Alfred Pagepitu – The President of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Benny Wenda, visited the country to seek support for their application for full membership into the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).
On Tuesday, Mr. Wenda met with Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele to discuss issues related to West Papua's MSG membership.
Activists from the West Papua National Committee or the KNPB returned to the streets for their 14th action on Thursday August 15, to commemorate the 1962 New York Agreement, the day when power over West Papua was transferred from the Netherlands to Indonesia.
The 15 August marks 62 years since The New York Agreement and West Papuans are still suffering under Indonesian colonial rule. Yes, most of the world recognises Indonesian sovereignty over West Papua at this stage but most also would recognise that the so called act of free choice in 1969 was a sham.
The New York Agreement
A contentious legal dispute has emerged in the Sorong Regency, Papua Barat Daya Province, involving PT Mancaraya Agro Mandiri (MAM), a subsidiary of the Manca Group, and the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN) Malamoi.
Despite being mineral-rich, conflict-torn Christian-majority region among the poorest and most underdeveloped provinces
Yuliana Langowuyo hopes that Pope Francis will remember to speak about the ongoing rights violations and injustices in the restive Papua region when he visits Indonesia next month.
Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – As many as 24 Papua's cultural agencies and observers rejected the move to relocate some original Papuan archaeological objects to the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) office at the Cibinong Science Center, West Java.
The relocation is considered a form of eliminating the history of indigenous Papuans.
Exclusive by foreign affairs reporter Stephen Dziedzic and Fiji reporter Lice Movono – Fiji's prime minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, says he will "apologise" to fellow Melanesian leaders later this month after failing to secure agreement from Indonesia to visit its restive West Papua province.
Jayapura – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) is urging the Nabire District Police Chief (Kapolres) to release four KNPB activists who were arrested when they were handing out leaflets on Monday August 12 for a protest action on August 15 to commemorate the New York Agreement.
The spotlight is again on West Papua following the killing of New Zealand pilot Glen Conning. His sad and untimely death came just as there was renewed hope that his fellow New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens might finally be released by the armed resistance fighters who have held him since February 2023.
Julia Bergin with wires – Armed independence groups, treacherous terrain, wild weather, and airstrips that make Nepal's notorious Lukla airport look like "child's play" are just some of the dangers that pilots face flying in West Papua.
Victor Yeimo – The killing of New Zealand helicopter pilot Glen Malcolm Conning in Alama Village, Mimika, Papua, on Monday August 5 brings back memories of the tragic story of this village in 1996.
Victor Mambor and Pizaro Gozali Idrus, Jayapura and Jakarta – Indonesian human rights groups have called for an independent investigation into the death of a New Zealand helicopter pilot in a remote part of Papua province earlier this week.
JAKARTA – Personnel of the joint police-military Operation Cartenz Peace task force were hunting armed rebels on Tuesday who reportedly shot dead a New Zealand helicopter pilot in Central Papua, as authorities retrieved the body of the pilot.
Benjamin Plummer and Kurt Bayer – The Government is asking how a New Zealand helicopter pilot came to be murdered by separatist rebels in Papua while saying it is still working on the "safe release" of another Kiwi chopper pilot held captive for nearly 18 months.
The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has condemned the reported killing of New Zealand helicopter pilot Glen Malcolm Conning in Alama, Mimika Regency
"If true, I condemn this killing in the strongest possible terms," said President Wenda. "We mourn Conning's death and do not want any more bloodshed on West Papuan land."
Nina A. Loasana, Jakarta – The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has begun operations to send emergency food supplies to a stockpile in Central Papua amid concerns of a hunger crisis caused by cold weather in the highlands of the province.
Hengky Yeimo, Nabire – In a press release on Wednesday August 7, West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organisation (TPNPB-OPM) national spokesperson Sebby Sambom said that three days after the fatal shooting of New Zealand helicopter pilot Glen Malcom Conning on Monday August 5, there has still been no confirmation reported to the TPNPB-OPM National Command by the TPNPB op
On 17 July 2024, officers from the Nabire Resort Police Unit detained Mr Zakeyos Dendegau, 26, at Karang Tumaritis Market in the Nabire Regency, Papua Tangah Province.
