Siktus HarsonSiktus Harson, Jakarta – The arrest of a pastor in Papua by security forces for allegedly supplying weapons to a separatist group could intensify scrutiny on churches in the restive Indonesian region, according to some, but others believe it was a betrayal of his church and Christians.

Egi Adyatama, Jakarta – The Deputy V for Politics, Law, and Security Affairs at the Executive Office of the President, Jaleswari Pramodhawardani, said the government's decision to label armed criminal groups (KKB) in Papua as terrorists was made after thorough considerations.

Elisa Sekenyap, Jayapura – Australian Green Party Senator Janet Rice has expressed her concerns about the situation faced by the people in the land of Papua.

At least 10 people were killed in a gun battle between police and rebels in Indonesia's restive Papua region, authorities said, in an apparent retaliation for the execution of a top intelligence chief.

The hours-long shootout Tuesday in remote Puncak district ended with nine guerrillas and a police officer dead, while two more officers were wounded, police said.

UCA News reporter, Jakarta – Human rights activists and churchmen have voiced concerns over the impact of the Indonesian government's move to label Papuan pro-independence groups as terrorists, saying it will make peace even more difficult to achieve in the restive region.

Angela Flassy, Alexander Loen, Jayapura – The government of Indonesia has declared The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) a terrorist group but Papua Governor Lukas Enembe was quick to respond, calling for Jakarta to reconsider.

Egi Adyatama, Jakarta – Spokesperson for the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM), Sebby Sambon, on Friday condemned Indonesia's decision to declare the groups as terrorist organizations. He viewed that the Indonesian government was mistaken and in a state of panic.

Hendartyo Hanggi, Jakarta – The Indonesian Government through the Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD on Thursday announced that armed criminal groups (KKB) in Papua and organizations or people affiliated in it are deemed as terrorists.

This means that the Free Papua Movement (OPM) will fall into the same category.

David Robie – Branding armed Papuan resistance groups as "terrorists" has sparked strong condemnation from human rights groups across Indonesia and in West Papua, some describing the move as desperation and the "worst ever" action by President Joko Widodo's administration.

Rahel Narda Chaterine, Jakarta – National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) Deputy Commissioner Amiruddin Al-Rahab said he is disappointed with the government's decision to pin the terrorist label on armed criminal groups (KKB) in Papua.

Yunita Amalia – Setara Institute for Peace and Democracy Chairperson Hendardi has criticised the government's move to label armed criminal groups (KKB) in Papua as terrorists. The move is seen as a short-cut and an expression of the government's desperation in dealing with the conflict in Papua.

Jakarta – Lawyer and human rights activist Veronica Koman has commented on the Indonesian government's move to label the Free Papua Organisation (OPM) a terrorist group.

Through her private Twitter account @VeronicaKoman, she said that the decision would sever attempts to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Papua.

Budiarti Utami Putri, Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) assessed that labeling the armed criminal groups in Papua terrorists is an attempt to silence voices that demand justice.

Jakarta – The government has declared that armed criminal groups (KKB) in Papua are terrorists, following a string of clashes with security forces that saw the region's intelligence chief, one police officer and at least nine guerrilla fighters killed.

Armed violence has escalated in Puncak Regency in the "land of Papua" – known internationally as West Papua – following President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's order to crack down on the rebels seeking independence, reports the Papuan newspaper Jubi.

Rahel Narda Chaterine, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia says that labeling armed groups in Papua as terrorist has the potential to add to the long list of human rights violations in the region.

Amnesty International Executive Director Usman Hamid believes that labeling armed groups terrorist will not end the problems or human rights violations in Papua.

Farouk Arnaz, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – The Indonesian government officially labeled an armed separatist group in the easternmost province of Papua as terrorist organization on Thursday without citing a name.

The decision, which immediately drew objection from the Papua governor, came after a series of attacks on security officials that killed two people since Sunday.

Syaiful Hakim/Suharto, Jakarta – Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Coordinating Minister Mahfud MD urged the Indonesian police, military, and state intelligence body to take swift, firm, and measured actions against Papua's armed criminal groups following their categorization as terrorists.

Imam B, Rahmad Nasution, Jakarta – All separatist terrorist groups must be rooted out from the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua as they pose a serious security threat, a legislator has said.

Budiarti Utami Putri and Andita Rahma, Jakarta – Human rights group Setara Institute deputy chair Bonar Tigor Naipospos deemed that the government was emotional and in a hurry to label the armed criminal group (KKB) in Papua as terrorists. He believed that this decision would not help resolve issues in the country's easternmost province peacefully.

Jakarta – The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has criticised the Indonesian government's decision to label the Free Papua Movement (OPM) or armed criminal groups (KKB) in Papua as terrorists.

Budiarti Utami Putri, Jakarta – Human rights group Setara Institute criticized a public statement made by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Bambang Soesatyo who urge authorities to mobilize a full-on operation to eradicate armed criminal groups (KKB) in Papua and put aside issues about human rights.

Alfian Kartono – Attacks by rebels in several districts in Papua have increased over the past year.

An Indonesian police officer and five Papuan independence fighters were killed in an ongoing clash between security forces and a rebel group in restive Papua province, authorities said Wednesday.

The killing of a senior officer in the Indonesia army in Papua has prompted President Joko Widodo to order a crackdown on rebel groups.

Brigadier General Gusti Putu Danny, the head of Papua's Intelligence Agency was shot near Dambet Village in the Puncak District on Sunday.

The Indonesia's president has ordered a crackdown on what he calls armed criminal groups.

Ardito Ramadhan, Jakarta – Setara Institute for Peace and Democracy human rights and security sector researcher Ikhsan Yosarie is urging the government to use a soft approach in dealing with the conflict in Papua.

