Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Papuan authorities have closed a gold mine in Korowai in the southern part of Papua, following uproar among residents who protested the hiring of newcomers over local tribe members.

Hengky Yeimo, Jayapura, Jubi – Jayapura City, Tuesday, 7 August 2018, visitors crowded in Lokabudaya Expo Museum Waena, Heram sub-district to attend the Papua Film Festival held by a film community Papuan Voice for three days from 7 to 9 August 2018.

Alexander Rheeney, Apia – Vanuatu has asked Pacific Islands Forum member states to support its resolution to the United Nations General Assembly next year to grant West Papuans self-determination.

The Vanuatu government has appointed Laura Lini as special envoy for West Papua. Ms Lini is the daughter of Walter Lini, who is known as the founding father of the Pacific nation.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – An armed group returned on Tuesday four firearms it seized from the Indonesian Military (TNI) in a recent incident in Wagemuga village in Paniai, a restive regency in Papua's central highlands.

"Why am I now on the Indonesian government blacklist? For how long? For what reason? For going to Papua? This is devastating for me."

An Australian doctoral researcher whose honeymoon plans in Indonesia included a cultural festival in the insecure Papua region has been deported after Indonesian officials accused her of being a journalist, a news agency reports.

Belinda Lopez, a Bahasa speaker, is back in Australia with a week left of her holiday but her plans ruined.

Dyaning Pangestika, Jakarta – An Australian graduate student studying Indonesia and planning to visit Papua said she was devastated after being barred from entering the Southeast Asian country.

Indonesia has denied entry and will deport an Australian graduate student who was travelling via Bali to Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua on holiday.

Hans Arnold Kapisa, Jayapura – Manokwari, Yang Christian Warinussy, the Executive Director of the Legal Aid Study and Research (LP3BH) Manokwari, asserted President Joko Widodo, known as Jokowi, not to 'sell' the issue of human rights violations in Papua in regards to his candidacy in the Presidential Election 2019.

Johnny Blades – Indonesia's influence in the Pacific Islands is growing, but is shadowed by disquiet over its region of Papua, known widely as West Papua.

The West Papuan independence movement has significant traction in the region, where it continues to push for its self-determination aspirations to be addressed by the international community.

Junior Ukaha – West Papuan refugees seeking to live in Papua New Guinea have not come to look for land or home but were forced out of their country, according to John Lanta.

A New Zealand government MP says the issue of West Papuan self-determination should be heard at the United Nations.

Louisa Wall made the comment at the launch of a new book examining New Zealand's position on Indonesia's Papua region, known widely as West Papua.

Kustin Ayuwuragil, Jakarta – A group called the NKRI Volunteers (Relawan NKRI) attempted to disrupt an action by the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) and the Indonesian People's Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) in front of the State Palace on Thursday August 2.

Jakarta – The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has extended PT Freeport Indonesia's (PTFI) temporary special mining permit (IUPK) for another month after it expired on Tuesday.

Kustin Ayuwuragil & Ramadhan Rizki, Jakarta – Commemorating 49 years since the 'Act of Free Choice' (Pepera), the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) and the Indonesian People's Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) held protest actions in 13 cities across Indonesia including Jakarta, Bandung and Ambon.

Ihsan Dalimunthe, Jakarta – Actions commemorating 49 years since the Papuan "Act of Free Choice (Pepera) in 1969 will be held at several different locations, one of which was in front of the State Palace in Central Jakarta on Thursday August 2.

Jakarta – Indonesian police have foiled a plan by separatists in west Papua to establish a transient administration of an independent state, police said here Wednesday.

A New Zealand government MP says the issue of West Papuan self-determination should be heard at the United Nations.

Louisa Wall made the comment at the launch of a new book examining New Zealand's position on West Papua.

An Indonesian government consultant on Papua issues says political matters in Papua region should be dealt with internally.

Franzalbert Joku said concerns about human rights issues in Papua expressed in Pacific Islands regional forums were welcome.

Hans Arnold Kapisa, Jakarta – Papuan human rights activist Yan Christian Warinussy asked President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo to avoid setting aside human rights violations in Papua for the sake of the upcoming 2019 Presidential Election.

Gemma Holliani Cahya, Jakarta – The Indonesian Student Association (PPI) held the first ever talk on Papua at the Victoria University of Wellington (VUW) in New Zealand on Monday, with the aim of providing information on the development of the eastern most region of Indonesia.

A new tank-like military vessel under development in Indonesia is being targetted for use in provinces including Papua.

Production of the Antansena combat vessel began last year by East Java high-tech shipping company PT Lundin.

Melanesian Spearhead Group director general Amena Yauvoli says political discussions about West Papua don't belong in the organisation.

Mr Yauvoli told the Fiji Times human rights issues relating to West Papua should be dealt with by international organisations.

Stefanno Reinard Sulaiman, Jakarta – The regional administrations of Papua province and the Mimika regency must purchase their 10 percent shares in gold and copper miner PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI), which operates the Grasberg mine in Papua, state mining holding company PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (Inalum) has said.

Dan McGarry – The United Liberation Movement speaks with one voice and with one clear message.

Papua new Guinea's Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato says he has reaffirmed his country's support for Indonesian control of West Papua.

It was one of the points of discussion in Mr Pato's meeting with his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi on Thursday night in Jakarta.

