Kylie Grey – For decades, the Indonesian government has operated with relative impunity in West Papua. Human Rights Lawyer Veronica Koman spoke with SBS in June about her mission to expose environmental vandalism and human rights violations in the Indonesian province.
Veronica Koman is living in fear.
Nur Hadi, Surabaya – The East Java Police claimed to have found suspicious transactions in the bank accounts of human rights advocate Veronica Koman, a suspected spreader of provocative contents during the Papua riots. The police said there were big withdrawals in the conflicted area.
Wahyu Setiawan, Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) says that the meeting between President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and scores of Papuan figures at the State Palace three days ago failed to resolve the problems in Papua.
Gardi Gazarin & Telly Nathalia, Jakarta – Police say they have uncovered a plot to stage more riots in Papua and West Papua until Dec. 1, following the arrest of the head of the West Papua National Committee's (KNPB) branch in Mimika, Steven Itlay, on Wednesday.
Nur Yasmin, Jakarta – Indonesia restated the progress it has made on human rights, especially in dealing with the security situation in Papua, during a meeting at the United Nations Office at Geneva on Wednesday.
Hasan Kleib, Indonesia's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, said the country had been implementing the National Action Plan on Human Rights since 1998.
The LRWC and L4L sent a joint letter calling on Indonesian authorities to withdraw criminal charges against human rights lawyer Veronica Koman, charged for disseminating information about police violence against Papuan students peacefully protesting for Papuan self-determination.
On 13 September 2019, the East Java Police announced that Veronica Koman must appear at the Indonesian Embassy in Australia to comply with a summons which was scheduled for today.
Martin Vengadesan – The Indonesia military is carrying out acts of violence and terror against an innocent and unarmed population, say West Papuan activists.
Dian Septiari, Jakarta – As Indonesia gears up for voting day at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), lawmakers have raised concern over the "internationalization" of the unrest that erupted in Papua in recent weeks.
Jakarta – The Jakarta Ombudsman suspects that there was maladministration in the arrest of Surya Anta and several other Papua activists by the Metro Jaya regional police last week.
Jakarta Ombudsman Chairperson Teguh Nugroho says that his office will conduct a further study into the arrests of the Papua activists following a report from Anta's lawyer.
Andita Rahma, Jakarta – Police announced that it had arrested the head of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) in Mimika, Steven Itlay, for an alleged connection to one of the demonstrations in Papua.
Police deem Steven to be the figure behind the demonstration at the University of Cendrawasih in Jayapura, Papua Province and other similar public uprisings.
Marni Cordell, Ben Doherty and Kate Lamb – A West Papuan independence group has accused the Indonesian police of "abducting" a leading West Papuan activist in a dramatic arrest on Monday.
Bilveer Singh – Papua has been in constant turmoil for more than 50 years, especially following the territory's incorporation into Indonesia in 1969. This includes incidences of violence where either Papuans, or Indonesian military and civilian personnel, have been killed.
Binoy Kampmark – Like Timor-Leste, West Papua, commonly subsuming both Papua and West Papua, remains a separate ethnic entity, acknowledged as such by previous colonial powers. Its Dutch colonial masters, in preparing to leave the region in the 1950s, left the ground fertile for a declaration of independence in 1961.
Jakarta – Police have arrested the chairperson of the Mimika West Papua National Committee (KNPB), Steven Italy, for allegedly playing a role in the riots and protest actions which took place in Jayapura, Papua. Police has already declared him a suspect.
Michael Andrew – For the past three weeks a wave of violent protest has been spreading across West Papua and Indonesia.
Jakarta – House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I Deputy Chairperson Satya Yudha believes that efforts by United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Chairperson Benny Wenda to provoke the Papuan people resemble the scenario by Jose Ramos Horta when he invited the people of East Timor – now called Timor Leste – to separate from the Unitary State of the Republic of Indones
A leading West Papuan independence activist has been arrested by Indonesian police in Jayapua.
Buchtar Tabuni is a member of the executive committee of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.
Suara Papua reported that police suspected Mr Tabuni was an instigator of recent riots related to large anti-racism and pro-independence protests in recent weeks.
