Igman Ibrahim, Jakarta – Malang city district police chief (Kapolres) Senior Commissioner Leonardus Simarmata has been reported to the police's professionalism and security affairs division (Propam) over alleged racial slurs when securing an International Women's Day (IWD) rally by Papuan students on March 8.

Jakarta – The director of the Makassar Legal Aid Foundation (LBH), Muhammad Haedir, has revealed that two participants of an action commemorating International Women's Day (IWD) in Makassar, South Sulawesi, were detained by the Makassar metropolitan district police for 24 hours.

David Robie – Asia Pacific Report, the Auckland-based independent news and analysis website, has been increasingly targeted by Indonesian trolls over the past three months, involving a spate of "letters to the editor" and social media attacks.

Jakarta – The special autonomy (otsus) status of Papua and West Papua has been at the core of the central government's claims that its policies in the provinces are on the right track.

But self-determination activists believe the arrangement has become a pretext for Jakarta to exert undue control over Papuans and that it should be rejected.

Alexander Loen, Jayapura – Papuan People Council (MRP) released a book containing reviews of problems and achievements in the past 20 years of the special autonomy (otsus) implementation in Papua province, gathered from hearings with the native Papuans.

Jayapura – Military Resort 172/PWY Commander Brig. Gen. Izak Pangemanan welcomed a new deployment of the military to secure Indonesia-PNG borders on Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at a Navy port at the base in Jayapura, Papua.

Jayapura – Citizens including a religious figure demand the Indonesian state to take responsibility for the displaced people who had left their homes due to fear of losing their lives amid armed conflicts in the two regencies in Papua Land, or internationally known as West Papua

Jakarta, Jubi – The Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police had been investigating a case in which "a stray bullet" hit a resident, Andres Bewarmbo, when the police and the military tried to disperse an angry crowd in Kampung Pomako in Mimika Regency, Papua on March 7, 2021.

Rory James – Papuans whose island has been offered up as a potential launch site for Elon Musk's SpaceX project have told the billionaire Tesla chief his company is not welcome on their land, and its presence would devastate their island's ecosystem and drive people from their homes.

A 17-year-old youth has become the latest victim of Indonesia's six-decades-long colonisation of West Papua, alleges the United Liberation Movement of West Papua.

"Killed on March 6, Melianus Nayagau has been murdered in Intan Jaya, where Indonesian military operations have displaced thousands of my people," said ULMWP interim president Benny Wenda in a statement today.

A 17-year-old boy has become the latest victim of Indonesia's six-decades-long colonisation of West Papua. Killed on March 6, Melianus Nayagau has been murdered in Intan Jaya, where Indonesian military operations have displaced thousands of my people.

Markeus FK/Suharto, Wamena, Papua – Thousands of families in Jayawijaya district, Papua province have been shifted to higher ground due to floodwaters submerging their homes, the Jayawijaya District Natural Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) reported.

Jakarta – A video of a police officer warning that they will shot Papuan students gathered in front of the Malang municipal police headquarters in East Java has gone viral on social media. In the video, a local police unit chief can be heard threatening the Papuan students.

Surabaya – Police broke up an International Women's Day (IWD) action by the Women's Movement with the People (Gempur) Alliance in Malang, East Java on Monday. A number of protesters were also arrested by police because of the chaos that ensued when they tried to disperse the crowd.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – "Birds might fall as they're not strong since there's no more trees standing."

This is how Jemris Nikolas characterizes the response of many in Sorong, a district in Indonesia's easternmost region of Papua, to the deforestation unfolding in their area.

Abeth You, Enarotali – Reports from Intan Jaya confirmed that in late February and early March, two civilians, one a man with disability and another a teenager, were shot dead.

Adam Voiland – Though it covers just 1 percent of Earth's land surfaces, Indonesia's rainforest is believed to shelter 10 percent of the world's known plant species, 12 percent of mammal species, and 17 percent of bird species.

