Next week Pacific leaders will discuss West Papua at their annual Forum. This year there is great hope that the Communique will include a call for action, including a call for the UN Human Rights Commissioner to visit and report back on the situation in West Papua to the 2020 Forum.

Keith Loveard, Jakarta – Construction workers building a bridge as part of the Trans-Papua Highway late last year knew there was a separatist group in the area. Indeed, from later accounts, the construction crew was close enough to the separatists' camp to be able to watch them celebrate the Dec. 1 founding of the Free Papua Organization (OPM).

Johnny Blades – One of the criticisms of the Pacific Islands Forum over the years relates to the regional grouping's limited ability to advance its agenda in the face of the interests of Australia and New Zealand. The power imbalance hasn't always made for a cohesive regionalism.

Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)PO Box 28, Spit Junction, NSW 2088

Senator the Hon Marise Payne
Minister for Foreign Affairs
PO Box 6100
Senate, Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

7 August 2019

Dear Foreign Minister,

Robert Isidorus, Jakarta – Three soldiers have been arrested for allegedly selling ammunition to a criminal group while stationed in Timika, Papua.

The Cendrawasih Military Command, which oversees Papua and West Papua, made the announcement at the province's Sentani Airport on Tuesday, following the arrest of the third suspect, who had been on the run.

Jakarta – Nduga Regent Yairus Gwijangge has asked for help from House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Bambang Soesatyo to covey to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo that he wants the immediate withdrawal of all TNI (Indonesian military) and Polri (Indonesian police) personnel that have been conducting military operations in Papua since early December 2018.

An aid group in Indonesia's West Papua has reported 182 civilians have died fleeing violence in the highlands.

The Humanity Volunteer Team of Nduga has been helping communities displaced by armed conflict in Papua's Nduga regency with food, health and education needs in Wamena.

Johnny Blades – Papua's provincial government is frustrated over a lack of action by Indonesia's central government to open up direct international flights to Papua.

Victor Mambor, Gisela Swaragita and Ardila Syakriah, Jayapura and Jakarta – Despite government efforts to distribute aid for civilians who escaped armed conflict in Nduga regency, Papua, some evacuees have refused assistance and are instead demanding the withdrawal of security troops from the conflict-ridden regency so that they can return home.

Ardila Syakriah, Jakarta – Volunteers grouped under the Nduga Solidarity Civil Society Coalition reported in a statement on Thursday the deaths of 182 civilians who were taking refuge in various areas after fleeing from their homes in conflict-ridden Nduga regency between December and July.

Victor Mambor, Jayapura, Papua – Papua Governor Lukas Enembe has issued a regulation to help boost the involvement of Papuan businesspeople in procurement projects and speed up development in Indonesia's easternmost province.

Indonesia's military, or TNI, says its soldiers have taken control of an regional headquarters of the West Papua Liberation Army in Papua's Highlands.

Armed conflict between the Liberation Army and the TNI since late last year has left dozens dead in Nduga regency. Thousands of villagers have also been displaced from the regency due to the conflict.

Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers have agreed that alleged human rights violations in West Papua must remain on the agenda of the regional body.

Foreign ministers wrapped up their meeting in Suva at the weekend, laying out the agenda for next month's Forum leaders' summit in Tuvalu.

Musa Abubar and Eliswan Azly, Jayapura – The Papua Archaeological Center's researcher, Hari Suroto, highlighted the importance of teaching "koteka" (penis gourd) at schools in the central mountainous region of Papua Province as one of the ways to preserve the cultural heritage of indigenous Papuans.

On 17th July 2019, ULMWP Chairman Benny Wenda was granted Freedom of the City of Oxford as a messenger of the West Papuan people, an award reflective of his lifetime of campaigning to amplify the calls of the West Papuan people for self-determination.

Patrick Dupont – West Papuan separatist groups have recently united under a single banner. However, internal conflict and a determined Indonesian government will likely lead to a deterioration in the security environment in Indonesia's Papua Province. This will increase the risk of disruption to mining operations in the resource-rich province.

