Denny Armandhanu, Izzah Aqilah Norman, Jakarta – Papua province's Youtefa Bay, known for its azure waters and lush mangrove forests, has seen infrastructure development that has helped improve locals' lives and the economy.

Cafes and restaurants have mushroomed there since the Youtefa bridge's inauguration by then-Indonesian president Joko Widodo in 2019, for instance.

Victor Mambor, Kurinbin, Papua, Indonesia – On a hilltop accessible only by hours traversing dense jungle on foot, the influential Kimko Jinipjo clan in Indonesia's Papua region gathered for a rare ceremony called "Awon Atatbon" earlier this month.

Moffat Mamu – Leader of Opposition Matthew has strongly condemned the latest murders in West Papua by the Indonesian military.

Hon Wale's call comes amidst recent media reports of Indonesian military unit that are roaming Intan Jaya Regency, slaughtering West Papuans at will. The recent killings have also included minors.

Reuters, Ananda Teresia, Jakarta – Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto is considering pardons for prisoners linked to armed organizations in the restive easternmost province of Papua, including separatists, providing they renounce violence and abandon secessionist agendas, a senior minister said on Wednesday.

Jayapura – The sudden occupation of forest areas and villages of indigenous peoples by the massive deployment of military units in the Indonesian region of Papua is becoming a constant that marks the life of an entire region with its human and natural heritage.

Church officials in Indonesia have rejected Indonesian security forces' claims of normalcy in a conflict zone in Papua, expressing concerns about the situation of displaced people and their safety.

The Church leaders said the security situation in the five villages in Oksop district is not yet normal, according to reports from pastoral officers of the Church in the field.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 28 November 2024, a tragic incident unfolded in Parim Village, Serambakon District, Pegunungan Bintang Regency, when Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) personnel killed Mr Methodius Uropmabin, 28, and Mr Nerius Oktemka, 25.

Ali Mirin – In a concerted effort to stifle support for West Papua's aspiration for independence, Indonesia has embarked on diplomatic initiatives with Pacific nations and communities.

Ali Mirin – Indonesia officially joined the BRICS – Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa – consortium last week marking a significant milestone in its foreign relations.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 10 December 2024, a group of students from the Walter Post School of Theology (STT) in Jayapura were arbitrarily stopped by police while they were driving to a public commemoration worship for the Human Rights Day, organised by the Papuan Council of Churches and Indigenous Pastors.

Jakarta – Police are intensifying security patrols in Yalimo regency, Papua Highlands, following the shooting of two civilians last week, as they seek to stabilize the situation and capture the shooter.

Indonesia, West Papua – Protests by Papuan students in the cities of Yogyakarta, Java Tengah Province, and Makassar, Sulawesi Selatan Province) were forcefully dispersed by police officers on 1 and 2 December 2024 in commemoration of the 1st December 1961.

Indonesia, West Papua – Human Rights Monitor's latest investigation reveals evidence of widespread and systematic attacks against indigenous civilians in Indonesia's Papua Tengah Province during security force operations in April 2023.

Theo Kelen, Jayapura – The Papua representative office of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) is urging the Manokwari Municipal Police (Polresta) to immediately arrest OU, the alleged perpetrators of the shooting of senior advocate and human rights defender Yan Christian Warinussy in Manokwari regency, West Papua, on July 17 last year.

Ade Ridwan Yandwiputra, Jakarta – Two civilians were killed in Elelim District, Yalimo, Papua Mountains, Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Both were immigrants from South Sulawesi who were working in Bumi Cendrawasih.

Franky Samperante, Jakarta – The narrative of "empty land/unproductive forest" or "no forest/no trees" is often used by authorities to negate and delegitimize the existence of indigenous communities and the surrounding natural environment.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 1 November 2024, the Supreme Court of Indonesia rejected the cassation appeal filed by Mr Hendrikus Franky Woro, an environmental advocate and member of the indigenous Awyu tribe, regarding the environmental feasibility permit granted to PT Indo Asiana Lestari (IAL).

