Benny Mawel, Jayapura – A joint force of personnel from the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police dispersed a group of Papuan students protesting the government's plan to extend Papua's special autonomy status on Monday.

Tension between Indonesia and Vanuatu at the United Nations General Assembly spilled over into an ugly show of hatred by Indonesian online trolls, who flooded an official Instagram account of the South Pacific Ocean nation with racist comments.

Devina Halim, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia said it deplores Indonesia's response to accusations made by Vanuatu about human rights violations in Papua at the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday September 26.

Ben Doherty – Unrest has flared in the restive Indonesian region of Papua with police firing shots during a protest by hundreds of university students in the provincial capital, Jayapura.

The group was demonstrating against plans to extend a special autonomy law that protestors say has not done enough to help people in one of the country's poorest regions.

Nabire – Evangelical Christian Church (GKI) Cluster Hitadipa asked the local government of Intan Jaya, Indonesian Military (TNI) and Police to immediately relocate the military post in Hitadipa.

Jakarta – In the last few years, Indonesia has entrusted its young diplomats with countering attacks predominantly from Pacific countries over alleged human rights abuses against Papuan people.

Dian Septiari, Jakarta – Indonesia has again sent a junior diplomat to defend its national interest to protect its easternmost provinces at the United Nations General Assembly, where the small island nation of Vanuatu renewed its call to investigate alleged human rights violations in Papua.

Antara, Jakarta – The government is in support for an independent investigation over the shooting against pastor Yeremia Zanambani at the Hitadipa District in the province of Papua by forming an investigative team that will work beside church managements, local figures, and administration.

Jakarta – Police forcibly dispersed a student protest near the Cendrawasih University (Uncen) in Jayapura, Papua, on Monday September 28. The students were protesting against an extension of Special Autonomy (Otsus) for Papua.

Tri Indah Oktavianti, Jakarta – Indonesia has lashed out at the Republic of Vanuatu over what Indonesian representatives say are its continuing efforts to raise "artificial human rights concerns" in Papua.

Indonesia has lashed out at Vanuatu for what it describes as the Melanesian country's "excessive and unhealthy obsession" about West Papua.

The testy comments came in Indonesia's right of reply to a statement by Vanuatu's prime minister Bob Loughman at the United Nations General Assembly.

28 September 2020

Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern,
Prime Minister
Hon Winston Peters,
Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Parliament Buildings
Wellington

Dear Jacinda Ardern and Winston Peters,

Devina Halim, Jakarta – Amnesty International has recorded 47 cases of extrajudicial killings in Papua between February 2018 and September 2020. Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid revealed that these cases have resulting in 96 deaths.

Kendari – The Ombudsman's South-East Sulawesi representative office says that the regional police's use of a helicopter to forcibly disperse student protesters is a violation of National Police Chief Regulation (Perkap) Number 2/2019 on Riot Control.

There are reports from West Papua that Indonesian police have arrested about 200 demonstrators at different locations across Nabire regency.

The United Liberation Front in West Papua said there had been a march on the local police headquarters in Nabire to demand those being held were released.

Benny Mawel and Budi Sutrisno in Jayapura and Jakarta – The killing of Pastor Yeremia Zanambani in Intan Jaya regency, Papua, last weekend – allegedly carried out by personnel from the Indonesian military (TNI) – is the third case targeting a churchman in Papua since 2004, says a church fellowship.

Jakarta – Tabernacle Bible Church of Indonesia (GKII) Synod Chairperson Daniel Ronda admits to being disappointed that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has yet to respond to the shooting of Pastor Yeremia Zanambani, who was shot dead near his residence in the Hitadipa district of Intan Jaya regency in Papua on Saturday September 19.

West Papuan students petitioning the Indonesian government against Special Autonomy plans have come up against police blockades in the city of Manado.

A large public demonstration launched by the students was forcibly broken up by police in the province of North Sulawesi.

Erric Permana, Jakarta, Indonesia – Indonesia's National Human Rights Commission will investigate Saturday's shooting death of a pastor in Papua, eastern Indonesia, the commission's head has announced.

TAPOL condemns the killing of Pastor Yeremia Zanambani, a church leader from Hitadipa District, Intan Jaya Regency, Papua Province. It has been reported that Pastor Zanambani was killed by members of the Indonesian military (TNI) on Saturday, 19th of September. Pastor Zanambani was found dead near his pig pen, 300 meters from his home, with bullet and stab wounds.

Benny Mawel and Budi Sutrisno, Jakarta and Jayapura – The recent killing of pastor Yeremia Zanambani in Intan Jaya regency, Papua, allegedly carried out by personnel from the Indonesian Military (TNI) is the third case targeting a churchman in Papua since 2004, a church fellowship has said.

Petrus Farneubun, Johni Korwa – The historical roots of special autonomy in Papua can be traced back to two major events. The first was a meeting of 100 Papuan representatives with President Habibie in Jakarta on 26 February 1999. The second was the Second Papuan Congress held in Jayapura from 29 May to 4 June 2000. At both events, Papuans demanded political independence.

Yanuarius Weya, Jayapura – A pastor has been shot dead at the weekend allegedly by the Indonesian military, sparking protests by church groups and a call for an investigation.

The pastor, Rev Yeremia Zanambani, was killed on Saturday in the Hitadipa district of Intan Jaya regency, Papua.

