Jakarta – At least 18 people were killed during clashes between two groups at a night club in the town of Sorong in Indonesia's West Papua province, with most dying after the venue caught fire.
"The clash broke out last night [Monday] at 11pm. It was a prolonged conflict from a clash on Saturday," Sorong police chief Ary Nyoto Setiawan said in a statement.
Jayapura, Jubi – The Papua Legal Aid Institute or LBH Papua has asked the National Police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) troops occupying three school buildings in Yahukimo District to immediately leave the school building.
Jayapura – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) has declared that it rejects the violent approach which continues to be applied by Indonesia in the land of Papua.
Victor Mambor Jayapura – For the second time in four months, the Indonesian military blamed a pro-independence group for a deadly attack in West Papua, although separatist rebels claimed responsibility for the incidents in September and on Thursday.
Konradus Epa, Jakarta – At least 1,000 students in Indonesia's Papua province held a protest at the local authority office in Yahukimo district demanding members of the police force move out of their school premises.
Benny Mawel, Jayapura, Jubi – Human rights activist Natalius Pigai said there were ministers of the government of President Joko Widodo who had taken actions outside of their main duties and functions that, according to Pigai, would disrupt regional stability and democracy in Papua.
Konradus Epa, Jakarta – Indonesia's National Commission on Human Rights has called on the government to rein in security forces after recording hundreds of acts of violence committed by them against civilians in Papua over the last year.
Jubi TV – Peter Prove, the director of International Affairs of the World Council of Churches (WCC), has spoken about the human rights situation in Papua, internationally known as West Papua. In a recent broadcast by the council, Prove said the Indonesian government had failed to address and improve the humanitarian crisis in Papua.
M Rosseno Aji, Jakarta – The Indonesian Police and TNI Army deployed 1,925 personnel to Papua for the 2022 Cartenz Peace Operation. The peacekeeping operation began on January 17 and will end on December 31 this year.
Alexander Loen, Jayapura, Jubi – A crossfire between armed groups and the Indonesian Military (TNI) and police occurred again in Kiwirok District, Bintang Mountains Regency, Papua on Monday, January 17, 2022.
A member of Mobile Brigade, First Agent Bachtiar, was evacuated to Jayapura City because he was shot in the back.
Jakarta – The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) recorded 1,182 cases of violence in Papua committed either by the TNI (Indonesian military), Polri (Indonesian police) or the OPM/KKB (Free Papua Movement/Armed Criminal Groups) in 2020-2021. The majority of cases or 41.31 percent of the violence related to the work of the Indonesian police.
Jayapura – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) says that a persuasive approach which the state will apply though the security forces in the land of Papua is a tired old tune which is being played again with the start of the new year.
Jakarta – One day in 1969, not long after it was decided Papua was to become part of Indonesia, Yones Douw's family were forced to flee from security forces.
Jakarta – The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organisation (TPNPPB-OPM) believes that the Indonesian police's plan to change its security approach in Papua to become more persuasive is pointless.
West Papuan liberation leader Benny Wenda said today that his provisional government is stepping up the fight for justice and freedom from Indonesian rule this year as he announced the opening of diplomatic missions around the globe.
Jakarta, Jubi – The National Police Headquarters has changed the operation of the Nemangkawi Task Force to the Cartenz Peace Operation, which will start operating at the end of January 2022. This operation is claimed to no longer prioritize hunting down armed groups in Papua.
Maire Leadbeater – In December, Indonesia came in for unusually direct criticism from the UN over its treatment of human rights defenders, especially its treatment of exiled Veronica Koman, outspoken advocate for West Papua.
Indonesia reacted angrily to being put under the spotlight, but the evidence is compelling.
In an article in the Sydney Morning Herald (10 Jan 2022), It was reported that Defence Minister Peter Dutton said that his focus was on "prevailing peace" in the region, and that he also thought it was important to be honest and speak frankly with the Australian public.
The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) plans to open a government branch office in the neighbouring Papua New Guinean capital of Port Moresby along with diplomacy offices to be based in Europe and the United Kingdom.
In a New Year message from interim president Benny Wenda, he has confirmed a strategic office reshuffle around the world.
Mathias Hariyadi, Jakarta – At least eight people have died in the heavy floods that have hit Jayapura, capital of the province of Papua, in the far east of the Indonesian archipelago.
Antara, Jakarta – The Indonesian Armed Forces, TNI, has sent two company-level units (SSK) from Kodim 1702 and Yonif 756/WMS to assist the Jayawijaya Police, to reduce clashes between residents in the Papuan regency.
Jayapura, Jubi – A thunderstorm hit Jayapura City and its surrounding areas from Wednesday to Friday, 5-7 January, 2022, causing a number of places in Jayapura to be inundated by floods and affected by landslides.
Heavy rain throughout Thursday night until Friday morning caused the water to overflow on the Soa Siu Street, or in front of the Papua Governor's Office.
Yamin Kogoya, Canberra – The colonial notion of 'civilising primitive Papuans' has distorted Papuan perceptions of the world and themselves.
This distortion began with how New Guinea and its people were described in early colonial literature: unintelligent pygmies, cannibals and pagan savages – people devoid of value.
The Papuan People's Petition – "Petisi Rakyat Papua" – has called on the Indonesian government to release detained human rights advocate Victor Yeimo and to revoke the special autonomy law (version 2).
Benny Mawel, Jayapura, Jubi – The Papuan People's Petition (PRP), consisting of 113 organizations, has launched on Wednesday, January 5, 2022 its third stage of raising support to reject the Papua Special Autonomy (Otsus) Law and demand the right to self-determination. This time, the petition is targeted to gain 2 million support from Indigenous Papuans.