Paul Gregoire – United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) provisional government interim president Benny Wenda has warned that since Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto took office in October, he has been proven right in having remarked, after the politician's last February election, that his coming marks the return of "the ghost of Suharto" – the brutal dictator who ruled

Indonesia, West Papua – On 24 December 2024, Mr Febrian Agapa, 20, was seriously injured after being shot at close range by the driver of a vehicle from a convoy escorted by security forces.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 20 December 2024, Mr Sulfianto Alias, director of the NGO Panah Papua, was beaten by a group of individuals in multiple locations in Teluk Bintuni, Papua Barat Province. One of the perpetrators allegedly identified himself as a police officer.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto greeted thousands of National Armed Forces (TNI) soldiers stationed in Papua via video call alongside Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin on New Year's Eve.

Don Wiseman – Indonesia's new president Prabowo Subianto has revealed plans to pardon as many as 44,000 convicts – about a third of the country's prison population.

It is being cast as a human rights gesture but given Prabowo's own record on human rights, critics believe it may be a tough sell.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has stated that the shooting of two civilians by para-military police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) officers in Dekai, Yahukimo regency, last August, was a human rights violation.

Hans Arnold Kapisa (Contributor), Jakarta – Environmental activist Sulfianto Alias, the director of the non-government organisation (NGO) Panah Papua, suffered serious injuries after being brutally beaten on the morning of Friday December 20 in Bintuni Bay regency, West Papua.

Indonesia, West Papua – A shooting incident involving the Indonesian military (TNI) occurred in Dogiyai Regency, Central Papua (Papua tengah) Province, on 16 December 2024, leaving three civilians injured. The incident began around 10:00 AM following a traffic accident and subsequent confrontation.

Markus You, Jayapura – Demanding justice for the fatal shooting of Tobias Silak and the wounding of Naro Dapla in Dekai, Yahukimo regency, Papua Highlands, national actions were held in several cities on December 16. Aside from Jayapura, similar actions were held in Jakarta, the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar and other cities.

Theo Kelen, Jayapura – The Indonesian government is considered to not be serious about resolving the armed conflict in Papua. An approach of peaceful dialogue must continue to be encouraged as an effort to resolve the conflict in Papua, but the government has ignored this.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has recorded 113 alleged human rights violations in Papua from January to December 16, 2024. Of these, 85 were related to armed conflicts and violence.

Jayapura – Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial) says that military operations in the land of Papua only sacrifice civilians and create massive internal displacement.

Maulana Ilhami Fawdi, Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) noted that between January and December 2024 there were 113 human rights incidents in Papua, 85 of which had the dimensions of armed conflict and violence.

Jayapura – In view of the Christmas celebrations on December 25, the Bishop of Jayapura, Yanuarius Teofilus Matopai You, calls for an end to the measures that prevent displaced Papuans from returning home to celebrate Christmas in the Oksop district.

Jayapura – The Journalist Justice and Safety Advocacy Coalition (KAKKJ) in Papua, which consists of journalists, human rights defenders, students, the Cipayung Group and the Front, held a peaceful demonstration in front of the Papua Regional Police (Polda) Headquarters in Jayapura city, Papua, on Tuesday December 17.

Andrew Mathieson – An Indonesian minister within Prabowo Subianto's new government took little time to announce plans to resume a former transmigration program throughout the eastern regions of a sovereign Indonesia, including the largest Papua province in western New Guinea, saying it was needed to enhance unity and provide locals with welfare.

Ayu Cipta, Jakarta – Two police officers in Papua, Adjunct Inspector One (Aiptu) Hidayat Suratnoharta and Senior Brigadier Tri Yudha Argadianto, died following an attack by unidentified assailants.

