An Indonesian court has found three Papuan men guilty of treason in a high-profile trial closely watched as an indicator of political freedoms in the world's third-largest democracy.

Jakarta – An Indonesian court on Wednesday sentenced seven Papuan pro-independence activists to nearly yearlong jail terms on treason charges for organizing anti-racism protests last year, despite calls from rights groups and politicians to drop the charges and release them.

Virginia Langeberg – An Indonesian court is set to deliver its verdict in a high-profile trial of seven West Papuan men charged with treason over anti-racism rallies in Indonesia last year.

Indonesian prosecutors are seeking sentences of between five to 17 years in prison, accusing the men of orchestrating last year's demonstrations which swept across the country.

The West Papua Action Aotearoa network and 109 signatories from churches, academia, community leadership and Pacific groups have sent an urgent open letter to Jacinda Ardern and Winston Peters today calling for the release of the Balikpapan 7 who are a group of West Papuan political prisoners.

Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders is calling for the release of seven Papuan defendants who are being tried on treason charges at the Balikpapan District Court in East Kalimantan.

John McBeth, Jakarta – Amid the fallout from the George Floyd murder re-awakening awareness of racial discrimination around the globe, an Indonesian court has sentenced seven Papuans to surprisingly light jail terms on treason charges for allegedly fomenting anti-racist riots which rocked Papua last year.

Budi Sutrisno, Jakarta – A court in East Kalimantan found seven Papuans guilty of treason in separate trials on Wednesday for their involvement in antiracism protests in Jayapura, Papua, in 2019, despite calls from human rights defenders for authorities to drop all charges against them.

By Umair Jamal

Is the conflict in West Papua worsening?

Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders says that thousands of human rights (HAM) activists advocating Papuan issues have been victims of violence under the administration of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo. There have been at least 72 cases of legal violations and violence against them.

An Indonesian court issued on Wednesday guilty verdicts against the first three West Papuan defendants accused of treason, in a case that has drawn concern about deteriorating political freedoms in the world's third-largest democracy.

Ririe Ranggasari, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia held an online oration with the theme #PapuanLivesMatter on Wednesday, June 17. The event was held to demand justice for seven Papuans, who are in detainment and facing heavy charges for accusations of treason. The orators urged President Joko Widodo or Jokowi to free the political prisoners without conditions.

Rahmad Nasution, Jakarta – Indonesia's National Police spokesman, Inspector General Argo Yuwono, dismissed a claim that seven Papuan youths, being tried in connection with a treason case at the Balikpapan District Court in East Kalimantan Province, are political prisoners.

Arjuna Pademme, Makassar – Academic from the Cenderawasih University of Jayapura, Elvira Rumkabu, stated the stigmatised Free Papua to indigenous Papuans had killed other issues in Papua, humanitarian issue, for example.

The statement revealed in an online discussion "Racism vs Treason" held by Jubi on Saturday (13/06/2020).

Deny Prastyo Utomo, Surabaya – Dozens of Papuan students held a demonstration at the Apsari Park in front of the governor's office in the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya on Tuesday June 16. They were demanding the release of seven of their colleagues who are being tried on treason charges at the Balikpapan District Court in East Kalimantan.

Meitilda Yaung, Darwin, Australia – The long history of systematic racism against African-Americans in the United States seems to have reached its breaking point over the last few weeks after people around world watched the horrific scene of George Floyd's life being robbed from him before their eyes. The world has finally said, "Enough."

Papuan demands for independence or greater autonomy is among the most sensitive topics in Indonesia, but campaigners said the latest intimidation refle

Jenny Munro – Just as it has in many countries around the world, the death of George Floyd in the United States has prompted a broader discussion about racism in Indonesia. Indonesians have adapted the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter to #PapuanLivesMatter and are drawing attention to the long history of racism toward Papuans in the country.

Budi Sutrisno and Dhoni Setiawan, Jakarta – Protests took place simultaneously in several cities in Indonesia on Monday demanding that authorities drop all charges and release seven Papuan activists accused of treason at the Balikpapan District Court in East Kalimantan for their involvement in anti-racism protests in Jayapura, Papua last year.

Ernes Kakisina, Fardah, Sorong, W Papua – Michael Manufandu, a senior official of Papua, opined that the special autonomy status granted to Papua and West Papua has heralded significant progress for the development of infrastructure and human resources in Indonesia's easternmost island.

Reza Gunadha and Yosea Arga Pramudita – Demonstrators from the Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners (Tapol) held a protest action at the Aspiration Park and the Supreme Court (MA) in Central Jakarta on Monday June 15.

Jakarta – Demonstrations demanding the release of seven Papuans being tried on treason charges at the Balikpapan District Court in East Kalimantan were not just held in Jakarta. Similar actions were also held simultaneously in several other parts of the country on Monday June 15.

Tubagus Achmad – A rally by the Indonesian People's Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) in the East Java city of Malang on Monday June 15 demanded the release of Papuan political prisoners (tapols) across Indonesia as well as the right of self-determination for the Papuan people.

Iqbal Safana, Bandung – The Indonesian People's Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) and the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) held an action in solidarity with seven Papuan political prisoners (tapol) who are being tried on charges of treason.

RR Ukirsari Manggalani and Stephanus Aranditio – The Papua-Aceh Student Association (HIMAPA) in the Achenese provincial capital of Banda Aceh is urging President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to unconditionally release all Papuan political prisoners.