James Balowski – Papuan activists have raised more than $70,000 to repay a government-sponsored scholarship received by exiled activist and human rights lawyer Veronica Koman, after the Indonesian government demanded that she return the money – a move she described as "financial punishment" for her West Papua advocacy work.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) is urging President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo open the curtain on the shooting of Pastor Yeremia Zanamban in the Intan Jaya regency of Papua on Saturday September 19.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) has urged President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to order a thorough investigation into the recent fatal shooting of Papuan pastor Yeremia Zanambani in Hitadipa district of Intan Jaya regency, Papua, allegedly committed by personnel of the Indonesian Military (TNI).

Jakarta – The Tabernacle Bible Church of Indonesia (GKII) suspects that Reverend Yeremia Zanambani from the Intan Jaya regency in Papua was shot dead by members of the TNI (Indonesian military) on Saturday September 19. As a result of the shooting, the church's congregation has fled to the forests in fear.

Jakarta – A soldier and a Christian pastor have been shot dead in separate incidents at the weekend in Indonesia's easternmost region of Papua, amid a flare-up in tensions between security forces and separatists groups in the restive area.

Angela Flassy, Jayapura – Eleven defendants charged with treason following a rally turned violent in Sorong last year sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment by Sorong District Court, Papua Barat, on Thursday (17/9/2020).

An Indonesian church group has urged President Joko Widodo to order an independent investigation into the killing of a priest in the rebellious Papua province.

Local church leaders said Yeremia Zanambani was shot dead by Indonesian soldiers who were hunting separatist rebels in Intan Jaya district on Saturday, but police and the military said he was killed by insurgents.

West Papuans have raised over $US50,000 to help an Indonesian human rights lawyer repay government-sponsored scholarship funding.

Veronica Koman, a renowned Papuan rights defender, was recently asked by Indonesia's government to repay scholarship money she received four years ago.

Ivany Atina Arbi, Jakarta – An Intan Jaya-based armed "separatist" group in Papua reportedly launched several attacks against civilians and an Indonesian Military (TNI) member recently, causing at least two fatalities, according to the military.

The 32-year-old lawyer lives in Sydney, Australia but has been on the Indonesian police's wanted list since September 2019 after b

By Jarryd de Haan

Jakarta – The symbolic hand over of money to the Finance Ministry's Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) to replay scholarship funds received by human rights activist Veronica Koman by the Papuan People's Solidarity Team was not able to go ahead because the LPDP office was closed on Wednesday September 16.

Jakarta – Human rights activist Veronica Koman feels that her scholarship has been paid for by the Papuan people. This is because the scholarship funds she received from the Finance Ministry's Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) – which they demanded she pay back – have been repaid in full by the Papuan People's Solidarity Team.

Budi Sutrisno, Jakarta – Papua residents have raised more than Rp 773.8 million (US$51,900) to pay for the government-sponsored scholarship funding received by Indonesian human rights lawyer Veronica Koman, who was recently asked to return the funds amid her advocacy for Papuans.

Jakarta – The Papuan People's Solidarity Team will return the scholarship funds received by human rights activists Veronica Koman to the Ministry of Finance's Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) tomorrow.

Jayapura, Jubi – A number of youths, students, and Papuan and non-Papuan communities held a peace rally on Thursday (10/9/2020) to decline the Special Autonomy phase II in Papua. The rally occurred at around 10 am Papua time in Jl. Jendral Ahmad Yani, Sorong City, Papua Barat Province.

Antara, Jakarta – Some 16 native Papuans suffered arrow wounds in a tribal clash erupting in Jayawijaya District's area, Papua, on Thursday and Friday, but a public hospital's local doctors offered timely life-saving treatment, a police officer stated.

Arjuna Pademme, Makassar, Jubi – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) Papua stated the office received a number of reports on human rights violations that allegedly involved soldiers and police officers.

Toyiban, Manokwari – Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto has approved a program to recruit 1,000 Special Autonomy non-commissioned officers (Bintara Otsus) which was proposed by the West Papua/Kasuari/XVIII Regional Military Command (Kodam).

Jayapura, Jubi – Freeport Indonesia workers held a protest for the second time in Mile 72 that connecting Tembagapura and Freeport mining area on Wednesday (2/9/2020) demanding the corporate to pay additional incentive for those who keep working during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Semarang, Jubi – Adriana Elizabeth, a senior researcher at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) and the Coordinator for the Papua Peace Network in Jakarta, said Jubi always be the first in reporting the updated situation of Papua. Further, she said that she has been familiar with Jubi and followed the news on Jubi since 2004 when doing her research in Manokwari.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Indigenous rights activists have welcomed the cancellation of an oil palm plantation permit on Indigenous land in Indonesia's Papua region. They say the case is a prime example of the need to officially recognize Indigenous land rights.

Nina Loasana, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia has called for a thorough investigation into the recent death of 21-year-old George Karel Rumbino in the custody of the Sorong City Police in West Papua.

Susan Price – August marked one year since the racist attacks on West Papuan students in Surabaya that sparked a new West Papuan uprising. More than 100,000 people rose up against the racist violence and for West Papuan self-determination. In addition to several rallies in Jakarta, Papuans demonstrated across 40 cities.

Jakarta – North Jayapura Community Health Center (Puskesmas) in Jayapura, Papua, has reopened its doors to provide medical services for the public despite being understaffed since a number of health workers contracted the coronavirus.

Makassar, Jubi – Dandhy Dwi Laksono, a journalist who travelled around Indonesia in the Indonesia Biru Expedition in 2015, stated that the doctrine on the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia is Undisputed (NKRI Harga Mati) and nationalism had been instilled in the minds of the young generation from an early age.

A protest demanding an easing of a Covid-19 lockdown at the Grasberg gold and copper mine in Papua ended last Friday.

Mining operatons had been disrupted since last Monday after protestors blocked access to the mine in the Indonesian province.