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-042-2018

Dear Friends,

Michelle Winowatan – Dozens of Indonesian military and police personnel raided a student dormitory in Surabaya on July 6 to stop the screening of a documentary about security force atrocities in Papua. It's the latest example of the government's determination not to deal with past abuses in the country's easternmost province.

AWPA has written to the Australian Foreign Minister concerning recent worrying events in West Papua (letter below).

Thousands of West Papuan villagers have reportedly fled from their homes in a remote regency due to conflict between Indonesian military forces and pro-independence fighters.

This follows a string of deaths in Nduga regency where Indonesian security forces and the West Papua National Liberation Army have exchanged gunfire in recent weeks.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua will soon have seven new offices in West Papua, its chairman says.

Benny Wenda said three offices had already opened in the region and four more would follow shortly.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua supports the idea of dialogue with Indonesia as long as it is mediated internationally, the movement's secretary says.

John McBeth, Jakarta – The prolonged talks between the Indonesian government and Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold have passed another milestone with Freeport, partner Rio Tinto and state-owned holding company PT Inalum signing an agreement under which Rio Tinto will sell its stake in Papua's fabulously rich Grasberg mine.

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) condemns the unlawful arrest and detention committed by police officers of the Timika Police Office (Polres Timika) between 9 and 10 June 2018. Five indigenous Papuans were arrested without any arrest warrant: Titus Kwalik (48), Polce Sugumol (31), Julianus Dekme (31), Alosius Ogolmagai (49), and Orpa Wanjomal (40).

A West Papuan from Nduga regency says young people are tired of repeated violence triggered by politics in Indonesia's Papua region.

Samuel Tabuni's comment follows a string of deaths in Nduga where Indonesian security forces and the West Papua National Liberation Army have exchanged gunfire in recent weeks.

Thousands of West Papuan villagers have reportedly fled from their homes in a remote regency due to conflict between Indonesian military forces and pro-independence fighters.

This follows a string of deaths in Nduga regency where Indonesian security forces and the West Papua National Liberation Army have exchanged gunfire in recent weeks.

Stefanno Reinard Sulaiman, Jakarta – The agreement made on Thursday between PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (Inalum) and United States mining company Freeport-McMoran Inc. (FCX) was largely welcomed by the government, which claimed that the future of PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) was now clearer.

Gemma Holliani Cahya, Jakarta – Human rights activists have urged the National Police and the Indonesian Military to withdraw their joint operation from Alguru in Kenyam, Nduga regency, Papua, after a shootout between security personnel and unknown armed assailants.

Fergus Jensen, Jakarta – Freeport-McMoRan agreed on Thursday (12/07) to sell a majority stake in the world's second-biggest copper mine to the Indonesian government via a series of complex deals worth $3.85 billion, potentially ending a long-running dispute on mining rights.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – A number of prominent people in Nduga, Papua, has ask the Papua Police to withdraw the Mobile Brigade (Brimob) from Alguru in Kenyam, Nduga regency, Papua, following a shootout between the police and unknown armed assailants.On Friday, Samuel Tabuni, a prominent youth group member in Nduga, said he was waiting on Papua Police chief Insp. Gen.

Indonesian security forces in Papua province have engaged in more gunfire exchanges with an armed wing of the Free West Papua Movement.

Hostilities in Nduga regency were sparked two weeks ago during regional elections when three people were killed in an attack on police at the local airport.

Jakarta, Indonesia – Papuan leaders have protested an Indonesian military and police operation against separatists they say endangered the lives of villagers in the remote easternmost province.

Jakarta – State-owned mining holding company Inalum now owns a 51 percent share of gold and copper miner PT Freeport Indonesia after years of "tough" negotiations, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo announced on Thursday.

Danielle Bochove, Viriya Singgih and Yoga Rusmana – In what has become a pattern of two steps forward and one back, Freeport-McMoRan Inc. hailed a framework agreement that has been reached over its flagship copper-and-gold mine in Indonesia – while acknowledging it's far from definitive.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – A shootout between unknown armed assailants and the Police's elite Mobile Brigade (Brimob) broke out in Nduga regency in Papua on Wednesday.

Jakarta – The Surabaya Legal Aid Institute (LBH) has reported local security personnel to the East Java Police for allegedly committing unethical acts during a raid at a Papuan student dorm in Surabaya, East Java, recently.

LBH Surabaya detailed in a letter submitted on Monday five violations allegedly committed by the personnel.

Solomon Islands police have defended removing a West Papuan flag from outside the Indonesian stall at the Melanesian Arts and Cultural Festival in Honiara.

Last Saturday, a local man, Ben Didiomea, was questioned by police after holding the West Papuan Morning Star Flag as a protest outside Indonesia's festival stall.

Kharishar Kahfi, Jakarta – Indigenous communities from 19 villages at the Dampier Strait Marine Protection Area (MPA) in Raja Ampat Islands, West Papua, declared on Tuesday the customary fishing area in the regency, asserting their commitment to conserve marine ecosystems and utilize resources sustainably.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura, Papua – The victory of incumbent candidate pair Lukas Enembe-Klemen Tinal during the Papua gubernatorial election on June 27 will not affect support for President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in the province, although the pair was not supported by the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), an official said.