Galuh Putri Riyanto, Jakarta – The police denied claims posted to Twitter that a student in West Papua was shot by a police officer. The tweet was posted by @AfricaRepublic yesterday, 9 September.
"That's a hoax," Police Headquarters' chief of Public Information Bureau, Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo said via text message on Tuesday, September 10.
Ahmad Faiz, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo or Jokowi has agreed on the provincial division (pemekaran) in Papua and West Papua as requested by Papuan figures during a meeting in the State Palace, Jakarta, on Tuesday, September 10.
Kukuh S. Wibowo, Jakarta – Several unknown people reportedly attacked the Papuan dormitory in Surabaya on the early dawn of Monday, September 9. Witnesses claimed that two people riding a single motorcycle threw four bags into the dormitory which was filled with snakes.
Telly Nathalia, Jakarta – Indonesian representatives have approached the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva to clarify what they say is "distorted information" about Papua and West Papua, Indonesia's two easternmost provinces which were rocked by violent protests against ethnic and racial discrimination last month.
Human Rights Watch is demanding Indonesia urgently investigate the deaths of Papuans killed during protests across the country.
At least 10 people have been killed in the worst unrest to hit Papua in years, as thousands have taken part in anti-racism rallies.
The UN Human Rights Commissioner Michelle Bachelet says her office has so far been unable to secure a trip to Indonesia's West Papua.
In January, Indonesia agreed in principle to allow a visit by the rights chief, but this has not yet eventuated, despite international backing for it.
Helen Davidson and Kate Lamb in Jakarta – A sack containing a 15-20kg python was thrown into a West Papuan student dormitory in Surabaya by masked motorcycle riders, students say.
Indonesian police are investigating allegations of masked motorcycle riders throwing bags of snakes into a West Papuan student dormitory in Surabaya and "deliberately spreading terror".
Rezki Alvionitasari, Jakarta – Jakarta Legal Aid (LBH Jakarta) public defender Muhammad Rasyid Ridha Saragih said that communication with human rights lawyer Veronica Koman is at the bare minimum as she is currently undergoing her studies overseas. Veronica was recently named by Indonesian Police as a suspect in relation to the Papua unrest.
Friski Riana, Jakarta – Announced through his Twitter account, investigative reporter Benjamin Strick published his findings on Twitter bot network intentionally used to promote Papua and West Papua pro-government propaganda.
Fikri Arigi, Jakarta – A solidarity group defending human rights activist Veronica Koman stated that the advocate did not disseminate false or hoax news regarding the conditions of Papuan students in Surabaya in mid-august this year. They opined that she spread valid information originating from her clients.
Dian Septiari, Jakarta – The recent unrest and rioting in Indonesia's easternmost provinces of Papua and West Papua have sparked renewed debate on whether Papuans deserve the right to self-determination, just like the people of former East Timor (present-day Timor Leste) did 20 years ago during the independence referendum on Aug. 30, 1999.
Port Moresby Governor Powes Parkop has commended the hundreds of Papua New Guineans who turned up this morning at the Jack Pidik Park in Port Moresby to show their support for West Papua.
He says it is time for Papua New Guineans to be brave, bold and fearless in showing their support. The NCD Governor says PNG cannot prosper if West Papua is not free.
Rizki Fachriansyah and Ivany Atina Arbi, Jakarta – A group of unidentified individuals tossed two sacks of snakes into the front yard of a Papuan student dormitory on Jl. Kalasan in Surabaya, East Java in the early hours of Monday, according to the Papuan Students Alliance (AMP).
Jakarta (Antara) – East Java Regional Police asked Immigration Directorate-general to revoke the passport of human rights lawyer Veronica Koman who was recently named as a suspect for distributing fake news or hoaxes about the incident at Papuan dorm in Surabaya last month.
Nick Baker – Rallies are being held across Australia on Saturday in solidarity with the mass protests underway in Papua.
Indonesia's eastern Papua provinces have been marred by weeks of protests, sparked by anger over racism and fresh calls for self-rule, countered by a military crackdown.
Sydney – Indonesian authorities should impartially investigate the deaths of at least 10 Papuans during recent unrest in the easternmost provinces of Papua and West Papua, Human Rights Watch said today. Restrictions on access to Papua for foreign journalists and rights monitors and a partial internet shutdown have hindered reporting on the situation.
Telly Nathalia, Jakarta – Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu told members of the House of Representatives on Thursday that an Islamic State-affiliated militant group has called for jihad in Indonesia's part of Papua Island.
Jakarta – The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) believes that the police have failed to look at the context when they declared Veronica Koman and Surya Anta suspects. Komnas HAM Deputy Chairperson Sandrayati Moniaga said that both are included in the ranks of human rights defenders.
Johnny Blades – Facing international pressure over major unrest in Papua region, Indonesia's government has pointed blame at West Papuan independence groups.
The United Liberation Movement for West Papua and its leader, Benny Wenda, have been singled out for orchestrating the unrest of recent weeks in Indonesian-ruled Papuan provinces.
Pacific Media Watch – Internet access in West Papua has been at least partially restored just days after Indonesian police accused human rights lawyer Veronica Koman and West Papuan independence leader Benny Wenda of spreading unrest through social media, reports Indonesia Expat.
The exiled leader of Papua's independence movement has called for "a free and democratic referendum" backed by the UN, and warned over a possible bloodbath after weeks of deadly unrest gripped Indonesia's easternmost territory.
Jenny Munro – Racism is ubiquitous in Indonesia, but it's rarely discussed.
Indonesia warned Thursday it would chase those it accused of being behind two weeks of mass protests in Papua sparked by anger over racism and fresh calls for self-rule, as it started restoring internet access in the region.
