Basten Gokkon – Local authorities and indigenous communities in Indonesia's Papua region have imposed a sweeping lockdown to minimize the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Markus You, Nabire – It is hoped that a new policy by Justice and Human Rights Minister (Menkumham) Yasonna Laoly to release thousands of convicted criminals from prisons across Indonesia will not discriminate against Papuan political prisoners (tapol) who are still incarcerated in jail that were arrested in related to the wave of mass actions against racism in August and September

Indonesian authorities have released dozens of prisoners from a main prison in West Papua's highlands.

Thirty prisoners were released from Wamena prison, as authorities seek to prevent the spread of covid-19 in Indonesia's overcrowded jails.

Jakarta – The public prosecutor has demanded that six Papuan activists each be sentenced to one year and five months in jail. The prosecutor said that the six defendants had been proven to have violated Article 106 of the Criminal Code (KUHP) in conjunction with Article 55 Paragraph 1 of KUHP 1 on treason.

A. Muh. Ibnu Aqil, Jakarta – While international researchers have backed a government decision made in February to halt the development of new oil palm plantations in Papua in favor of "greener" cash crops, activists fear that the shift in policy will have no effect on the lives of poor, indigenous Papuans and may also have little effect on deforestation.

We appreciate steps taken by the Government to free prisoners, particularly child prisoners, through the assimilation system, conditional release, conditional holiday and holiday for those approaching their release date. However, we also urge the Government to apply this decision in a fair and non-discriminatory manner.

Laurens Ikinia – A sad story has taken place again in the PT Freeport Indonesia gold and copper mine area near Timika in West Papua on Monday with one New Zealander shot dead and two other workers being severely wounded as reported by Asia Pacific Report yesterday.

John McBeth, Jakarta – With most Indonesians preoccupied with a coronavirus outbreak, security officials were caught off guard when at least three gunmen penetrated the US-based Freeport mining company's residential housing area on Papua's south coast, killing a New Zealand employee and wounding six other local workers.

Apriza Pinandita, Jakarta – The Indonesian Embassy in Wellington has expressed its deepest condolences over the shooting incident that left a New Zealander employee of the gold and copper mining company PT Freeport Indonesia in Papua dead and in which several Indonesian staff were also wounded.

Victor Mambor, Jayapura – A foreign employee of gold and copper mining company PT Freeport Indonesia was shot dead on Monday by gunmen in Timika, the capital city of Mimika regency in Papua.

Jakarta – The security and welfare approach have failed to resolve the conflict in Papua. The president needs to establish a special team to bring about dialog.

Benny Mawel and Victor Mambor, Jayapura, Papua – Papua is set to restrict entry into the province both through sea and air travel in an effort to stem the spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia's easternmost region.

Benny Mawel, Jayapura – An Indonesian Air Force CASA CN A-2909 plane was shot at by a faction of the National Liberation Army of West Papua (TPNPB) while flying over Serambakon district in Pegunungan Bintang regency, Papua, at 4,800 feet on Monday.

The plane, which had taken off from Jayapura, was shot at on Monday at 8:50 a.m. local time.

Belinda Lopez for Earshot – In the wake of the Lindt cafe attack in Sydney, a hashtag made its way around the world: #illridewithyou.

The gunman had forced hostages to hold up a flag of the Shahada, the Islamic affirmation of faith, and many Muslims feared a backlash.

Benny Mawel, Jayapura – West Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB) challenge the Government of Indonesia to provide access for an independent investigation team investigating perpetrators behind the burning of a church in Tembagapura Sub-district, Mimika Regency, Papua in a press released by TPNPB.

Len Garae – The Vanuatu West Papua Association and Unification Committee (VWPAUC) Chairman, Pastor Allan Nafuki, has welcomed two new young members into the West Papua Struggle; late Andy Ayamiseba's second born son, Harold Ayamiseba and an Australian, Tom Young.