M Nurhadi and Muhammad Ilham Baktora – An action calling for the release of Papuan political prisoners (tapol) which was held at the zero kilometer point in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta on Monday June 15 has become heated. A small disturbance flared up because a police post loudspeaker was too noisy and disturbed the protesters.

Jayapura – On Friday June 12 the group Papuan People and Student Solidarity (SMRP) went to the Papua chief public prosecutor's office in Jayapura carrying a coffin.

Jakarta – Former Papuan political prisoner Filep Karma says that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo promised to release all Papuan political prisoners during his administration. Widodo made this pledge, said Karma, to five of his fellow political prisoners in Jayapura, Papua, who were release in 2015.

Apriza Pinandita, Jakarta – Two student organizations at the University of Indonesia (UI) have decided to file an amicus curiae – a brief offered by someone who is not party to a case – in support of seven Papuan activists on trial for treason for their involvement in the 2019 antiracism protests in Jayapura, Papua.

Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie, Jakarta – The Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) has released a statement, conveying "deep concerns" over the handling of seven Papuan protesters who face treason charges at the Balikpapan District Court in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan.

Herliana Elizabeth Yusuf, Tangerang, Banten – The death of George Floyd in the United States has evinced global expressions of solidarity that have reminded people how racism still exists in the 21st century. Influenced by the hashtag #blacklivesmatter, Indonesian citizens have expressed support through their social media status and postings.

Tasha Wibawa – The Black Lives Matter movement has inspired many Indigenous minorities to speak out about systemic racism in their own countries, but in some countries like Indonesia, their cries remain largely unheard.

Andita Rahma, Jakarta – A Journalist's Union for Diversity (SEJUK) activist, Tantowi Anwari, on Thursday said Indonesian mass media in general still show a perspective that is considered racist in reporting news about Papua.

Indonesian police in West Papua say four prisoners isolated for suspected Covid-19 infection have escaped. Police say four inmates escaped from Bhayangkara Police Hospital on Wednesday and are still at large.

Muhammad Hendartyo, Jakarta – A public attorney of Legal Aid Center for the Press, Rizki Yudha, on Thursday addressed the cyberattack against event organizers of an online public discussion highlighting racial discrimination against Papua, which he deems as a real threat towards democracy.

Dwi Bowo Raharjo and Yosea Arga Pramudita – The Civil Society Coalition is urging the police to arrest the perpetrators of terror threatening freedom of expression and opinion who have been attacking journalists and activists of late.

Jakarta – Members of the University of Lampung (Unila) student press Teknokra have received anonymous threats in relation to the organization's plan to hold a public discussion on racial discrimination against Papuans.

Taufiq Siddiq, Jakarta – University of Lampung (Unila) students' community Teknokra had reportedly been terrorized by an unknown source after the community planned to hold a discussion about racial discrimination against people with Papuan descent.

Febriana Firdaus – Student Eden Armando Bebari, 19, was allegedly shot and killed by Indonesian security forces while fishing in his home town in West Papua in April.

Jakarta – Activists from the Teknokra Student Press Activities Unit (UKPM) at the University of Lampung (Unila) in South Sumatra say they received threats from unidentified individuals prior to holding an online discussion on the theme "Racial discrimination against Papuans" on Thursday evening, June 11.

Apriza Pinandita, Jakarta – Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the authorities to drop all charges and release seven Papuan activists and students accused of treason for their involvement in antiracism protests in Jayapura, Papua, in August 2019.

Shalom, Assalamuallaikum Wr. Wb., Om Swastiastu, Namo Buddhaya, Salam Kebajikan

Ali Umar – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo must change the government's approach in resolving the Papua problem. At the start of his first term in office, Widodo managed to offer a new hope in efforts to find a dignified solution in Papua. He granted amnesty to Papuan political prisoners and guaranteed the upholding of human rights there.

Jakarta – Indonesian authorities should drop all charges and release seven Papuan activists and students on trial for their involvement in antiracism protests in Jayapura, Papua, in August 2019, Human Rights Watch said today. During the week of June 14, 2020, judges in Balikpapan, Kalimantan, will issue verdicts in three separate trials for "treason" against them.

Arjuna Pademme, Jakarta – The family of Papuan treason defendant Buchtar Tabuni says the 17 year prison sentence being demanding by the public prosecutor is unjust.

Tri Indah Oktavianti, Jakarta – The University of Indonesia (UI) has issued a statement disavowing a public discussion held by the university's Student Executive Body (BEM UI) about racism against Papuans in the legal system, saying that the discussion did not "reflect the views and attitudes of UI as an institution".

Rizki Fachriansyah, Jakarta – The University of Indonesia (UI) Lecturers Alliance has conveyed its support for a discussion on racism against Papuans that was previously disavowed by the university rectorate.

John McBeth – Jakarta's Administrative Court, reputedly the most progressive branch of Indonesia's much-maligned judicial system, may have broken new legal ground by ruling that the government acted illegally in shutting down the internet during anti-racism riots in Papua last year.

Jayapura – The Coalition for Law and Human Rights Enforcement of Papua complains about some issues that their clients encountered during the trial of seven Papuan political prisoners in Balikpapan.

Nur Yasmin, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia has called out the Indonesian government for failing to address human rights abuses in Papua, including dozens of extra-judicial killings in the country's easternmost region, in a report titled "Civil and Political Rights' Violations in Papua and West Papua" released on Monday.

Tri Indah Oktavianti, Jakarta – Prosecutors at the Balikpapan district court in East Kalimantan are seeking between five and 17 years of prison for seven Papuans charged with treason for their involvement in antiracism protests Jayapura, Papua, in August 2019.