Jakarta (Antara) – Intelligence expert Suripto strongly suggests the Indonesian government withdraw military support from Papua to avoid the image of an ongoing confrontation between locals and the military.
Karina M. Tehusijarana, Jakarta – Human rights lawyer Veronica Koman is firmly in the government's crosshairs after the East Java Police named her a suspect for allegedly provoking protests and riots in Papua and West Papua.
Jakarta (Antara) – Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) Commander Air Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto and Indonesian National Police (Polri) Chief General Tito Karnavian attended an interreligious assembly today held in the capital of Papua Province, Jayapura.
Reza Gunadha and Yosea Arga Pramudita – Civil Society Coalition for Democracy spokesperson Suarbudaya Rahadian has revealed that Paulus Surya Anta Ginting or Surya Anta has been placed in an isolation cell.
Fikri Arigi, Jakarta – Vice President-elect Ma'ruf Amin mentioned his willingness to visit Papua together with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in order to curb the heightening tension in the region.
Selwyn Manning – It is clear and proper that New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is closely monitoring a concerning situation of deteriorating violence in West Papua.
The UN Human Rights Commissioner has urged Indonesian authorities to engage in dialogue with West Papuans about their aspirations.
In a statement last night, Michelle Bachelet said she had been disturbed by escalating violence in the past two weeks in the Indonesian-administered provinces of Papua and West Papua.
Indonesia has started restoring internet access in restive Papua, which has been gripped by two weeks of mass protests sparked by anger over racism and fresh calls for self-rule.
Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – Jakarta announced on Thursday that it had restored internet access in Papua and West Papua, saying that security conditions in the country's easternmost regions had improved over the past few weeks.
Jakarta – Indonesian police chief (Kapolri) General Tito Karnavian claims that Papuan independence leader Benny Wenda, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) and the pro-independence West Papua National Committee (KNPB) were behind the anarchic demonstrations in and outside of Papua and West Papua.
Valda Kustarini and Adi Ahdiat, Jakarta – The Papua representative office of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) is urging the government to deal with the Papua conflict through dialogue with the "appropriate" parties.
Jakarta – If the government had been quicker to take the right steps to calm the situation, the disturbances in Papua would not have spread. But exactly the opposite happened: protests spread giving the impression they could not be stopped.
Friski Riana, Jakarta – Legal and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly has responded to United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet's call for dialogue between the Indonesian government and Papua and West Papua people.
Jakarta (Antara) – The government has gradually recovered the internet data restriction in Papua and West Papua starting Wednesday, September 4, at 23:00 Eastern Indonesian Time (WIT).
The decision is made after coordination with law enforcement institutions and security officers, as well as in consideration of conditions in several regencies of the province.
The Indonesian government has been facing the ultimate litmus test to placate public outrage rife among members of the native Papuan community in the provinces of Papua and West Papua over these recent weeks.
An Indonesian human rights lawyer working with West Papuans has been named as a criminal suspect.
Veronica Koman is accused of "incitement" and spreading fake news of "hoaxes" online, fuelling violent protests which have rocked Papua in recent weeks.
Kate Lamb, Jakarta – Indonesian police have named human rights lawyer and well-known West Papua advocate Veronica Koman as a suspect in the spreading of "fake news", accusing her of provoking widespread unrest in Indonesia's easternmost provinces.
An Indonesian human rights lawyer working with West Papuans has been named as a criminal suspect.
Veronica Koman is accused of incitement and spreading fake news online, fuelling violent protests which have rocked Papua in recent weeks.
West Papuan university students who have been attacked by non-Papuan civilian groups during unrest in the region say they simply seek self-determination.
A surge of anti-racism protests and pro-independence demonstrations by West Papuans has rocked Indonesia for the past two weeks, triggering unrest.
Jonathan Pearlman – Off the tip of north Queensland is a looming problem that Australia has long tried to avoid: a people suppressed. The region of West Papua receives little attention in Australia, partly because Indonesia blocks access to aid groups, foreign media and the United Nations. But Canberra, too, prefers this silence.
Max Lane – While foreign news headlines in Singapore have been dominated by developments in Hong Kong in recent weeks, there is another protest close to home that bears watching.
Tracey Shelton and Tasha Wibawa – Thousands of people have been protesting across Indonesia's easternmost territory over the past two weeks, torching government buildings and clashing with police, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries.
The protesters' demands range from an end to racial violence to calls for a referendum on independence for the region.
Police have cautioned the Pacific Conference of Churches Secretariat for hoisting the Morning Star flag on private property in Fiji's capital, Suva.
Officers attempted to seize the flag yesterday (Tuesday) after it was raised in protest against the killing of Papua protesters by Indonesian security force and pro-Jakarta militia.
Egi Adyatama, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law, and Security Affairs Wiranto declared that he would personally arrest the leader of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Benny Wenda, if he decides to return to Indonesia.
Amnesty International is calling on Indonesia to drop treason charges against six West Papuan activists.
Their arrests came during a wave of anti-racism protests and pro-independence demonstrations by Papuans which have rocked Indonesia for the past two weeks.
Jakarta – Coordinating Minister of Politics, Law, and Security Affairs Wiranto vehemently denied the incorrect claim of the Indonesian government seeking foreign assistance to ease tensions in the provinces of Papua and West Papua.
Wiranto affirmed that few violent protests erupting in the provinces from the racial abuse of Papuan students remained a national issue.
Maire Leadbeater – The uprising that is engulfing Indonesian ruled West Papua has lifted the lid on a deep strand of indigenous anger and resentment. While it is unprecedented in scale, it also has ominous echoes of the deadly clashes that took place in pre-liberation Timor Leste in 1999.