Theo Kelen, Jayapura – The police arrested nine rally participants in West Papua on Monday, March 8, 2021 and dispersed International Women's Day rallies in Jayapura, the biggest city in West Papua.

Muhammad Aminudin, Malang – A demonstration held near the Gajayana stadium in Malang city, East Java, ended in chaos and anarchy with demonstrators smashing a police truck window after they were asked to disperse for violating health protocols.

Semarang – Police have broken up a protest action against the extension of Special Autonomy (Otsus) in Papua that took place on Jalan Imam Barjo in the Central Java provincial capital of Semarang on Friday March 5.

The Australia West Papua Association (AWPA) has called on the Australian government to stop trying to keep Papua off the agenda at the Pacific Islands Forum and "strenuously support" Pacific leaders in urging Jakarta to allow a PIF fact-finding mission to the territory.

The Australia West Papua Association congratulates the Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Meg Taylor on her statement to the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council in February.

The Forum SG raised the issues of COVID-19, Climate Change and West Papua and pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic must not hinder efforts to address critical issues of concern.

M Julnis Firmansyah, Jakarta – Michael Hilman, a lawyer for the Papuan Students Alliance in Greater Jakarta, on Thursday criticized the arrest of two of his clients, Kelvin Molama and Roland Levy, who were arrested after they were accused of committing persecution against another individual named Rajid Patiray after a mass protest held in front of the Indonesian House of Representat

Jayapura – Papua Legislative Council deputy speaker, Yunus Wonda, said the legislators who use their constitutional rights to voice native Papuans' concerns to the central government were often labeled as "separatists" by "some offended people".

Jakarta – Activist Veronica Koman has addressed the different positions taken by the Indonesian government in response to calls to resolve the Papua problem and in its response to the coup d'etat in Myanmar.

According to Koman, Indonesia's position on the Myanmar coup has been very good, but not its attitude on the Papua issue.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Forests in parts of Indonesia regions that have remained largely untouched are now fast disappearing as deforestation driven by agribusiness and infrastructure development moves east, according to a new report.

West Papuan independence advocates have accused Indonesian police chief Untung Sangaji of the torture and killing of peaceful activist Kristianus Yandum, who died on Saturday.

The National Committee for West Papua (KNPB) said Mr Yandum was among 13 of its members arrested on December 13 for merely sitting in front of its offices.

The indigenous people of West Papua have rejected the extension of special autonomy and the planned expansion of new provinces announced by the central government of Indonesia.

The rejection comes from grassroots communities across West Papua and Papuan students who are studying in Indonesia and overseas.

Amnesty International has voiced concern about ongoing deadly conflict in West Papua.

In recent weeks, conflict between the pro-independence West Papua Liberation Army and Indonesia's security forces has intensified in Intan Jaya regency.

Hendrina DK, Rahmad Nasution, Jayapura – Papua's provincial administration is making efforts to restore normalcy in Intan Jaya district, which has been witness to a spate of violence targeting civilians and security personnel over the past two years.

Hans Kapisa, Manokwari – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) had evaluated the governance of licensing and permits related to West Papua forests and palm oil plantation companies in the province in Papua Land for the last two years and reported that 24 companies held a permit to turn 576,090 hectares of forests into palm plantations.

Evarukdijati, Rahmad Nasution, Jayapura, Papua – The Indonesian army will secure the 575-kilometer Transpapua section of the Jayapura-Wamena highway in Papua province to halt the flow of illegal goods, including drugs and liquor, a top military officer said.

Jakarta – Scores of Papuan students held a protest action in front of the Home Affairs Ministry office in Jakarta on Wednesday February 24 expressing their opposition to the extension of Special Autonomy (Otsus) in the land of the Cenderawasih as Papua is known.

Jakarta – Police asked participants at a protest action against Special Autonomy (Otsus) in Papua to take Covid-19 rapid tests at the site of the demonstration in front of the Home Affairs Ministry office in Jakarta on Wednesday February 24. The protesters however refused saying it was an attempt to silence them.