Olivia Tasevski – This year marks 50 years since West Papua was officially incorporated into Indonesia via 1969's ironically named Act of Free Choice, whereby less than 1 percent of Papuans were forced to vote in favor of West Papua's incorporation into Indonesia.

Jakarta – Gold and copper miner PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) sold less copper and gold in the first half of 2019, decreasing to almost half the amount sold during the same period last year due to the transition from open pit to underground site.

Major palm oil producer Korindo has been found guilty of rainforest destruction and human rights abuses in the Indonesian province of Papua by the Forest Stewardship Council.

Indonesian logger and palm oil producer, the Korindo Group, is challenging some of the claims by environmental NGO, Mighty Earth.

The NGO has been tackling Korindo over its activities in Papua and Maluku for several years, forcing an investigation by the Forestry Stewardship Council.

Benny Mawel, Jayapura – A church group in Papua has called on the Indonesian government to actively seek an end to clashes between the military and rebel groups in Papua that have displaced thousands and left at least a hundred people dead in the last eight months.

Eight members of Britain's House of Lords want to see their government take a strong stand on press freedom in West Papua.

In an open letter, the members claimed Indonesia was trying to restrict information from West Papua amid allegations of widespread human rights abuses.

Febriana Firdaus, Wamena, West Papua, Indonesia – Evidence is emerging that children are joining the long-running conflict in the restive Indonesian province of West Papua, six months after the military stepped up its crackdown on separatist rebels after the murder of 17 road construction workers in December.

Indonesia's government has distributed aid to West Papuans displaced by violence in the Central Highlands.

It comes after a report by a rights group claiming at least 139 people had died of starvation and disease in displacement camps. Thousands are estimated to have fled the troubled Nduga regency, where rebels are waging war on the state.

David Robie – Indonesia recently hosted a bold public relations window-dressing expo in Auckland presenting itself as a "Pacific" nation while attempting to provide an unconvincing impression of normality in the two Melanesian provinces known collectively as West Papua.

Eight members of the House of Lords call on the foreign secretary to take a strong stand against the banning of nearly all foreign media, NGOs and humanitarian agencies from entering West Papua

Letters

Mon 22 Jul 2019

Benny Mawel, Jayapura – West Papua National Committee (KNPB) congratulate Mr Benny Wenda for receiving the Freedom of Oxford City Council. The organisation that always support his agenda in the UK by organising series of peaceful demonstrations throughout West Papua declared that this award is a recognition of West Papuans' struggle for self-determination.

Siti Sadida Hafsyah, Jakarta – Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI) researcher Cahyo Pamungkas says that the Trans Papua Highway has yet to bring any benefits to the Papuan people.

Jakarta – Thousands of people in Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua have been displaced by fighting between soldiers and separatists, and at least 139 of them have died from malnutrition and disease, an aid group said on Thursday.

But the Indonesian military disputed the figures for deaths and displaced issued by the Solidarity Team for Nduga aid group.

Indonesia has condemned the Oxford City Council for its recognition of West Papuan independence leader Benny Wenda.

Mr Wenda was given the Honorary Freedom of the City during a ceremony at the Oxford Town Hall on Wednesday.

The chairman of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua was granted political asylum in the UK in 2002.

An aid group says at least 139 people have died in displacement camps in the highlands of West Papua.

But the Indonesian military has disputed the figures in the region plagued by conflict between separatist rebels and the state.

By all accounts, the conflict in Papua's Nduga regency has killed dozens since December, forcing many more to flee for their lives.

Yashinta Difa/Azis Kurmala, Jakarta – Indonesia has strongly condemned the Oxford City Council's decision to award Benny Wenda, a member of the West Papua movement separatist group, the Freedom of the City.

The Oxford City Council in Britain has awarded United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) chairperson Benny Wenda the Honorary Freedom of the City accolade for his fight for West Papuan self-determination. The Indonesian government has slammed the award.

The exiled leader of an Indonesian separatist group has been awarded the freedom of the city of Oxford.

City councillors honoured West Papua independence leader Benny Wenda, who was granted UK asylum in 2002.

Victor Mambor, Jayapura – The Papua administration has requested that the central government assist it in bolstering the trade network with neighboring countries in the Pacific, as the province seeks to promote itself as a regional trading hub.