Ryan Dagur, Jakarta – In the midst of the ongoing conflict in Indonesia's Intan Jaya, the district experiencing the worst violence in Papua, dozens of children have been rescued by a priest and taken to a Catholic-run orphanage.
Jubi TV – As many as 113 civil society organizations members of the Papuan People's Petition (PRP) have once again voiced their rejection against the Papua Special Autonomy (Otsus) Law, which was amended in July 2021.
Yuliana Lantipo, Timika, Jubi – Lawmaker of the Papuan Legislative Council Feryana Wakerkwa appreciates the performance of the security forces in Sinak District, Puncak Regency, Papua.
Jakarta, Jubi – Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Andika Perkasa instructed his staff on Sunday, January 2, 2022 that the priority of the work of the TNI Headquarters Task Force in Papua and West Papua provinces was to prioritize social communication with the local community.
Theo Kelen, Jayapura, Jubi – The number of active teachers in Papua is very lacking, especially in areas where the population is predominantly Indigenous Papuan.
Dian Septiari – The government is seeking a more integrated approach to its policies in the country's easternmost provinces of Papua and West Papua, one that it hopes will improve the welfare of Papuans and effectively address the longstanding conflicts in the region, Indonesia's chief security minister has said.
Jayapura – West Papua National Committee (KNPB) spokesperson Ones Suhuniap says that the KNPB is committed to continuing the struggle and resistance against Indonesian colonialism by peaceful and dignified means.
Ernes BK, Rahmad Nasution, Sorong, W Papua – Six men accused of launching an attack on a military post in Maybrat district, West Papua, on September 2, 2021, which claimed the lives of four soldiers, will be tried at the Makassar District Court.
Head of the Sorong Prosecutors Office's Intelligence Section, I Putu Sastra Adi Wicaksana, conveyed this information on Friday.
Boven Digoel, Jubi – Oil palm plantation company Tunas Sawa Erma (TSE) Group in collaboration with the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) Papua Representative held human rights workshop and training for indigenous communities owner of customary land in Asiki, Boven Digoel, from December 15 to 17, 2021.
Adlu Raharusun, Jubi TV – Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Andika Perkasa visited West Papua recently. He first visited Manokwari then continued to Sorong.
Craig Harris – West Papua occupies the Indonesian half of New Guinea, the second largest island in the world after Greenland.
Arjuna Pademme, Wamena, Jubi – President of the Evangelical Church of Indonesia (GIDI) Dorman Wandikbo has asked all parties to create a peaceful atmosphere as Christmas is near, hoping that all the people in Papua could celebrate and enjoy Christmas in peace instead of chaos since armed conflicts have been escalating in several parts of Papua this year.
Yance Wenda, Jayapura, Jubi – A number of students and family members of Hendrik Lokbere reflected on Sunday night, December 19, 2021, the shooting that killed Lokbere two years ago. They urged the Indonesian government to investigate and disclose the murder of Hendrik Lokbere and other Nduga civilians.
Theo Kelen, Jayapura, Jubi – A total of 476,534 indigenous children in Papua and West Papua provinces do not attend school, says data from the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Statistics Indonesia (BPS) for Papua and West Papua.
Kizzy Kalsakau and Jason Abel in Port Vila – The interim President of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) provisional government, Benny Wenda, has condemned Indonesia for the arrest and torture of eight students, and appeals to Melanesian countries to support their plea.
Chris McCall, Yapsi, Papua New Guinea – Wiro Nongganop says he commands a battalion of West Papua independence fighters, but he has no guns, only bows and arrows, and lives in exile in a bark hut, sometimes surviving on potato leaves.
Alexander Loen, Jayapura, Jubi – The agenda on recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic must also favor the interests and needs of Indigenous Peoples, Ministry of Education and Culture's director-general of Culture Hilmar Farid says.
Johnny Blades, RNZ Pacific journalist – Armed conflict in West Papua continues to claim lives, displace tens of thousands of people and cause resentment at Indonesian rule.
But despite ongoing calls for help, neighbouring countries in the Pacific Islands region remain largely silent and ineffectual in their response.
Theo Kelen, Jayapura, Jubi – At least 366 elementary school students in Jayapura Regency, Papua cannot read, a recent survey by Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI) says.
Education Team Leader of WVI for Sentani Marthen Sambo said the results were obtained from a survey conducted in 78 elementary schools across 15 districts in Jayapura Regency from October 11 to 29, 2021.
The United Nations says Indonesia must immediately drop charges and look into threats, intimidation and reprisals against human rights defender Veronica Koman and her family.
Yance Agapa, Jayapura – Responding to the United Nation's 2021 annual report, Indonesia has launched a criticism of the UN in relation to cases of human rights violations in Papua.
Johnny Blades – Armed conflict in West Papua continues to claim lives, displace tens of thousands of people and cause resentment at Indonesian rule.
But despite ongoing calls for help, neighbouring countries in the Pacific Islands region remain largely silent and ineffectual in their response.
Theo Kelen, Jayapura, Jubi – In the past ten years, 700,000 hectares of Papua's forests have been damaged, Forest and Plantation Campaign Manager of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI) Uli Arta Siagian said.
Yance Agapa, Jayapura – The Papuan people reject the investigation team formed by the state through the Attorney General's Office (AGO) to investigate alleged gross human rights violations in Paniai on December 8, 2004.
Arjuna Pademme, Jayapura, Jubi – Tens of residents of Kisor Village, South Aifat District, Maybrat Regency who have been displaced since September, returned to their village on December 9, 2021, though it was only for a few hours to collect some of their stuff and day-to-day needs and take it with them to the refugee camps.