Pacific Media Watch – West Papuan leaders have begun forming a "provisional government" in defiance of a crackdown by Indonesian security forces and have pledged that the Melanesian region will establish the world's first "green state".

Adi Briantika – Police have arrested 15 demonstrators from the Indonesian People's Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) during a protest action at the Bamboo Monument in Sinjai, South Sulawesi.

Egi Adyatama, Jakarta – Dozens of people on Tuesday, Dec 1, had gathered in the capital city's landmark Monas (National Monument) in Central Jakarta to commemorate the anniversary of the Free Papua Organization (OPM), which is considered by the government as a separatist group.This rally – that is heavily guarded by security personnel – reportedly comprises people from numerous pro-

Jakarta – Scores of Papuans held a protest action in front of the Arjuna Wiwaha (Horse) statue on Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat in Central Jakarta on Tuesday December 1. The action coincided with the day which is often linked to the commemoration of Papuan independence, December 1.

Adi Briantika – Natan Weya, a Papuan student from the Pattimura University (Unpatti), has confirmed that joint units of police and Indonesian military (TNI) officers along with local people besieged their dormitory on the evening of Tuesday December 1.

Agustinus Beo Da Costa, Jakarta – Hundreds of Papuans held rallies across at least eight cities in Indonesia on Tuesday to renew calls for independence, as a separatist group declared it had established a provisional government in exile.

Nina A. Loasana, Jakarta – Indonesia must carry out "thorough, independent and impartial" investigations into a string of violent incidents in its easternmost provinces, a spokeswoman for the United Nations' human rights office has said.

The Australia West Papua Association thanks the Inner West Council in Sydney for supporting the raising of the West Papuan National Flag on its Leichhardt Town Hall today, 1st December (to commemorate the first official flying of the Morning Star flag on the 1st December in 1961).

Pacific Media Watch – Academics, journalists and students today raised the West Papuan flag – an act banned in Indonesia and punishable by up to 15 years in jail – at a Pacific Media Centre-hosted symposium in Auckland today.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua has announced it is forming a 'Provisional Government' of West Papua.

The Movement is hoping to achieve a self-determination referendum in West Papua and independence from Indonesia.

Ben Doherty – West Papuan leaders have declared a provisional "government-in-waiting" of the contested Indonesian province, as the United Nations said it was "disturbed by escalating violence" there, including the killing of a child allegedly by security forces.

Naseem Radmehr – West Papuan separatists say they will form a new provisional government for the region and reject Indonesia's rule, in a significant escalation of a decades-long battle over independence.

The ULMWP says the fledgling provisional government is supported by all of West Papua's liberation groups.

Up to 70 per cent of West Papuans have signed a petition rejecting Jakarta's attempt to extend funding for so-called Special Autonomy provisions that were first introduced to the provinces in 2001.

Indonesian police have arrested 36 people in two West Papuan cities for demonstrations to support a pro-independence movement.

The Asia Pacific Report reported the demonstrations in Manokwari and Sorong were commemorating the anniversary of the West Papua New Guinea National Congress at the weekend.

Bangkok/Geneva – We are disturbed by escalating violence over the past weeks and months in the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua and the increased risk of renewed tension and violence.

Antara, Jakarta – Hengky Heselo, a native Papuan community leader in Jayawijaya District, Papua Province, appealed to the police to crack down on people and groups that launch anti-Indonesian campaigns and spread slanders through social media platforms.

John McBeth, Jakarta – The long drawn-out saga of mining giant Freeport Indonesia's (PTFI) proposed new copper smelter has taken a new turn with China's Tsingshan Steel agreeing to build the US$1.8 billion facility at its Weda Bay nickel processing complex in Halmahera, eastern Indonesia.

Senator the Hon Marise Payne
Minister for Foreign Affairs
PO Box 6100
Senate
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

28 November 2020

Dear Foreign Minister,

Pacific Media Centre – An appeal for a 40-day fast across the region by the Pacific Council of Churches in support of West Papua closes next week with no result in sight.

Jakarta – The West Papua regional police (Polda) arrested 36 people in Manokwari and Sorong city following demonstrations commemorating the anniversary of the West Papua New Guinea National Congress (WPNGNC) on Friday November 27.

Benny Mawel, Jakarta – Five civilians, including minors, were reportedly shot by unidentified assailants in two separate incidents in Papua's Puncak regency last Friday.

Four of them died immediately, while the fifth managed to escape, according to accounts from the victims' relatives.

Reports from Indonesian's Papua region say a West Papuan teenager was shot dead in a mystery attack in the central highlands.

Another male student who was with the victim was also shot in last Friday's attack but survived and later found help to reach a medical clinic.

Saskia Raishaputri, London – Papua is brewing, its people taking to the streets last year in large numbers to show their discontent at being a part of Indonesia. It has been 51 years since the last Dutch colonial bastion in this region joined the Republic, but instead of rejoicing, the demonstrations and protests have continued.

Pacific Media Centre – Campaigners at a TAPOL-hosted global webinar have called on the people of Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States and other countries to stop funding military training for Indonesian security forces who are "killing innocent West Papuans".

Budi Sutrisno, Jakarta – In an effort to curtail corrupt behavior and criminal activity in the country's easternmost provinces, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is set to provide online training on corruption prevention on Tuesday and Wednesday using its JAGA mobile application.

Andita Rahma, Jakarta – The Indonesian national police (Polri) together with the National Armed Forces (TNI) will conduct massive joint patrols ahead of the commemoration day of the establishment of Free Papua Movement (OPM) on December 1.