Evarukdijati, Rahmad Nasution, Jayapura, Papua – The Papua provincial government's COVID-19 Task Force disclosed that novel coronavirus disease keeps posing serious threats to residents in 22 of 29 districts and cities across this eastern Indonesian province.

Yance Wenda, Sentani – West Papua Church Council expressed their concerns with the recurring situation in Papua Land, emphasizing the sufferings Papuan people have to endure during the 60 years of "conflict and militarism" especially the latest situation in Nduga, Intan Jaya, and Mimika regencies.

Ryan Dagur, Jakarta – The head of a prominent Catholic rights advocacy group in Papua has told police and the military to put their own houses in order after the arrest of two policemen accused of selling arms to separatist rebels.

Arjuna Pardemme, Jayapura – A Papua Legislative councilor from Intan Jaya electoral district, Thomas Sondegau, said the new deployment of security personnel to Intan Jaya would make residents in the regency more scared and worried about their safety.

Ryan DagurRyan Dagur, Jakarta – Papua recently saw a resurgence of bloody incidents, part of a series of small-scale but continuing conflicts between rebels and the Indonesian military.

Intan Jaya has started Lent with bitter sorrow after losing three young Papuan men alleged to have been shot and brutally tortured to death by the Indonesian military in a local health centre.

Sources said that the armed conflict has caused more than 1000 indigenous West Papuans in Intan Jaya evacuate to the church complex of the Catholic Church of Santo Mikael Bilogai.

The West Papua Liberation Army says three young men killed by Indonesia's military last week were civilians and died after being tortured and not shot while escaping.

The deaths occurred at a health centre in Sugapa in Papua province.A spokesman for Indonesia's military says the three men were members of an armed group, a euphemism for the West Papua Liberation Army.

Abeth You, Dogiyai – Thousands of people in Dogiyai Regency in Papua, united under Papuan People Solidarity, took to the streets on Monday, Feb. 22, to protest against the government's plan to create a new province and to establish a new police precinct at the regency level.

Jayapura – National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) Chairperson Ahmad Taufan Damanik says that the withdrawal of Indonesian military (TNI) and police from Papua does not make sense because the threat by armed groups still exists.

Tempo.Co, Rini Kustiani, Jakarta – Tourists visiting Papua must pay extra attention to look out for pigs – which can be spotted roaming village streets. The local custom suggests that this animal is highly valued by the society in the province.

Hengky Yeimo, Nabire – The spokesperson of West Papua National Committee (KNPB) in Timika area, Emanuel Dogopia, was taken from his parents' house in Timika, the center of Mimika regency in Papua, by the police.

Hengky Yeimo, Nabire – Visual artist from West Papua, Ellya Alexander Tebay, has taken inspiration from Papuan local food, sweet potatoes or "ubi" in Indonesian, to express his lament for the declining existence of the food in the realm of native Papuans' live.

Ryan Dagur – Activists stage protest against Archbishop of Merauke signing deal with palm oil firm "at expense of environment"

Together with several colleagues, Papuan Catholic activist Melvin Waine stood in front of Good Shepherd Parish Church in Abepura, Papua province, on Jan. 31.

Victor Mambor, Jayapura, Jubi – Papuan Humanity Team on Case of Violence against Religious Figures in Intan Jaya regency, or Humanity Team, has completed the documentation of alleged extrajudicial killings against Protestant pastor Yeremia Zanambani on Sept. 19, 2020. This report documents facts surrounding the killing of Pastor Yeremia.

Ian Lloyd Neubauer – Xanana Gusmao, independence hero and East Timor's former president, has drawn rare condemnation after being accused of whitewashing the crimes of a disgraced American priest who is due to stand trial next week in a landmark child-sex abuse case in the Catholic-majority Southeast Asian nation.

Stuart Rees – West Papuans are Indigenous people, easily ignored, their natural resources exploited, their homes and cultures destroyed, hundreds tortured, hundreds of thousands killed. Our media reports endlessly about genocide in remote Xinjiang but not about genocide in neighbouring West Papua. Why?