Jakarta (Agencies) – The body of a New Zealand helicopter pilot shot dead by rebels in Papua has been retrieved, the joint task force of police and soldiers leading the search said Tuesday.
Glen Malcolm Conning, 50, a pilot for PT Intan Angkasa Air Service, was killed Monday after landing in Papua with two Indonesian health workers and two children, all of whom survived.
Jakarta – Separatist rebels in Indonesia's easternmost region of Papua on Monday killed a helicopter pilot from New Zealand after he landed his aircraft in a remote area, authorities said, adding four other passengers on board were safe.
Manokwari, West Papua – Public organisation Papua Peace Network (JDP) condemned the armed criminal group that killed New Zealander pilot Glen Malcolm Conning in Mimika District, Central Papua, on Monday (August 5) morning.
Responding to the reported death of New Zealand pilot Glen Malcolm Conning, who was allegedly killed in Alama District, Mimika Regency, Central Papua, the Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, Usman Hamid, said:
Alfian Kartono and Niniek Karmini, Jayapura, Indonesia – Gunmen stormed a helicopter and killed its New Zealand pilot shortly after it landed in Indonesia's restive Papua region on Monday, and they released two health workers and two children it was carrying, police said.
Irsyan Hasyim, Jakarta – The National Disaster Management Agency, or BNPB, reported that prolonged rain caused flooding in Dekai District, Yakuhimo Regency, PapuaPegunungan. Head of the Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center of BNPB, Abdul Muhari, said two bridges and two places of worship were damaged. A police station and a health facility were also affected.
Victor Mambor and Pizaro Gozali Idrus, Jayapura and Jakarta – Rebels in Indonesia's Papua are suspected of killing a New Zealand pilot after he landed a helicopter in a remote part of the province on Monday, Indonesian police said.
Jayapura – The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has strongly criticised a statement by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo who condemned the bomb attack in Tehran, Iran.
They believe that this criticism is only a pretence to attract international sympathy, while violence against the people of Papua continues without end.
Jakarta – A separatist group in Indonesia's easternmost region of Papua has agreed to free New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens from more than a year in captivity since kidnapping him, according to an audio message issued by a spokesperson on Saturday.
Aliansi Demokrasi untuk Papua (AlDP, Democratic Alliance) are releasing their new report, titled "Treason and Political Prisoners in the Land of Papua" on 26th July 2024. This report forms a joint research output with TAPOL, a human rights organisation based in the UK.
Rt Hon Winston Peters
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Parliament Buildings
Wellington
25 July 2024
Kia ora Minister Peters,
Mrs Lamberti Faan, a Papuan human rights defender and internally displaced woman from the Maybrat Regency, Papua Barat Daya Province, and her relatives have been subjected to a series of intimidations following her testimony at the 56th Regular Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
Jakarta – DPR Speaker Puan Maharani participated in a parliamentary dialogue with countries with Melanesian clumps that are members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) organization. In this dialogue, Puan alluded to the development of Papua which is directly adjacent to Pacific countries.
Andreas Harsono – When the human rights lawyer Yan Christian Warinussy returned home from work on July 17, his 10-year-old son, Mario, begged for ice cream. Warinussy took off his tie, packed his three children and their cousin into the car, and they headed to downtown Manokwari in Indonesia's West Papua province.
Pes Yanengga, Jayapura – The All-Papua Student Executive Council (BEM Se-Tanah Papua) Alliance has urged the Papua Regional Police Chief (Kapolda) and the Manokwari Municipal Police (Polresta) to immediately reveal the perpetrator of the shooting of the senior advocate and human rights activist Yan Christian Warinussy.
Jayapura – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's visit to Jayapura, West Papua, on July 23 in the context of the commemoration of Indonesian National Children's Day at the Istora Papua Bangkit sports complex was a form of distain and insult when as many as 62,000 Papuans are still displaced.