Chandra Iswinarno, Ria Rizki Nirmala Sari – The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has return the investigation dossier on alleged gross human rights (HAM) violations during the bloody Paniai incident to the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM).

Responding to this, the Komnas HAM suspects that there is potential for the investigation into the case to come to a halt.

The Leader of Opposition Hon. Matthew Wale on Thursday met with the Spokesperson for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Mr. Jacob Rumbiak.

Mr. Rumbiak updated Hon. Wale on the human rights situation in West Papua, and the ongoing struggle for self-determination by West Papuans.

Robert Isidorus, Jayapura – The Indonesian Military and National Police have accused what they call an "armed criminal group," or KKB, of burning down a church in Tembagapura, Papua, on March 12.

But a spokesperson for the National Liberation Army of West Papua-Free Papua Movement, Sebby Sambom, denied the allegation.

An academic from West Papua says Indonesian plans to further divide up the region will only enhance dependency on Jakarta.

Indonesia's chief security minister Mohammad Mahfud said the govenment was considering options for creating more provinces in Papua region, which is currently administered as two provinces.

Human development index figures are improving in Papuan provinces of Indonesia. Latest figures from Indonesia's national statistics agency show human development progress in both Papua and West Papua provinces.

As I stated last week, the people of West Papua face a new double crisis: a humanitarian crisis caused by Indonesian military operations, and a medical crisis caused by coronavirus. Indonesian colonialism, which has destroyed our way of life and left us without healthcare or the natural support of our environment, has increased the risks of coronavirus to my people.

Len Garae – In the latest emergency joint meeting organised by the Executive Committees of United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) and Vanuatu West Papua Association and Unification Committee (VWPAUC) at the Presbyterian Church Conference Hall in Port Vila last Saturday, members of both organisations have emphasised the importance of intense lobbying with member countries

Timika, Indonesia – Four Papuan independence fighters were killed in an ongoing clash between security forces and a rebel group near the world's largest gold mine in Indonesia's easternmost Papua region, police and rebels said Monday.

Sri Krishnamurthi – A remarkable 120 West Papuan students – all on scholarships – are studying in New Zealand, says Laurens Ikinia, a postgraduate student at Auckland University of Technology.

All-in-all, there are more than 600 Papuan students currently abroad in the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand, says Ikinia, a masters student in communication studies.

Len Garae – An urgent meeting between the Executives of United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) and Vanuatu Free West Papua Association (VFWPA) in Port Vila yesterday, has expressed outrage over the seeming silence by Jakarta to respond to the Pacific Islands Forum and ACP calls for Indonesia to allow the UN High Commissioner for Human Right into West Papua, to see firstha

Diana Mariska, Jakarta – Indonesia's chief security minister Mahfud M.D. said the government would continue to provide a special autonomy fund for Papua while preparing a new law to extend it.

Ivany Atina Arbi, Jakarta – The Papua Legal Aid Institute (LBH Papua) has urged the government to deploy Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) personnel to restive areas of Papua to provide assistance to tens of thousands internally displaced people forced to flee their homes due to conflicts between the military and the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB).

Jayapura – The public prosecutor failed to present any witnesses during the fourth court hearing at the Sorong District Court on March 12 in a case related to anti-racist protest in Papua. The hearing was marked by a protest action by activists from the Justice Concern Forum for Monkeys who stood in front of the court building covering their mouths with masking tape.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesian Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian urged the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police to fortify security in Papua following shootings by an armed criminal group in Tembagapura, Papua.

Aisha R. Kusumasomantri, Depok – Until today, the government's approach in Papua stresses security, even though gradual attempts at comprehensive counterinsurgency started alongside the 1998 democratic reforms. The importance of "population support" has been considered one of the decisive factors for the government's claim of having the upper hand in Papua so far.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua is calling for mining company Freeport to stop operating in Papua until local conflict ceases.

Violent clashes have broken out between Indonesian security forces and the West Papua National Liberation Army near the Freeport gold and copper mine.