Antara, Jayapura – The Advocate for Papua Policy and Human Rights (PAK HAM) has condemned the fatal shooting incident in Ilaga Subdistrict, Puncak District, Papua Province, on Friday (Nov. 20) that killed Atanius Murib (16) and injured Manus Murib (16).

Arya Dipa, Bandung – One person is dead and two others injured after a landslide struck Sindangkerta village, Cianjur, West Java, on Friday.

A human rights campaigner in West Papua has been arrested by Indonesian security forces. Film-maker Wensislaus Fatubun was one of 54 people arrested in Merauke.

The group, which included church pastors and local politicians, had been planning a meeting to discuss Indonesia's intention to extend the Special Autonomy laws.

Jakarta – Police have released 54 participants of a Papuan People's Council (MRP) public hearing on Special Autonomy in Papua who were arrested for allegedly committing makar (treason, subversion, rebellion). The arrests took place on Tuesday November 17 while the public hearing was being held in Merauke regency, Papua.

The British government is encouraging Indonesia to allow access to West Papua for the UN human rights chief's office. It's part of the UK's support for a recent Pacific Islands Forum resolution.

Indonesian police in West Papua claim to have thwarted an underground arms syndicate in the region.

The Antara news agency reports that the ammunition was smuggled from the Philippines and destined for North Sulawesi and Sorong in West Papua. Three people, including two in West Papua, have been arrested.

A. Muh. Ibnu Aqil, Jakarta – Semarang State University (Unnes) in Central Java has suspended a student for six months after he reported the university's rector to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for alleged graft.

Jakarta – On Tuesday November 17 the Merauke district police arrested more than 50 people from the Papuan People's Council (MRP) in relation to a public hearing on Special Autonomy in Papua. They have all been indicted on charges of makar (treason, subversion, rebellion).

Semarang – Frans Josua Napitu, a Semarang State University (Unnes) student who reported the university's rector to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has challenged the campus administration to an academic debate over accusation that he is involved with the Free Papua Movement (OPM).

Police arrested 54 participants of a public hearing organised by the Papuan People's Council (MPR) at the Valentine Hotel in Merauke regency in Papua on the afternoon of Tuesday November 17.

Budi Sutrisno, Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has pushed for the government to legally process the military member suspected to be behind the death of Papuan pastor Yeremia Zanambani in order to demonstrate its commitment to justice to the victim's family and the Papuan people.

Jakarta – Demonstrators from the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) have protested the police's actions in blocking them when they wanted to hold a rally at the State Palace in Central Jakarta on Monday November 16. They have experienced the same problem during demonstrations in Papua.

Dhias Suwandi, Jayapura – A group of people in Wamena, Jayawijaya regency, Papua, have blocked the arrival of an entourage from the Papuan People's Council (MRP) who were to hold a public hearing (RDP) on Papuan Special Autonomy in the Lapago indigenous territory.

Antara, Jakarta – General Chairman of the Indonesian Mosques Council (DMI) and former VP Jusuf Kalla has hinted that he is ready to mediate a dialogue between the central government and Papuan people to seek solutions to various problems in the Indonesian province of Papua.

Jakarta – The shooting of Pastor Yeremia Zanambani in Kampung Hitadipa in Intan Jaya Regency, Papua, on September 19, conjured up memories of similar incidents in Gustaf Rudolf Kawer's mind.

Jakarta – The Army Military Police have named eight soldiers suspects for allegedly burning down an official residence of the Intan Jaya Health Agency in Hitadipa village, Intan Jaya, Papua, amid a series of alleged violence preceding the fatal shooting of Pastor Yeremia Zanambani.

Jakarta – The family of Pastor Yeremia Zanambani, who was shot dead in September in Intan Jaya Regency, Papua, has demanded that the military personnel allegedly responsible for the killing be brought to a human rights court instead of undergoing prosecution in a military court.

Jakarta – The Army's Central Military Police commander, Lieutenant General Dodik Wijanarko, says that a joint army (TNI AD) investigation team has yet to find any hard evidence to upgrade the status of the investigation into the fatal shooting of Intan Jaya Pastor Yeremia Zanambani to a criminal investigation.

Jakarta – The family of Papuan Pastor Yeremia Zanambani who was shot dead on September 19 in Hitadipa district, Intan Jaya, Papua, says it does not want Zanambani's killer to be tried in a military tribunal.

Indonesia's military has denied that a West Papuan teenager died as a result of a raid by its officers.

Trouble began with a traffic incident in Sentani. A soldier from Infantry Battalion 751 had been involved in the incident, had his motorbike confiscated by two residents from Soloitma dormitory.

The East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) condemns the recent murder of West Papuan Rapinus Tigau, a Catholic Catechist in the diocese of Timika, by the Indonesian military. He was killed October 26, 2020, by members of Nemangkawi Task Force (Satgas Nemangkawi), a joint Indonesian military-police force in Papua.

Alya Nurbaiti and Benny Mawel, Jakarta and Jayapura – Indonesian Military (TNI) soldiers reportedly attacked and arrested civilians at a dormitory and nearby houses in Jayapura after a traffic accident and a quarrel between two dorm inhabitants and a soldier.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Military is strongly suspected of being behind the death of Pastor Yeremia Zanambani. This only moves Papua further away from Indonesia.

Rizki Fachriansyah, Jakarta – Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD has ensured that the government is committed to a thorough and impartial investigation into the torture and subsequent murder of Papuan pastor Yeremia Zanambani in Intan Jaya regency.