Hilaire Bule – Prime Minister Bob Loughman is among regional leaders converging in Fiji for the 51st Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders summit in Suva, Fiji, this week.

Siktus Harson – The creation of new autonomous regions in Papua continues to be opposed by indigenous communities that see it as Jakarta's ploy to gain tighter control over a region tarnished by violence.

Reiner Brabar, Sorong – The Papuan public's reaction to the central government's decision to form new autonomous regions (DOB) in Papua has been divided with some groups opposing it and other supporting it. This division has the potential to trigger social conflicts.

Susan Price – Indonesian security forces massacred scores of people in Biak, West Papua, 24 years ago on July 6, 1998. The victims included women and children who had gathered for a peaceful rally. They were killed at the base of a water tower flying the West Papuan Morning Star flag.

Jayapura, Jubi – In the trial of the alleged treason against the seven Morning Star bearers – all of whom Papuan – on Thursday, July 7, 2022, the Public Prosecutor presented one of the police officers who arrested the seven defendants on December 1, 2021, Endriko Ary Setiawan.

Kizzy Kalsakau and Anita Roberts – Leader of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Benny Wenda, is reminding Pacific leaders to recall the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) resolution for Indonesia to allow a visit by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to West Papua.

Jayapura, Jubi – The Papua Police sent a platoon of troops from the Dogiyai Police to Paniai Regency to anticipate further riots following the death of a tribal chief, who was shot during the vandalism at the Paniai Regent's Office on Tuesday, July 5, 2022.

Jayapura, Jubi – Head of the United for Truth (BUK), an organization for victims of human rights violations, Tineke Rumkabu said victims of the Bloody Biak tragedy demanded President Joko Widodo fulfill his political commitment to resolve various cases of human rights violations in Papua.

Len Garae – The global leader and President of the United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP), Benny Wenda, touched down in Vanuatu at 1.30pm on Monday this week after a long flight from London, Dubai, and Sydney to Port Vila.

M Julnis Firmansyah, Jakarta – The spokesperson of Papua Police Sr. Comr. Ahmad Musthofa Kamal rebutted the claims made by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement (OPM), that they killed an undercover intelligence officer. According to Kamal, they killed a civilian.

Jayapura, Jubi – Interfaith leaders in Papua gathered to discuss the "Challenges and the Role of Religions in the Struggle to Build Peace in Papua" in Jayapura City on Tuesday, July 5, 2022. The meeting was initiated by the Secretariat for Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (SKPKC) Franciscan Papua.

Febriyan, Jakarta – The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) representative Sebby Sambom in a written statement Tempo received on Tuesday claims to have executed a member of the Indonesian intelligence who he claims had gone undercover as a gold miner at Papua's Korowai District.

The 6th July marks 24 years since the Biak Massacre when the Indonesian security forces massacred scores of people in Biak, West Papua. The victims, included women and children who had gathered for a peaceful rally. They were killed at the base of a water tower flying the Morning Star flag

Jayapura, Jubi TV – The Yalimo Police arrested AM, a Nduga-based civil servant, on Wednesday night, June 29, 2022, in Elelim, Yalimo Regency. The police caught AM possessing with him 615 rounds of ammunition of various calibers and one self-assembled firearm suspected to be supplied to the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) under the leadership of Egianus Kogoya.

Jayapura, Jubi – Executive Director of the Alliance for Democracy for Papua (AIDP) Latifah Anum Siregar said the illegal firearms and ammunition trade network in Papua was very strong. Many cases of illegal arms trade have been decided by the courts but the major suppliers and financiers in the illegal trade have not been touched by the legal process.

Vitorio Mantalean, Jakarta – There is concern that conflict with the security forces will become sharper after the law on the creation of three new provinces in Papua, namely Central Papua, South Papua and the Papua Highlands provinces, was ratified by the House of Representatives (DPR) on June 30.