Friski Riana, Jakarta – Vice President Ma'ruf Amin said the government was seeking solutions to a variety of problems occurring in Papua. One of the efforts done was by applying a welfare-based approach.

As the world faces the coronavirus crisis, my people face a renewed humanitarian crisis in West Papua. From Puncak Jaya to Intan Jaya, Nduga to Timika, over 45,000 have been displaced by Indonesian military operations since December 2018.

Abeth You, Nabire – The panel of judges of the Nabire District Court read the verdict to three defendants of Deiyai's anti-racism case.

Yuliana Lantipo, Sorong – The rain seems not to interrupt a group of young people in Sorong City, Papua Barat, to raise banners and posters in solidarity for Nduga's people on Friday afternoon (7/3/2020). This Friday's candlelight solidarity event has conducted two months ago, started in January 2020.

Jakarta – As many as 790 people have fled their homes in mountainous areas around the Freeport mining site to take refuge at the Tembagapura Police headquarter in Timika, Papua, on Friday over fears of an armed criminal group (KKB), the police have claimed.

Devina Halim, Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office (AGO) will soon return the investigation dossier on the Paniai incident in Papua to the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM).

Earlier, the AGO stated that the Komnas HAM investigation into the incident had failed to meet the formal and material requirements to be declared a gross human rights violation.

Johnny Blades – Researchers say 59 people died in a month of unrest in West Papua late last year.

The Indonesian-ruled provinces of Papua experienced widespread anti-racism protests and related unrest between late August and late September.

Employees at the Freeport mine in West Papua have been warned about heightened security risks in the area. PT Freeport Indonesia has told staff they and their family may notice an increased presence of security personnel.

This follows a series of attacks on Indonesian security forces in the area around Freeport's Grasberg gold and copper mine in Papua province.

London, United Kingdom/Jakarta – Twitter and Facebook have suspended more than 80 accounts following a Reuters investigation that linked them to a network of news sites backed by the Indonesian army that publish pro-government propaganda about the restive region of Papua.

Jayapura – On Tuesday March 3 the Balikpapan District Court rejected a demurer presented by seven Papuan political prisoners (tapol) who are defendants in a treason case currently being tried in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan.

CR-SP16, Jayapura – Students from the Cenderawasih University (Uncen) in Jayapura demanded the immediate release of seven Papuan political prisoners (tapol) currently being held in the East Kalimantan city of Balikpapan during a protest action on Monday March 2 in front of the Uncen front gate in Jayapura city.

Len Garae – The President of the United Liberation Movement of West Papua, Benny Wenda, is confident that the new Vanuatu Government will pick up from where the Charlot Salwai Government has stopped and continue with Vanuatu's traditional commitment to support the struggle for the freedom for the people of West Papua.

Reports from West Papua indicate more deadly armed conflict in Mimika regency.

The West Papua National Liberation Army claims responsibility for a series of attacks on security forces in the Indonesian-controlled territory since last week.

A Liberation Army spokesman said its guerilla forces in Tembagapura shot dead an Indonesian soldier at the weekend.

Hengky Yeimo, Jayapura – Hundreds of students of the University of Cenderawasih held a protest in Jayapura, Papua on Monday (2/3/2020). They urge the authority to release seven political prisoners who are currently on trial at Balikpapan District Court.

Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has declared that an investigation dossier into the Bloody Paniai case submitted by the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has failed to meet the requirements to be declared a gross human rights violation.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – A top Indonesian official has declared a halt to new oil palm plantations in the country's heavily forested Papua region in favor of other, "greener," crops, apparently contradicting his vigorous earlier defenses of the industry.

Imam B, Rahmad Nasution, Wamena, Papua – People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Bambang Soesatyo said he urges the government and House of Representatives (DPR) to extend the special autonomy funds for Papua and West Papua Provinces, which will end in 2021.

Piter Lokon, Jayapura – Yalimo Students Association in Indonesia (HMKY) states their rejection towards the military plan to build new posts in Abenaho and Apahapsili subdistricts located in Yalimo Regency.