Jayapura, Jubi – Rev. Benny Giay, the Moderator of the Papua Council of Churches, paid a visit to the Papua High Prosecutor's Office in Jayapura City on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. His purpose was to request that the Papua High Prosecutor's Office refrain from appealing the verdict of the Jayapura District Court in the treason case against Viktor Yeimo.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Abdul Manan, Setri Yasra, Iwan Kurniawan and Anton Aprianto, Jakarta – The Indonesian Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) general Dudung Abdurachman on Monday stated that armed criminal groups in Papua are merely groups of people abusing the benefits of the central government's specific funds for the region without meaningful political activities.

On the eve of Papua New Guinea's hosted Pacific meetings, Free Papua Organisation-OPM leader Jeffrey Bomanak has called for an international embargo on Indonesian goods and services in protest over what he calls Jakarta's "unlawful military occupation" of West Papua.

Jayapura, Jubi – Unggul Sagena, the Head of the Internet Access Division at the Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFENet), highlighted that activists and journalists in Papua remain susceptible to digital assaults. Unggul emphasized the need for an enhancement in the digital security capabilities of activists and journalists operating in Papua.

Learo Earle – Grasberg mine – the largest gold mine and third-largest copper mine in the world – is central to the story of West Papua's colonisation. The mine, in West Papua's Waa Valley on traditional lands (tanah adat) belonging to the Amungme and Kamora people, is a site of extraction, violence and profit.

Jayapura, Jubi – In a public lecture organized by the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) and the Amnesty International Chapter of Cenderawasih University on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, KontraS coordinator Fatia Maulidiyanti said civil liberties in Papua had worsened due to the deployment of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and Police.

Free Papua Organisation (OPM) leader Jeffrey Bomanak has appealed to US President Joe Biden for a "proactive role" in ending Indonesia's "unlawful military occupation and annexation" of West Papua.

He claims this illegal occupation led to the subsequent US "foreign policy failure" in protecting six decades of crimes against humanity.

Jayapura, Jubi – The Yahukimo Police on Tuesday met with several community leaders to explain about the apprehension of 22 people during a raid at the Obio Complex in Dekai District, the capital of Yahukimo Regency, Mountainous Papua Province.

Jayapura, Jubi – In a recent online discussion on "Status and Trends of Freedom of Expression, Assembly, and Digital Rights in West Papua", Esther Haluk, a women's rights activist from GARDA Papua, expressed her concerns about the declining state of freedom of speech in Papua.

An Indonesian Catholic lawmaker has called on the army chief to explain the alleged sales of arms and ammunition to rebel groups by military forces in the restive Christian-majority Papua region.

Merauke, Jubi – The residents of Zenegi Village, a village located in Merauke's Animha District in South Papua, consider the presence of Selaras Inti Semesta Ltd. (SIS), a subsidiary of the Medco Group engaged in plantation, for approximately 15 years has not yielded any positive outcomes for the local community.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.