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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 (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.

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.

Jenny Munro – Racism is ubiquitous in Indonesia, but it's rarely discussed.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Antara & Telly Nathalia, Jakarta – Police have identified a new suspect in the sporadic violence that has plagued several cities in Papua and West Papua over the past two weeks.

Veronika Koman, who describes herself as a human rights lawyer on her Twitter profile, was named a suspect, based on witness testimonies.

Devina Halim, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid is of the view that the naming of Veronica Koman as a suspect could create fear among the public about speaking out on issues related to human rights (HAM) violations in Papua.

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.

Egi Adyatama, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Politics, Legal, and Security Affairs, Wiranto, asserted that the raising of Bintang Kejora or the morning star flag in Indonesia is forbidden.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Jakarta – Indonesian police on Wednesday named a prominent human rights lawyer and activist a suspect in connection with Twitter posts about an incident that triggered unrest in Papua, drawing condemnation action from rights groups of the police action.

Liam Fox on Pacific Beat – The Pacific Council of Churches is urging the region's leaders to push for a peacekeeping mission to be sent to the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua.

The Papuan provinces have been wracked by civil unrest for more than a fortnight with reports several people have been killed in the crackdown by Indonesian security forces.

Pacific Media Watch – The New Caledonian-based Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front or FLNKS has condemned the ongoing human rights violations in West Papua and has called for the Papuan right to self-determination to be recognised.

Pacific Media Watch – Fijian police have reportedly cautioned the Pacific Conference of Churches Secretariat from flying the Morning Star – the West Papuan flag of Independence – on private property in Suva.

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.

Jakarta (Antara) – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had lunch with the winners of the "Gapura Cinta Negeri" (Country Love Gate) Festival, who came from Nduga and Yapen Islands Districts, Papua Province.

Dewi Nurita, Jakarta – House of Representatives' (DPR) Commission I chairman Abdul Kharis supports the government's decision to limit foreign arrivals to Papua and West Papua. The policy came out after four Australians allegedly took part in the demonstrations demanding independence for Papua.

Andita Rahma, Jakarta – A politician from Perindo Party of Sorong Sayang Mandabayan is undergoing police question in Manokwari Resort Police Headquarters, Papua, over the possession of 1,500 flags of Bintang Kejora or morning star, the symbol of the Free Papua Movement.

Joshua Mcdonald – At least six protesters and one soldier have been killed during clashes in Indonesia's Papua and West Papua province since unrest began over a two weeks ago.

The Indonesian government dismissed the report of protesters being killed as "a provocation," but said one soldier had been killed and three police officers injured.

Valda Kustarini, Astri Septiani and Adi Ahdiat, Jakarta – The Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) and the Institute for Human Rights Studies and Advocacy (ELSAM) have criticised the arrest of six Papuan students on charges of makar (treason, subversion, rebellion).

M Julnis Firmansyah, Jakarta – Jakarta Metro Police have released two Papuan college students who were arrested on August 30 and 31 in Depok and Jakarta for allegedly committing treason as they lacked evidence.