) and Police in conflict-ridden areas of Papua has allegedly caused trauma among internally displaced Indigenous Papuans.
Jayapura, Jubi – Workers from PT Tandan Sawita Papua in Keerom Regency, East Arso District, have filed complaints with the Papua Legal Aid Institute (LBH Papua) after being laid off. The workers allege that they were fired without any prior warning or adequate compensation.
Merauke, Jubi – Komarudin Watubun, a member of the House of Representatives' Commission II, expressed that the recruitment of Indigenous Papuans for government positions in the new provinces within Papua has not adhered to the requirements and provisions stated in the Papua Special Autonomy (Otsus) Law.
Jayapura, Jubi – Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Mathius Fakhiri announced that his office is willing to provide a platform for negotiations with the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) led by Egianus Kogoya, in order to secure the release of Susi Air pilot Philips Mark Mehrtens. Fakhiri made this statement in Jayapura City, Papua, on Saturday, June 17, 2023.
Yamin Kogoya – Next month, on July 10, six months will have passed since Papua's Governor Lukas Enembe was "kidnapped" and flown to Jakarta for charges over alleged one million rupiah (NZ$100,000) graft.
Jayapura, Jubi – According to the leader of the Cartenz Peace Operation, Sr. Comr. Faizal Ramadhani, the area where pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens was held captive by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) was extremely remote. This posed the biggest challenge for the search team tasked with rescuing the Susi Air pilot.
Nabire, Jubi – Mis Murib, representing the Talenta Keadilan Papua Legal Aid Agency (LBH TKP), said his party had reported to the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) about the shooting and mutilation of Tarina Murib, a resident of Yugumoak District, Puncak Regency, Central Papua Province, as well as the shooting of nine other civilians from Yugumoak, allegedly carried ou
Manokwari, Jubi – In a solemn gathering held at the Secretariat of the Papua Customary Council in Wondiboy District, 20 individuals including 15 survivors and their families commemorated the Bloody Wasior Tragedy. It was to honor those whose lives were lost 22 years ago due to the alleged sweeping, arrest, torture, and killing by state apparatus.
Jayapura, Jubi – The deployment of military troops to Papua has prompted calls for evaluation. The presence of numerous troops has intensified the armed conflict in the region and heightened tensions.
Anum Latifah Siregar, the director of the Democracy Alliance for Papua, stressed the importance of assessing the deployment procedures for these troops.
Manokwari, Jubi – The alleged human rights violations in the 2001 Bloody Wasior in Papua's Wondiboy District, Wondama Bay Regency, remain unresolved.
President Joko Widodo, who was anticipated to address the Bloody Wasior case, did not bring about any resolution.
Nabire, Jubi – Meepago Regional Customary Council (DAW) has declared that the recent conflict occuring in Uwapa District's Topo, Nabire Regency, as not being a tribal war. Marko Okto Pekei, the Council's chairman, made this statement based on his observation and assessment, which revealed the absence of typical characteristics associated with tribal warfare.
Nabire, Jubi – Otto Gobay, the spokesperson for the Puncak and Puncak Jaya Association (Anlabepuja) expressed his desire for a swift resolution to the recent conflict between residents in Uwapa District's Topo, Nabire Regency, Central Papua Province. Gobay urged the local government to address and clarify the boundaries of the region to prevent future conflicts among residents.
Finau Fonua – The West Papuan Council of Churches says Kiwi hostage Phillip Mehrtens' life is in danger if negotiations do not take place with the West Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB).
The Council is calling on Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to cease military operations in West Papua and seek dialogue with TPNPB.
Juhra Nasir, Tambrauw – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) has spoke out about the declaration and inauguration of its management board in Tambrauw district, Southwest Papua province, which was broken up by police on Friday for alleged treason.
The group has also denied accusations that they planned to spread separatist ideas.
Juhra Nasir, Tambrauw – Police have arrested 19 West Papua National Committee (KNPB) activists in Tambrauw regency, Southwest Papua province on Friday after they announced or proclaimed Papuan independence.