Yosarie said that the government should learn from the experience in Aceh of resolving the armed conflict with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) through negotiations.

Jayapura – President of Republic of Indonesia Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has ordered Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto and National Police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo to chase and arrest all members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) after the group shot dead Papua spy chief Brig. Gen. I Gusti Putu Danny on Sunday, April 25, 2021.

As the Interim President of the West Papuan nation, I am issuing this response to Indonesian President Widodo's crack down order in West Papua.

Jakarta – A regional intelligence chief was killed in an ambush by rebels in Papua over the weekend, the Indonesian Military (TNI) confirmed Monday as President Joko "Jokowi' Widodo vowed to crush the separatists.

Jakarta – People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Bambang Soesatyo is calling on security forces to deploy their full strength and totally destroy armed criminal groups (KKB) in Papua. According to Soesatyo, security forces should not be hesitant about deployed their forces and human rights matters can be discussed later.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – A litany of loopholes and violations have undercut the Indonesian government's forest protection policies, allowing oil palm companies to continue obtaining licenses to clear rainforests for plantations, according to a new report.

Arnold Belau and Tria Dianti, Jayapura and Jakarta – Indonesia's president ordered a crackdown against Papuan rebels Monday after insurgents killed an army general who headed the government's intelligence operations in the region – the highest-ranking military officer to die in the decades-old separatist conflict.

Mataram – Minister of Home Affairs Gen. (ret.) Tito Karnavian has stated that the government would not form new provinces or new regions across Indonesia, including in Papua Land this year.

Alfian Kartono, Jayapura – An Indonesian brigadier general was killed in an ongoing clash between security forces and a rebel group in restive Papua province, authorities said.

Indonesia's Alliance of Independent Journalists has condemned actions of intimidation against a leading West Papuan journalist.

Victor Mambor, the Jayapura-based founder of the Tabloid Jubi media outlet, discovered his car had been vandalised and damaged where it was parked outside his home earlier this week.

Anita Roberts – Vanuatu needs to advocate strongly with other MSG countries to ensure ULMWP application for full membership is accepted, says Regenvanu

Benny Mawel, Jayapura – Independent Journalists Alliance in Jayapura condemned the attack on executive director and guarantor of the Jayapura-based Jubi, Victor Mambor, in which unidentified people damaged his car on Wednesday, April 21, 2021.

A West Papuan envoy who was gagged while addressing the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues two years ago is due to speak again today.

Konradus Epa, Jakarta – Indonesian police have arrested a Protestant pastor in Papua for allegedly supplying arms to separatist rebels in the restive region.

Reza Gunadha and Chyntia Sami Bhayangkara – Journalist and editor of the Papuan based Tabloid Jubi, Victor Mambor, has become the victim of a terrorist act.

A car that he owns which was parked on the road near his home was vandalised by unknown individuals sometime between 12 midnight and 2am on Wednesday April 21.

Jakarta – The results of an investigation by the police's professionalism and security affairs division (Propam) has found that Malang municipal police chief Senior Commissioner Leonardus Simarmata committed a disciplinary violation when he allegedly threatened to shoot Papuan students at the Malang municipal police headquarters in March.

Arjuna Pademme, Jayapura – The South Jakarta District Court has rejected a pretrial motion filed by two Papuan student activists accused of robbery, Ruland Rudolof Karafir and Finakat Molama, against the Jakarta Police for its alleged legal violations during the arrest

Benny Mawel & Titus Ruban, Jayapura – The Human Rights Lawyers Association for Papua (PAHAM) claimed that the arrest of Paniel Kogoya, a Protestant pastor accused of supplying weapons for the National Liberation Army of West Papua (TPNPB), violated human rights standards in law enforcement and failed to adhere to the Criminal Code Procedures.

The West Papua Council of Churches has called on the United Nations to intervene in what it describes as a humanitarian tragedy in Indonesia's Papua region.

This comes amid more violence in the highlands of Papua province, with two school teachers shot dead last week in Puncak district.

Hengky Yeimo, Nabire – Evanggelis Penehasa Wandagau, a Christian Religion teacher at the Papua's Evangelical Churches Education and School Foundation (YPPGI) Elementary School, said that schools in Beoga District, Puncak Regency had not conducted learning activities after a series of shootings and class arson that took place in Beoga this month.

The local West Papua action group in Dunedin has met Taieri MP Ingrid Leary and raised human rights and militarisation issues that members believe the New Zealand government should be pursuing with Indonesia.

Egi Adyatama, Jakarta – An Indonesian Military (TNI) soldier has reportedly joined an armed criminal group (KKB) in Papua. This was confirmed by the Joint Regional Defense Command (Kogabwilhan) spokesperson, Col. Czi IGN Suriastawa.

Arnold Belau, Jayapura, Indonesia – Separatist rebels shot dead a 16-year-old schoolboy in Indonesia's Papua province, police said Friday about the latest in a spate of recent killings of civilians whom the insurgents accused of spying for the government.

Maire Leadbeater – As further details emerge about New Zealand's military exports, questions are growing about the country's role as a defender of human rights. After a recent spotlight on military goods sent to Saudi Arabia, information is coming to light about New Zealand's exports to Indonesia's military forces which are engaged in a long-running conflict in West Papua.

Julian Howay, New York – Papuan and South Maluku Republic (RMS) activists have again held a joint peaceful action. This time the action was held outside the Indonesian Consulate General in New York on Monday April 12.

Greenpeace has warned that left unchecked, forest clearance in West Papua could undo Indonesia's progress in tackling climate change.

The environmental NGO has released a report looking at systematic violations on plantation and forest release permits in Indonesia-administered Papua region.