Dan McGarry, Port Vila – In the wake of a Vanuatu Daily Post investigation into what appeared to be a deliberate attempt to spread fake news targeted at the government of Vanuatu and other supporters of West Papuan independence movement, a BBC investigative journalist has found clear evidence of a concerted campaign to pollute discussions relating to West Papua.
Caesar Akbar and L Ahmad Faiz, Jakarta – Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said his office will establish a design contest of Presidential Palace in Papua. The design is planned to meet for completion this year.
Karina M. Tehusijarana, Jakarta – The recent protests in Papua, West Papua and other regions have brought the issue of a Papuan referendum on self-determination to the forefront of the national debate.
Jakarta – Papua has a special place in President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's heart. Throughout his first four years in office, he visited Papua eight times, spending much of his time there at the now-famous Mama-Mama Market in Jayapura.
Audrey Santoso, Jakarta – Police have arrested the deputy chairperson of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Buchtar Tabuni. Tabuni was arrested on Monday for alleged makar (treason, subversion, rebellion).
Ahmad Jilul Qurani Farid, Jakarta – The House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I has asked Foreign Affairs Minister (Menlu) Retno Marsudi to prevent the internationalisation of the Papua issue so it is not used as propaganda by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) led by Benny Wenda.
The governor of Papua New Guinea's capital has promised more public action regarding West Papua.
Powes Parkop led thousands of people on a march in Port Moresby yesterday to voice support for West Papuan independence.
Exposure of widespread racism against Papuans has prompted a shift in the discourse about the acceptance of Papuans in Indonesia.
Protesters at one of the recent anti-racist demonstrations in Papua held a banner reading "If we are monkeys, don't force monkeys to fly the Red and White (Indonesian flag)".
Jakarta (Reuters) – Police in Papua have arrested 85 suspects since ethnic unrest erupted in Indonesia's easternmost region in mid-August, a spokesman said, accusing a separatist leader based in Britain of fomenting Papua's most serious civil strife in years.
Thousands of Papua New Guineans marched through Port Moresby in support of West Papuan freedom today.
This follows weeks of protests by West Papuans, as well as unrest, in the neighbouring Indonesian-ruled territory.
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.
Tracey Shelton – A group of students from West Papua say two bags of snakes were thrown into their dormitory amid weeks of unrest and protests over racism and self-determination for Indonesia's easternmost provinces.
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.
Jakarta (Antara) – The Jakarta Legal Aid (LBH Jakarta) argues that the suspect-naming of human rights activist Veronica Koman by the Indonesian National Police (Polri) presents a threat toward other activists.
Jakarta (Antara) – Some 700 native Papuan students studying at various universities outside Papua Province have returned home in the aftermath of the Surabaya incident although they have received safety and security guarantees from all regional police chiefs.
Telly Nathalia, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has promised to build a new presidential palace in Papua, despite difficulties to find suitable land for such project.
"Palace construction will start next year," Jokowi told civil society leaders from Papua and West Papua at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Ratu Annisaa Suryasumirat, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Security, Politics and Legal Affairs Wiranto has responded to plans by separatist figure Benny Wanda to take the Papua conflict to the United Nations Human Rights (HAM) High Commission which met in Geneva on Monday September 9.
Jakarta – Inter-faith religious leaders have called on the government to be careful in dealing with the problems in Papua.
Gemma Holliani Cahya, Jakarta – "Next year we will start building a presidential palace in Papua," President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said on Tuesday morning in front of dozens of Papuan figures. His statement was televised live.
Hans Arnold Kapisa, Jakarta – West Papuan human rights activist and Manokwari Legal Aid Assessment, Research and Development Institute (LP3BH) Director Yan Christian Warinussy is critical of the 61 figures that were included in a delegation of Papuans who held a meeting with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo at the State Palace today.
Evi Mariani – Indonesians love conspiracy theories. In 1999, I spent two months in Ambon, Maluku, just as a religious conflict between Muslims and Christians flared up. I spent most of the time taking refuge among Christians, but I had the chance to meet Muslims too.
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.
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.
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.
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".
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.
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).
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.
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.