Jayapura, Jubi – Former Papuan political prisoner Filep Karma assessed the regulation of Papua's Special Autonomy (Otsus) through Law No. 2/2021 on the Second Amendment to Law Number 21/2001 had removed the essence of "special autonomy". Instead of retaining Papua's authority as a region with special autonomy, the Indonesian government has in fact recentralized its authority.

Jayapura, Jubi – In the last 10 years, 14 soldiers and 6 police officers had been convicted of illegally trading firearms and ammunition in Papua, said director of the Democratic Alliance for Papua (AlDP) Latifah Anum Siregar during the launch of the "Papua Illegal Firearms and Ammunition Trade" report by the AlDP in Jayapura City on Friday, July 1, 2022.

Jayapura, Jubi – Chairman of the Papuan People's Assembly (MRP) Timotius Murib said that ratifying the three bills for the expansion of Papua into law was the wish of the central government in Jakarta, not the wish of the Papuan people.

Today we celebrate the 51st anniversary of the independence declaration of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) at Markas Victoria on July 1, 1971. The declaration, signed by Seth Rumkoren and Jacob Prai – who sadly passed away last month – was a direct rejection of Indonesian colonialism.

Jayapura, Jubi – Head of Student Unit for Democracy, Human Rights and the Environment (Dehaling) Jhon Fredi Tebai said that the formation of new autonomous regions or new provinces in Papua would threaten the forests, a place for indigenous peoples to forage and live.

M Rosseno Aji, Jakarta – Human rights watchdog the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) on Friday condemned the democratic setback showcased by the government in the form of passing three draft bills to expand Papua's autonomous regions.

Katharina Reny Lestari – An alarming rise in deadly attacks by separatist rebels has triggered a climate of fear, impacting free movement and activities of civilians in Indonesia's Christian-majority Papua region, Church leaders say.

Vitorio Mantalean, Jakarta – The Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) enacted three draft laws on the creation of three new provinces in Papua at a plenary meeting on Thursday June 30, namely, South Papua, Central Papua and the Papua Highlands.

Jakarta – The Papua People's Council (MRP) says that a Coordinating Ministry for Security, Politics and Legal Affairs (Kemenko Polhukam) deputy told them that the creation of new autonomous regions (DOB) in Papua is to narrow the space for the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TNPB-OPM) to move.

Jakarta (Reuters) – Indonesia's parliament passed on Thursday (June 30) legislation to create three new provinces in its underdeveloped region of Papua, a move critics fear could undermine the standing of the area's indigenous population and threaten special autonomy powers.

Laily Rahmawaty, Suharto, Jakarta – The Indonesian Police (Polri) is planning to raise three new provincial police forces following the ratification of bills on the establishment of three new provinces in Papua into law on Thursday.

Victor Mambor and Dandy Koswaraputra Jayapura, Indonesia and Jakarta – The Indonesian parliament on Thursday approved the creation of three new provinces in the restive Papua region, despite opposition from many indigenous Papuans who fear an influx of outsiders, and criticism from rights groups that the move is a "divide-and-rule" strategy.

Wamena, Jubi – Regarding the planned ratification of three New Autonomous Regions (DOB) bills into law on Thursday, June 30, 2022, the Jayawijaya Police has prepared hundreds of joint security personnel to secure the agenda.

Jayapura, Jubi – Indo-Pacific Study Center of the Cenderawasih University launched a book titled "Repatriates in Papua" in Jayapura City on Wednesday, June 29, 2022.

Jakarta – Around 150 Papuans students held a demonstration in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday June 29, to reject the creation of three new provinces in Papua.

Scores of police could be seen on guard near the demonstration and razor wire had been installed in front of the parliamentary complex's main gate.

Nur Janti, Jakarta – Lawmakers have pressed ahead with a plan to create new provinces in resource-rich Papua after securing support from local elites, as politicians aim to pass a set of bills that will lay legal groundwork for the major redistricting before they go into recess early next month.