Aiptu Hidayat passed away on Friday, December 13, 2024, a day after the death of Bripka Tri Yudha, who succumbed to his injuries on Thursday, December 12, 2024.

Fika Nurul Ulya, Bagus Santosa, Jakarta – Minister of Law (Menkum) Supratman Andi Agtas has revealed that it has been proposed that as many as 18 prisoners involved in cases related to Papua are to be given amnesty.

Dede Leni Mardiant, Jakarta – Gunfire engagement between a group calling themselves the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM) and the Indonesian National Army (TNI) occurred again in Lanny Jaya, Papua Mountains, on Wednesday, December 11, 2024.

Imam Hamdi, Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The National Human Rights Commission representative of Papua noted that violence and injustice are still felt by the people of Papua in 2024.

Gamaliel Kaliele, Sorong – Papua Independent Indigenous Communities (MAI) General Chairperson Johanes Tsenawatme has condemned the attitude of the government which continues to ignore threats against human rights activists in the land of Papua.

Aida Ulim, Jayapura – The Papuan People's Front (FRP) and Papuan students hope that with the momentum International Human Rights Day the Indonesian state will open its eyes to and be aware that the state is the biggest sinner in the form of human rights violations against the Papuan people.

Vitorio Mantalean, Ihsanuddin, Jakarta – Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial) says that the thousands of troops sent to the land of Papua throughout 2024 were illegal.

Imparsial Director Ardi Manto Adiputra stressed that the status of the Papua Military Operations Area (DOM) was officially revoked after reformasi – the political reform process that began in 1998.

As Interim President of the ULMWP, I welcome the release of the judgment of the Permanent People's Tribunal (PPT) on West Papua.

After testimonies from West Papuans on the ground and legal and academic experts, the PPT found Indonesia guilty on all four counts:

Reiner Brabar, Sorong – International Human Rights Day will be commemorated on December 10. This year is the 76th anniversary of Human Rights Day since the Universal Human Rights Declaration was issued by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948.

Reiner Brabar, Sorong – The All Nusantara leadership board of the Nduga High School and University Student Association (IPMNI) and the families of victims are urging the central government to resolve the human rights violations that occurred on December 7, 2000 in Abepura, Jayapura city, Papua.

Governor Powes Parkop of Papua New Guinea's capital Port Moresby has appealed to West Papuans living in his country to carry on the self-determination struggle for future generations and to not lose hope.

Parkop, a staunch supporter of the West Papua cause, reminded Papuans at their Independence Day last Sunday of the struggles of their ancestors, reports Inside PNG.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 15 November 2024, thousands of Papuans went to the streets after the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) called for peaceful Papua-wide demonstrations against the central Government's plan to relaunch the transmigration program, with West Papua being one of the target areas.

Andrew Johnson – I have a friend Julian King, who Duncan Graham reports has been subjected to a stun grenade as our Australian Federal Police burst through his door to seize his PhD research, phone and computers. Reportedly, the AFP are concerned about OPM (Organisasi Papua Merdeka _Free Papua Organisation), the indigenous independence movement in West Papua.

Ezra Toara - December 1, 2024 is a date deeply significant to all West Papuans, marking 63 years since the Morning Star Flag was first raised for independence and justice for West Papua.

This year's event in Vanuatu's capital was commemorated at Sorovango School.

Sorong – The Papua Student Alliance (AMP), the Indonesian People's Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) and the All-Surabaya Papua High School and University Students Association (IPMAPA Surabaya) have expressed their firm opposition to National Strategic Projects (PSN), the transmigration program and military mobilisation in Papua.

Anastasya Lavenia Y, Jakarta – The indigenous people of Merauke held an audience with Committee II of the South Papua Regional Government Council at the Merauke District Office, Papua, on Monday, December 2, 2024.

Yogyakarta – Demonstrators calling themselves the Papua Student Alliance (AMP) held a protest action on Jalan Kusumanegara in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta on Sunday December 1.