Andita Rahma, Jakarta – The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Wiranto, has seconded the statement of Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko, who alleged that Papuan separatist leader Benny Wenda was the mastermind behind the riots in Papua and West Papua.

Andita Rahma, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has officially announced that it will curb the access of foreign nationals to Papua and West Papua following the recent findings suggesting foreign intervention in the massive demonstrations across the regions in the past several days.

Syailendra Persada, Jakarta – Papua Governor Lukas Enembe demanded the National Police (Polri) or the National Armed Forces (TNI) to adopt persuasive approach in dealing with protesters.

"Security enforcers, be it TNI or Polri, should avert violence as much as possible and not arrest Papuans holding a protest," said Lukas through a written statement, Sunday, September 1.

Budiarti Utami Putri, Jakarta – Former minister of research and technology, Muhammad A.S. Hikam, said the fourth Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid alias Gus Dur has his own opinion regarding Bintang Kejora or Morning Star flag in Papua.

Friski Riana, Jakarta – Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko identified Benny Wenda as a person he recalled had committed foreign intervention that eventually caused the unrest in Papua and West Papua.

"Isn't it clear, that Benny Wenda [is behind it]," said Moeldoko in Jakarta today.

Karina M. Tehusijarana, Jakarta – Immigration officials are deporting four Australian citizens on Monday for allegedly participating in pro-independence protests in Sorong, West Papua.

Immigration Directorate General spokesperson Ujo Sujoto alleged in a statement on Monday that the four Australians took part in a rally in front of the Sorong mayor's office on Aug. 27.

Jakarta – Indonesian People's Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) spokesperson Surya Anta was arrested by police in Jakarta overnight.

After being taken to the Metro Jaya regional police headquarters (Mapolda), Anta was then transferred to the Mobile Brigade headquarters (Mako Brimob) in Kelapa Dua, Depok, and is undergoing further questioning.

Confronting new video has emerged from Deiyai, West Papua showing Indonesian forces opening fire on Papuan protesters who appear to have their hands over their head.

The deadly shooting happened in Deiyai last week but details are only now emerging following an internet shutdown.

Jakarta – The Indonesian government has sent 2,500 police officers and soldiers to Papua province as unrest in the region sparked by alleged racist treatment of Papuans show no signs of abating, a police spokesman said yesterday.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) head of organisational development, Febriyonesta, has criticised police for declaring eight people as suspects for flying the Morning Star flag during a protest action in front of the State Palace on August 28.

Jakarta (Antara) – The government will reopen the access to the Internet in Papua and West Papua after peace and conducive situation prevail in the easternmost provinces, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto said.

Jakarta (Antara) – Some 252 personnel of the Riau Islands Police's mobile brigade (Brimob) unit were deployed to Papua and West Papua, Saturday, to join their colleagues earlier dispatched there to help restore law and order.

Jakarta, Indonesia – Indonesian police have arrested dozens of people in the easternmost region of Papua following protests last week in which buildings were set ablaze, a police spokesman said Sunday.

Jakarta – The legal team representing Indonesian People's Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) spokesperson Surya Anta has confirmed that their client was arrested by police at a shopping centre in Jakarta on the evening of Saturday August 31. Anta was arrested on charges of treason (makar).

On Saturday, August 31, 2019 around 20.30, Surya Anta was arrested by plain-clothed police officers at Plaza Indonesia. He was then taken to Polda Metro Jaya (Greater Jakarta Metropolitan Regional Police). One of the officers mentioned that Anta was accused of subversive act in relation to his activities in advocating the issues of Papua.

Andita Rahma, Jakarta – Police Chief of Public Information Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo said his office and the national armed forces (TNI) despatched 2,500 joint personnel to Jayapura, Papua, after the peace rally that turned to riot in the region.

"In total, there is 2,500 Police-TNI personnel. It's in Jayapura alone," Dedi said Saturday, August 31.

Kate Lamb, Jayapura – At the base of the verdant mountains of Sentani, where dense, tropical jungle overlooks a sprawling teal lake, worshippers stream into church, men in suits and ties and sandals or batik shirts, women with colourful woven bags strung from their foreheads and slung over their backs.

An Australia-based human rights group has condemned the fatal shooting of West Papuan protesters by Indonesian security forces this week.

This comes amid widespread protests in cities and towns across Papua region which began almost two weeks ago as anti-racism rallies but have developed into the biggest West Papuan pro-independence demonstrations seen in decades.

Telly Nathalia, Jakarta – The government wants those responsible for provoking unrest in Papua and West Papua to immediately stop their actions, Chief Security Minister Wiranto said on Friday evening.

Jakarta – West Papua National Committee (KNPB) spokesperson Victor Yeimo says that they are calling for a national strike throughout the territory claimed to be West Papua to demand a referendum or an act of self-determination through a popular vote.

Jakarta – Scores of students from Papua and West Papua plan to surrender themselves to the Metro Jaya regional police following the arrest of two activists who took part in a rally at the State Palace in Central Jakarta which ended in the raising of the Morning Star flag.

They are currently gathering on the sidewalk in front of the Metro Jaya police headquarters.

Jakarta – On Friday August 30 the Metro Jaya regional police arrested two people on charges of treason (makar) for allegedly flying the Morning Star flag in front of the State Place during a rally on Wednesday August 28.

Wahyoe Boediwardhana, Surabaya – The East Java Police have named another suspect involved in a protest that led to racist abuse against Papuan students in Surabaya, East Java, on Aug. 16, a day before the country's independence day.