Chris Fitzgerald – Clashes have taken place between Indonesian police and protesters in West Papua, adding to ongoing concerns about allegations of police violence.

M Faiz Zaki, Jakarta – Sebby Sambom, a spokesperson for the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), which is the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement (OPM), in a voice recording Tempo received on Monday, June 27, warned the Indonesian government to halt the Papua provincial expansion plan.

Jayapura, Jubi TV – The families of the victims of "Bloody Paniai" expressed their disappointment with the investigation process of the shooting tragedy at Karel Gobay Field on December 8, 2014. This tragedy killed four teenagers and injured 13 other people.

An interview with filmmaker Irene Yuliana Fatagur

This edited article was published on April 21 by WITNESS Asia, an international organization that supports people using video in their fight for human rights. It has been republished on Global Voices under a content partnership agreement.

Jayapura, Jubi – The Papuan Institute for Human Rights Studies and Advocacy (ELSHAM) in a press release said Papua was like a constant battlefield, plagued by conflict since it became part of Indonesia.

Jayapura, Jubi – The Papuan Peace Network (JDP) calls for a humanitarian pause to end all armed conflicts in Papua and start a peaceful dialogue.

A new Asia Pacific social justice research and publication nonprofit has awarded a diversity communications trophy to a West Papuan postgraduate student who has advocated for the education and welfare of his fellow students.

Several dozen Papuan students trying to complete their studies were stranded in Aotearoa New Zealand by a sudden scholarship cancellation.

Jayapura, Jubi – The Student Solidarity of the Meepago Region in Jayapura said the Papua expansion plan by the government was an attempt to exploit Papua's natural resources. This was stated by Yapinus as the Solidarity's coordinator during his speech at Mimika Dormitory, Jayapura City, on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.

Jakarta, Jubi – Commission II of the House of Representatives overseeing home affairs, in a Working Meeting on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, agreed to form a Working Committee for the Deliberation of Three Bills on the Establishment of Three Provinces in Papua to be completed on June 30, 2022.

Merauke, Jubi – A number of Tanah Miring residents visited the Merauke Police on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, to dispute a 53-hectare land in Yaba Maru Village SP 9, Tanah Miring District. The land was purchased by Merauke Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr.

Aprila Wayar and Johnny Blades – In April of this year, Indonesia's parliament approved a plan to create three new provinces in Papua, the easternmost region of the archipelago.

Manokwari, Jubi – The National West Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB) claims to have stabbed a Papuan member of the Yon D Wamena Mobile Brigade, Second Brig. Diego Rumaropen, on Saturday, June 18, 2022.

Jayapura, Jubi – The Papua Legal Aid Institute (LBH Papua) has asked the Jayapura City Police to punish their members who fired rubber bullets to disperse the rally commemorating the death of West Papua National Committee (KNPB) leader Mako Tabuni on Tuesday, June 14, 2022.

M Zulfikar, Fadhli Ruhman, Jakarta – The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has communicated the fundamental developments related to the advancement and enforcement of human rights in Indonesia to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, in Geneva, Switzerland.

Jakarta – The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has discussed the plan to hold a peaceful dialogue to resolve the problems in Papua during its visit to the United Nation's headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

Manokwari, Jubi – A team of investigators from the Fakfak District Attorney (DA), West Papua, searched a number of documents in the Fakfak General Election Commission (KPU) Treasurer's room on Thursday, June 16, 2022.

The DA managed to confiscate 50 documents related to the accountability report of the Regional Grant Fund to the KPU in the 2020 Regional Head Election.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Authorities in Indonesia's Papua province have recommended the revocation of licenses for 35 out of the 54 oil palm concessions operating there.

The move follows an evaluation of the licenses carried out by the provincial government since 2019, and mirrors a similar spate of revocations in neighboring West Papua province.

Evarianus S, Mecca Yumna, Manokwari – Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia has urged regional governments in West Papua Province to implement a healthy bureaucracy and offer security guarantees to attract entrepreneurs to invest in the region.