The Indonesian state is causing a renewed humanitarian crisis in occupied West Papua. A 35-year-old woman has been murdered and mutilated by the Indonesian military in Puncak Regency, and villages and churches have been emptied as thousands more soldiers have been deployed in the area. Indonesia must urgently draw back their troops to allow civilians to return home in peace.

Jayapura, Indonesia – Separatist rebels in Indonesia's Papua province released more photos and videos Friday appearing to show the New Zealand pilot they took hostage last month alive.

Anne Barker, Indonesia – It is now more than a month since Captain Philip Mehrtens was seized and taken hostage after he landed a small Susi Airlines plane last month in the remote highlands of central Papua.

Nur Janti, Jakarta – Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Adm. Yudo Margono has turned down New Zealand's offer of assistance in an operation to release the New Zealander pilot who has been held hostage by an armed Papuan rebel group in Nduga regency, Papua Highlands, for about a month.

Jayapura, Jubi – Indonesia is approaching the election period. Political parties begin to compete and win people's votes. One of the requirements for registering election participants is the fulfillment of the 30 percent quota for women as stipulated in the Election Law and technical regulations of the General Election Commission (KPU).

It has been a month since Susi Air pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens was taken hostage by the National Liberation Army of West Papua (TPNPB) in Nduga, in the highlands of Papua Pegunungan Province.

Jayapura, Jubi – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) of Tolikara Region in Mountainous Papua Province is urging young Papuans not to apply as members of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and Police.

Senator the Hon Penny Wong
PO Box 6100
Senate
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

9 March 2023

Dear Foreign Minister,

I am writing to you on behalf of the Australia West Papua Association in Sydney concerning the issue of West Papua. Tragically, the human rights situation in West Papua is seriously deteriorating.

Jayapura, Jubi – Youth leader Denius Tabuni said some residents of Yugumuak District and Mageabume District in Puncak Regency, Central Papua Province, have fled to a number of villages in Sinak District in the same regency. He said the evacuees needed food, clothing, and tents.

Jayapura, Jubi – The Executive Board of the Yahukimo Student Community (KPMY) recently made a press statement addressing the security situation in Yahukimo Regency, wherein armed conflict between the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) and the Indonesian Military (TNI) has displaced hundreds of civilians as security forces sweeps in residential areas to pursue TPNPB.

Sentani, Jubi – As many as 11 children are still being treated at the Ilaga Regional General Hospital in Puncak Regency for measles. Puncak Regent Willem Wandik said the measles transmission in Puncak had reached the status of an Extraordinary Event, and asked his staff to prevent wider transmission.

Nabire, Jubi – A total of 15 children under five years old in Timeepa, North Mapia District, Dogiyai Regency, Central Papua, reportedly died of measles. Measles is a serious viral infection for young children, but is easily preventable with vaccines. The disease is spread through the air via breathing as the virus is airborne from coughing or sneezing.

Wata Shaw – "West Papua is part of the Melanesian family, please know that you are at home."

These were the sentiments expressed by residents of Muanikoso settlement in Nasinu during a community talanoa session with members of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) yesterday.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua has condemned an Indonesian government protest over Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka's declared support for ULMWP full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) as "grotesque hypocrisy".

Singgih Wiryono, Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform and Humanity for Papua is urging President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to abandon the security approach in Papua following the riot in Wamena on February 23.

Singgih Wiryono, Jakarta – The Papua Student Front (FMP) held a protest action in front of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) offices in Jakarta on Friday March 3.

The action began at 1.17 pm with protesters demanding that the Komnas HAM commissioner come outside and directly declare their position on the incidents of violence occurring in Papua.

Daniel A. Fajri, Jakarta – An official diplomatic note from the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry to the Fiji government ensued after a meeting took place between Prime Minister Stivini Rebuka and the United Liberation Movement of West Papua leader Benny Wenda.

Wamena, Jubi – A number of parties have formed an independent team to investigate the incident in Sinakma, Wamena, Jayawijaya Regency, on February 23, 2023, which resulted in the death of 11 people and injured dozens.

Jayapura, Jubi – Director of the Association of Human Rights Advocates (PAHAM Papua) Gustaf R Kawer criticized the mediation process of civilian shooting run by the Mountainous Papua Regent Association, who agreed to pay compensation for victims' families. Kawer said such payment did not educate the public and even had the potential to become a corruption act.

Jakarta – After more than three weeks, efforts to release Susi Air pilot Phillip Mark Mehrtens from members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement (OPM), have so far borne no fruits.

Jayapura, Jubi – Commander of the XVI Yahukimo Defense Area Command Elkius Kobak of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) claimed to have attacked and shot members of the Indonesian Military (TNI) in Yahukimo Regency on Wednesday, March 1, 2023/This was stated in a written statement delivered by TPNPB spokesperson Seby Sambom.

Jayapura, Jubi – The clashes that led to the shooting of residents in Wamena on February 23, 2023, had a similar pattern to the shooting in Wamena on September 23, 2019. Police's failure to prevent casualties shows that the security approach in handling the incident in September 2019 has never been evaluated.

Nur Janti, Jakarta – The Indonesian security forces are set to conduct a long-term operation to rescue the New Zealand pilot who has been held hostage by an armed Papuan rebel group in Nduga Regency, Papua Highlands, for more than 20 days.

Jayapura, Jubi – The Democracy Alliance for Papua (AlDP) recorded at least 9,205 Indonesian Military (TNI) and Poice personnel were stationed in Papua and West Papua provinces in 2022. AlDP assesses that such placement is related to the division of Papua and West Papua to four new provinces.