Michael Andrew – As Timor-Leste celebrates 20 years since the landmark vote that determined its independence from Indonesian rule, activists are urging the New Zealand government not to repeat mistakes from the past and back West Papuan independence until the last minute.

Protesters in Indonesia's easternmost region of Papua have set buildings ablaze in the provincial capital Jayapura, forcing the state power firm to cut off electricity in some districts, state media and an executive of the utility said.

Mackenzie Smith – Thousands of Papuans in Indonesia are occupying the governor's office, a protest organiser says, after several government buildings were torched in the provincial capital Jayapura on Thursday.

Jakarta – Indonesia's chief security minister on Friday urged calm in the easternmost region of Papua on Friday after two weeks of sometimes violent protests, saying demands from demonstrators for an investigation into racism had been met.

Sasmito Matrim – Indonesia's Ministry of Communication and Information Technology said Friday that it would continue to block telecommunication services in Papua and West Papua, in an effort, it said, to restore security in the wake of civil unrest that flared in several cities over allegedly racist attacks on Papuan students.

The people of West Papua need urgent international attention. I am calling on all the world's governments, parliamentarians and media to shine the spotlight on West Papua. If the world and international media ignores West Papua now, the Indonesian security services may turn it into a bloodbath.

Dewi Nurita, Jakarta – The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Wiranto, has pledged to withdraw military troops from Nduga, Papua, should conditions return to normal.

Pacific Media Watch – Papuan demands for a referendum on self-determination have erupted more strongly amid fears of civilian casualties in the Melanesian provinces of Papua and West Papua.

A government-imposed internet blackout is in place following a two-week wave of protests triggered by racial abuse against Papuan students in East Java, reports The Jakarta Post.

Dewi Nurita, Jakarta – The National Cyber and Encryption Agency (BSSN) has discovered foreign social media accounts that deliberately spread false reports or hoaxes on conditions in Papua.

Caesar Akbar, Jakarta (Antara) – The Association of Indonesian Travel Companies (Asita) asked President Joko Widodo or Jokowi to immediately resolve the issues in Papua and West Papua. Asita said that travel agents need to be able to convince potential tourists that Indonesia is safe.

Francisca Christy Rosana, Jakarta – Gojek announced that it has temporarily halted operations of its app services in the Papua Province following the massive protests that happened in the past week. The company's decision, according to Go-Jek spokesperson Michael Say, is due to security concerns.

Jakarta (Antara) – Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia (RI) member Ahmad Suaedy says the security operations by the National Police (Polri) and Armed Forces (TNI) in Nduga, Papua, are hampering the public services in the region.

Jakarta (Antara) – The Communication and Informatics (Kominfo) Minister Rudiantara announced that the lack of cellular services in Jayapura, Papua, and its vicinity are caused by the acts of "unknown people" who sabotaged the region's main optical telecommunication network.

Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Security, Politics and Legal Affairs Wiranto says that the government is open to dialogue with all parties to improve the situation in Papua, but it will not discuss a referendum or Papuan independence.

Dewi Nurita, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Wiranto, demanded Papuans immediately stop the mass demonstrations staged in all areas of the province.

Jakarta (Antara) – The rally in Waena, Jayapura, Papua, Thursday, August 29, turned into anarchy and forced the police to shoot tear gas at protesters. They staged a rally to condemn racism against Papuan students in Surabaya.

Jakarta – The rally in Jayapura, Papua on Thursday, August 29 left the provincial capital paralyzed. Reports said that the city is gripped by a tense atmosphere.

Shopping centers and offices were closed since 12:30 East Indonesia Time. Antara reported that the Jayapura Mall, the biggest shopping center in the city, is also closed.

Institute for Papuan Advocacy & Human Rights today condemns the fatal shootings in the military attack on protestors in Deiyai yesterday. Paula Makabory spokesperson for Institute for Papuan Advocacy and Human Rights (IPAHR) calls for an end to the violence and help for the shooting victims.

Telly Nathalia, Jakarta – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs notified all foreign representatives in Indonesia on Thursday about Wednesday's violence in Papua, which resulted in the deaths of two civilians and a soldier.

Jakarta – Tri Susanti, the field coordinator of a protest that led to racist abuse against Papuan university students in Surabaya, East Java, has been named a suspect of hate speech, provocation and misinformation in relation to the incident.

Karina M. Tehusijarana, Jakarta – YouTube has blocked a satirical video about West Papua from being viewed in Indonesia following a "legal complaint from the government".

The video, created by Australian film and media company The Juice Media, satirizes the Australian government's policies on West Papua as part of the company's Honest Government Ad series.

Six Papuan civilians have been killed and at least three others wounded after Indonesian security forces opened fire at a rally in Deiyai regency, Papua, as protests intensified, report news media.

Jamie Tahana – As thousands of Papuans took to the streets for a second week of mass demonstrations, Pacific leaders have conceded that, to date, their stance on West Papua has achieved little.

Mackenzie Smith – Calm has returned to the West Papuan regency of Deiyai, where at least two protestors and a soldier were killed in a bloody clash on Wednesday, Indonesia's Foreign Ministry says.

Tasha Wibawa and Nurina Savitri – At least one soldier and two civilians have died in the latest violence in the embattled Indonesian province of Papua.

Ben Doherty and agencies – Up to six protesters and one soldier have been killed in clashes across the restive West Papua and Papua provinces, although protesters and police dispute how many have died.

Jakarta – Persecution and racial discrimination towards Papuan students in Malang and Surabaya cannot be justified for any reason whatsoever. Those responsible must be prosecuted. Justice needs to be upheld, not only to assuage the anger of the Papuans but also to bring about a deterrent effect.