Jakarta – A joint search and rescue team is still scrambling to look for a cargo ship carrying equipment to build communication towers that has been missing since last week during its sail in Papua.
Stefan Armbruster, Harlyne Joku and Tria Dianti, Brisbane/Port Moresby/Jakarta – No progress has been made in sending a U.N. human rights mission to Indonesia's Papuan provinces despite the appointment of Fiji and Papua New Guinea's prime ministers to negotiate the visit.
Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – Representatives of the Awyu and Moi Sigin indigenous communities submitted a petition supporting the tribes' struggle against palm oil companies to the Supreme Court on Monday, July 22, 2024, from South Papua and Southwest Papua.
Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo was in Jayapura, Papua, on Tuesday to celebrate National Children's Day. The city was chosen as the organizer for this year's event to symbolize that education should touch all children in Indonesia, including those in the remote and outermost regions.
Jakarta – Indigenous peoples from the Awyu tribe in South Papua and the Moi Sigin tribe from Southwest Papua along with environmental activists handed over a petition of support for the Awyu and Moi tribes containing 253,823 signatures to the Supreme Court (MA) on Monday June 22.
Gusty da Costa Journalist – Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia Usman Hamid asks the Indonesian government and the Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) to investigate the death of three civilians in Karutabe village, Mulia District, Puncak Jaya Regency, Central Papua, on July 16, 2024.
Pes Yanengga, Jayapura – Leaders of the Papuan Baptist Church and the Tolikara Student Association have slammed a statement by the Cenderawasih XVII regional military commander (Pangdam) on the fatal shooting of three civilians by the 753 AVT Infantry Battalion Task Force in Pepera Village, Mulia district, Puncak Jaya regency on Tuesday July 16.
A brutal killing of three Papuan civilians in Puncak Jaya reveals that occupied West Papua is a ticking time bomb under Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto, claims the leader of an advocacy group.
And United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Benny Wenda says the Melanesian region risks becoming "another East Timor".
Jakarta – A number of organisations that make up the Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform have condemned the shooting of senior Papuan advocate and human rights activists Yan Christian Warinussy.
On the night of 16 July 2024, the Indonesian military tragically shot dead Mr Tonda Wanimbo, head of Kalome Village in Mepogolok District, Mr Pemerintah Murib, head of Dokkome Village, and Mr Dominus Enumbi, a recent graduate from Cenderawasih University, in the Mulia District, Puncak Jaya Regency.
A National Strategic Project (PSN) Teluk Bintuni Regency, Papua Barat Province, has sparked concerns over the potential violation of indigenous land rights. The project, handled by Genting Oil Kasuri Pte. Ltd, is accused of failing to implement Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) principles with the affected Sumuri indigenous community.
Responding to the shooting of Yan Christian Warinussy, a senior lawyer and human rights defender in the province of West Papua, Amnesty International Indonesia's executive director Usman Hamid said:
The "Permanent Peoples' Tribunal on State and Environmental Violence in West Papua" took place last month at Queen Mary University of London.
A panel of tribunal experts heard evidence from numerous international NGOs and local civil society organisations as well as testimonies from individuals who have witnessed human rights violations and environmental destruction.
The Australia West Papua Association (AWPA) congratulations the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) leaders for calling on France to allow a joint United Nations-MSG mission to its colony of Kanaky (New Caledonia) to assess the political situation and propose solutions for the ongoing crisis.
Jakarta – A number of organisations that are part of the Papua Human Rights and Law Enforcement Coalition have condemned the shooting of senior advocate and human rights activist Yan Christian Warinussy in Manokwari, West Papua, on Wednesday afternoon, July 17.
Sevianto Pakiding, Timika, Papua – News of the killings of three suspected rebels during a security operation triggered chaos in Puncak Jaya regency, Papua, on Wednesday, as a mob burned military and police vehicles.
A resident named Peni described the situation as a "dead town" after rioters vandalized vehicles belonging to the local military command.