Eka Yudha Saputra, Reuters, Jakarta – The Carstenz Peace Operation Task Force revealed that the Papuan armed group or KKB, Free Papua Organization (OPM), obtained money to purchase weapons through the government's village funds.
Damien Kingsbury – New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has now been held hostage in West Papua for four months. Stalled attempts to negotiate his release, and an unsuccessful Indonesian military rescue attempt, suggest a confused picture behind the scenes.
Jayapura, Jubi – The trial of three students accused of treason continued at the Jayapura District Court on Thursday, June 8, 2023.
Ade Ridwan Yandwiputra, Antara, Jakarta – The Papua Police Chief Sr. Commissioner Ignatius Benny Ady Prabowo on Wednesday, June 7, said a joint military and police team together with the local administration were currently mediating a conflict between two local Papua tribes; Mee and Dani. The clash on Monday, June 5, turned deadly and claimed two lives.
Peter Yeung, East Bintuni Regency, Indonesia – Striding barefoot through the emerald green jungle with a long wooden bow slung over his shoulder, Josep Ogoney points up at the tropical vegetation surrounding him and his remote riverside village.
Kate Lamb and Ananda Teresia, Jakarta, Indonesia – Separatists in the Indonesian region of Papua where a New Zealand pilot was taken hostage in February have been siphoning off government aid money to buy black market guns for a deadly guerrilla war, officials say.
Wamena, Jubi – Nduga Regent Edison Gwijangge has announced a new policy to ensure the security of the Nduga Regency. Instead of being treated as a military operation zone, Nduga's status will be changed to a civil technical area. This means that the Nduga and the Mountainous Papua Province Administrations will be responsible for handling security issues in the area.
Jayapura, Jubi – On Monday, June 5, 2023, members of the Papuan People's Front Against Racism (RPMR) organized a protest in the courtyard of Mimika Dormitory in Perumnas I Waena, Jayapura City. Various organizations, student groups, and Papuan people in Jayapura City participated in the protest.
Sadaf Hasan, Indonesia – Papua Officials claim that separatists in Papua, an Indonesian province where a New Zealand pilot was taken hostage in February, have been using government aid money to buy weapons on the illicit market for a deadly guerrilla conflict.
Timika, Jubi – On Tuesday, June 6, 2023, the Timika City District Court conducted a hearing to read the verdicts of four civilians accused of murdering and mutilating four Nduga residents in Mimika Regency. Each of the defendants received different prison terms.
The leader of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) is reiterating his call to West Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB) militants to release the New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens whom they have held hostage since February.
The self-styled provisional government of the United Liberation Movement of West Papua "with the people" of the Melanesian region have declared political support for full West Papuan membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).
We are at a historic moment for the West Papuan people. At the upcoming Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) leaders' summit, we firmly believe that the Melanesian nations will decide to accept the ULMWP as a full member of the Group.
Kate Mayberry – When Phillip Mehrtens landed his single-propeller Pilatus plane on the runway in Paro in the highlands of Papua, it was supposed to be a quick turnaround.
He would drop off his five passengers – all Indigenous Papuans – collect a group of health workers from a nearby clinic and fly back to the booming town of Timika closer to the southern coast.
The president of a West Papuan advocacy group has appealed to the militants holding New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens hostage to free him unconditionally and unharmed, describing him as an "innocent pawn".
Jayapura, Jubi – Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) Atnike Nova Sigiro reports that the Timika District Court's trial has shown discrimination against the families of the victims in the Mimika murder and mutilation case.
Jakarta – Indonesia's 5th President and chairperson of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Megawati Sukarnoputri, has expressed criticism over the problems in Papua that are never settled.
Robbie Sutton – West Papua has been in an ongoing violent separatist struggle for more than 50 years. The Red Line's Robbie Sutton explores the history of this often overlooked conflict and why the international community has remained unwilling to get involved over the decades.