Jayapura, Jubi – The Papua Representative of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM Papua) has sent an investigation team to Wamena, the capital of Jayawijaya Regency, to investigate alleged human rights violations in the handling of clashes between residents and police in Wamena on February 23, 2023.

Stephen Wright – Indonesia has protested to Fiji's government after the prime minister of the Pacific island country met with a Papuan leader in a morale boost for the regional independence movement.

Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, who was elected in December, also said he would support Papuan membership in a U.N.-recognized organization of Melanesian nations.

Security forces in Indonesia's restive Papua region have surrounded separatists holding captive a New Zealand pilot, but will exercise restraint while negotiations for his release continue, a top security official says.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Three weeks have passed since Papua separatists held a Susi Air pilot Phillip Mark Mehrtens hostage, and the airline has shut down rumors that the New Zealander in captivity joining the rebel group.

Catholic activists and human rights groups in Indonesia have demanded a thorough probe into a recent riot that claimed 12 lives in restive Papua province, where a separatist insurgency has been waged for decades.

Jakarta – Security forces in Indonesia's restive Papua region have surrounded separatists holding captive a New Zealand pilot, but will exercise restraint while negotiations for his release continue, a top security official said on Tuesday.

Jayapura, Jubi – It has been more than 20 days since Susi Air pilot Philip Mehrtens, a New Zealand national, was taken hostage by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB). TPNPB has released videos and photos showing that he is with them. Efforts to free Philip continue to be made through negotiations and plans for military operations.

Jayapura, Jubi – The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) denied media allegation stating Egianus Kogoya, the commander of TPNPB Kodap III Ndugama-Derakma, asked for money and weapons to free the Susi Air pilot they were holding hostage.

Jack Brook – The slaughter commenced after what appeared to be the most benign of acts: a six-year-old girl trying to buy a bottle of olive oil.

Sentani, Jubi – The Papuan Church Council called on the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) led by Egianus Kogoya to immediately release the Susi Air pilot they held hostage, Philip Mark Mehrtens.

I am heartbroken to hear that nine West Papuans have been murdered by Indonesian security forces after unrest in Wamena, my hometown. The shootings occurred following the abduction of a Papuan child, which saw conflict break out between the community and colonial forces. Apart from the nine dead, seventeen others have been shot.

Daniel A. Fajri, Jakarta – Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Teuku Faizasyah confirmed that the New Zealand government had sent representatives to Timika, Papua, to monitor pilot Philip Mehrtens who was held hostage by the Free Papua Movement (OPM) for the past two weeks.

Ben Bohane – "Wah Wah Wah!" came the jungle cry as I watched dozens of OPM (Free West Papua) guerrillas stream down mountain ravines towards our village, adorned in cassowary feathers, smeared in pig fat (to stay warm in the mountain air) and armed with bows and arrows.

Indonesian security forces have tightened security in the town of Wamena in the easternmost region of Papua, where nine people have been killed during a riot triggered by rumours about a child being kidnapped, according to an official.

Kelvin Anthony – Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is the first Fijian leader in 16 years to hold a one-on-one meeting with the head of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), while also confirming his government will support the independence campaigners bid to become full members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

Rebecca Paveley – Torture, extra judicial killings, and abductions are being carried out with impunity in the provinces of West Papua, human-rights activists have reported, as conflict continues between those fighting for independence and the Indonesian security forces.

Jayapura, Jubi – A clash occurred between residents and security forces in Sinakma, Wamena District, Jayawijaya Regency, Mountainous Papua Province on Thursday, February 23, 2023, triggered by child abduction.

Alfian Kartono and Edna Tarigan, Jayapura, Indonesia – Ten people were killed and more than 20 others wounded in a riot in Indonesia's Papua province, police said on Friday.

The riots began Thursday afternoon in Wamena town in the Jayawijaya district of Papua, the country's easternmost province, amid reports of a child kidnapping.

Jayapura, Jubi – The rapid development of technology has made rap and hip hop music flourish in Papua. It has become a lifestyle for some young people, mixed with Papuan culture.

Jakarta – West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM) spokesperson Sebby Sambom has responded to a request by the chairperson of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Benny Wenda, to release Susi Air pilot Phillip Mehrtens who is being held hostage by the OPM.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Papua Police spokesperson Sr. Commissioner Ignatius Benny Ady Prabowo on Thursday said the separatist group in Papua – known as the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) and Free Papua Movement (OPM) – which has taken a New Zealand pilot Philips Max Mehrtens as hostage once asked for ransom and arms as the requirement to release the pilot.

Kate Lamb, Jakarta – Egianus Kogoya, the dreadlocked rebel behind the kidnapping of a New Zealand pilot this month in the highlands of Papua region, is at the vanguard of an increasingly dangerous and media-savvy insurgency for independence.

Anne Barker, Erwin Renaldi and Mackenzie Smith – Indonesia has revealed its security forces were about to launch a rescue mission for a pilot held hostage in Papua but New Zealand authorities asked them to abandon their plans in order to avoid violence.

Felix Chaudhary – Recognising Indonesia's sovereignty is one thing. However, failing to allow West Papuans a seat at regional discussion tables like the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and Melanesian Spearhead Group to address human rights atrocities, torture and killing at the hands of Indonesian security forces is not the Pacific way.

Jayapura, Jubi – The Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) of Papua Province wishes to turn Papua a Melanesian Sports Center, therefore exploring cooperation with neighboring countries in the Pacific Region.

Jayapura, Jubi – Three Lanny Jaya residents, namely Yakinus Murib, Uras Telenggen, and Diminus Kogoya, who were arrested by joint forces on February 7, 2023 in Kimbim District, Jayawijaya Regency, are now still in Jayawijaya Police custody. The three of them were charged with alleged sale and purchase of 70 rounds of ammunition.