Yamin Kogoya, Auckland – More than 50 years of "torture" has been inflicted on the Papuan people by the Indonesian government. With the complicity of Western governments, great fear has been put in the hearts and minds of people across the Pacific.

These terrors have become cancerous tumours in the body of the peaceful Pacific island community.

The Oxford City Council is to award West Papuan activist Benny Wenda the Honorary Freedom of the City accolade for his tireless fight for West Papuan self-determination.

Wenda, whom the United Kingdom granted political asylum in 2002, lives in Oxford with his family and it serves as the headquarters of his campaign to liberate the people of West Papua.

Yamin Kogoya – More than 50 years of torture has been inflicted on the Papuan people by the Indonesian Government. With the assistance of Western governments, great fear has been put in the hearts and minds of people across the Pacific. These terrors have become cancerous tumours in the body of the peaceful Pacific island community.

Mackenzie Smith – In touting its new "elevated" engagement in the Pacific, Indonesia has been eager to stress it will work within New Zealand and Australia's efforts in the region.

But already, a strategy of its own has emerged, as the Southeast Asian giant lays claim to a Pacific identity as well as its claims over restive West Papua.

Jakarta (Antara) – An anthropology lecturer at the University of Cendrawasih in Jayapura, Hari Suroto expressed his concern over the diminishing users of the local traditional 'koteka' (traditional penis gourd) in the area of Wamena which is the capital of one of Papua's Provinces, Jayawijaya District.

New Zealand's Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, says Indonesia is making progress in West Papua with the welcoming of a press pack.

Mr Peters was responding to questions on Friday on human rights concerns in the troubled region, where rebels are waging war on the state.

Advocates for West Papua in New Zealand are protesting a major Pacific trade show put on by Indonesia.

About a dozen people including New Zealand MP Marama Davidson have gathered in Auckland to oppose the Pacific Exposition.

Zac Williams – The West Papuan independence movement has been ongoing for more than half a century. Since the 1962-1963 Indonesian takeover of West Papuan territory, West Papuans have endured political and social persecution, without any substantial help from the international community.

Winston Peters helped open Pacific Exposition 2019 in Auckland today by showcasing his drumming skills, after giving a speech on New Zealand's role in the Pacific.

During his speech, Mr Peters told the audience of the importance of New Zealand's relationship with Indonesia, and of the Pacific diversity of the people that make up New Zealand's Parliament.

Melissa Chan-Green – A West Papuan human rights activist has questioned why Indonesia organised an expo for Pacific leaders to gather in Auckland on Friday.

But Indonesian officials say they feel very much part of the region and want to strengthen those ties.

Victor Mambor, Jayapura – Local authorities have named six commissioners of the Papua General Elections Commission (KPU Papua) suspects of vote-rigging in connection with the 2019 concurrent elections.

The suspects are Zufri Abubakar, Zandra Mambrasar, Diana Dorthea Simbiak, Melkianus Kambu, Fransiskus Antonius Letsoin and president commissioner Theodorus Kosay.

A human rights group advocating for West Papuans in Indonesia says there were more than 20 extra-judicial killings by the military there last year.

But the military has dismissed the findings, which come during an escalating conflict in Papua's Highlands as rebels wage war on the state.

There's strong opposition in West Papua to a reconfiguration of military forces in the struggle for independence from Indonesia.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua, led by mainly exiled Papuans claims it's taking political leadership of a new unified military force, the West Papua Army.

Hipolitus Yolisandry Ringgi Wangge – Blood Diamond, a 2006 Hollywood blockbuster, depicts how the illicit economic activity to secure diamonds in Sierra Leone involved conflicting domestic and international groups. The film vividly depicts a rebel group abducting children and transforming them into deadly soldiers.

Leading West Papuan human rights activist Ferry Marisan has died in Jayapura.

Mr Marisan is well known for his work over two decades with the Advocacy of Human Rights Institution, ELSHAM Papua.

He played a prominent role in raising awareness about Papuan rights, including in relation to exploitation of Papua's mineral resources.