Jayapura, Jubi – Gustaf R Kawer, a member of the Civil Society Coalition for the Upholding of Law and Human Rights, expressed his concern over the ruling made by the Surabaya High Military Court III regarding the Mimika murder and mutilation case.
Duncan Graham – There are parallels between Indonesia's Aceh where an Ozzie surfer faced a flogging, and Papua where a Kiwi pilot is facing death. Both provinces have fought brutal guerrilla wars for independence. One has been settled through foreign peacekeepers. The other still rages as outsiders fear intervention.
Jayapura, Jubi – The Amungsa land is mourning the loss of Thom Beanal, a prominent Amungme pioneer and politician. Suffering from a prolonged illness, Thom Beanal sought medical treatment in Singapore. However, he passed away on May 29, 2023, after undergoing extensive treatment in Singapore.
Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Security, Politics and Legal Affairs Mahfud MD has emphasised that the government rejects all assistance from outside parties related to efforts to free Susi Air pilot Captain Philip Mark Mehrtens from the Papuan Armed Criminal Group (KKB) – the government's term for the Free Papua Movement (OPM).
M Julnis Firmansyah, Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud Md explained the reason why the government refused international assistance to release New Zealand pilot Captain Philips Max Mehrtens who is being held hostage by the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM).
Jayapura, Jubi –- The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) recently released a video that threatened to kill the pilot they held hostage, Philip Mark Mehrtens. Chairperson of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) Atnike Nova Sigiro said such threat would worsen the human rights situation in Papua and perpetuate the cycle of violence in the region.
Sebastian Strangio – The crisis involving a pilot taken hostage in Papua has taken a turn for the worse, with the rebel group holding the New Zealand national Philip Mehrtens claiming that it will shoot him if its demands are not fulfilled within two months.
Catherine Delahunty – Nearly four months ago, Phillip Mehrtens, a New Zealander working for an Indonesian airline, was kidnapped by West Papuan fighters in the highlands of West Papua.
No attempts to free him have succeeded yet, although our government has been working hard for a peaceful resolution. The Indonesian government has listened but it's now losing patience.
Free Papua Organisation (OPM) leader Jeffrey Bomanak has appealed for Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape to become a "neutral intermediary" to negotiate between the Indonesian government and the West Papuan rebels holding a New Zealand pilot hostage for his release.
An Australian author-poet and advocate for West Papuan independence has condemned a reported threat against the life of a New Zealand hostage pilot, Philip Mehrtens, held by Papuan liberation fighters and appealed to them to "keep Philip safe".
Jayapura, Jubi – A number of banners and posters containing intimidation against Papuan students were seen on several campuses in Ternate City, the capital of North Maluku Province. The posters and banners were installed in various public places but were removed on Wednesday night.
Kate Lamb, Jakarta – Rebels in Indonesia's Papua region threatened to shoot a New Zealand pilot they took hostage in February if countries do not comply with their demand to start independence talks within two months, a new video released by the group on Friday showed.
Jayapura, Jubi – According to Grace Linda Yoku, the Head of the Culture Division at the Jayapura City Education and Culture Office, Mount Srobu is an ancient civilization in Papua that dates back to prehistoric times.
An Australian advocacy group has called for West Papua to be reinscribed on the United Nations list of "non self-governing territories", citing the "sham" vote in 1969 and the worsening human rights violations in the Indonesian-ruled Melanesian region.
The International Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories (NSGT) is commemorated annually from 25-31 May.
The Special Committee on Decolonization (C-24) will hold its 2023 Pacific Regional Seminar, in Bali, Indonesia, from 24 to 26 May.
Jayapura, Jubi – On Tuesday, May 23, 2023, the Jayapura District Court continued the trial of three students accused of treason for taking part in a free speech which displayed the Morning Star flag, held at the Jayapura University of Science and Technology (USTJ) campus on November 10 last year.