Victor C. Mambor, Jayapura – State-owned mining holding company PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (Inalum) is waiting for a deal to be made between the Papua provincial and Mimika regental administrations on the ownership of 10 percent of the 51.23 percent of shares owned by Inalum in PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI).

Rt Hon Winston Peters
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Parliament Buildings
Wellington

Dear Winston Peters,

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

4 April 2019

Dear Foreign Minister,

I am writing to you on behalf of the Australia West Papua Association in Sydney concerning the latest report from the human rights organization "Front Line Defenders" (FLD).

A human rights group has reported that tens of thousands of people in Indonesia's Papua province have been displaced by conflict.

The estimate is the gravest yet in a months-long war between security forces and rebel fighters in Papua.

Both the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Nduga and worsening clampdown on freedom of expression and assembly in West Papua were significant issues raised during the recent convening of the 40th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (25 Feb. – 22 Mar. 2019).

Ivany Atina Arbi, Jakarta – Military operations conducted by the Indonesian Military (TNI) in Nduga regency, Papua, in the past few months have led to various human rights violations, a recent investigation initiated by the Nduga administration has alleged, allegations that the TNI has denied.

Egi Adyatama, Jakarta (Antara) – Thousands of Freeport Indonesia workers may not be able to vote this coming election. As it turns out, many of them are not registered with the local General Election Commission (KPU).

Jakarta (Antara) – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo visited victims of floods in Jayapura, Papua province who were sheltered at the Toware Sports Center, Waibu district, today, April 1.

"Yes, relocation is necessary because the area is prone to disaster. So people must be relocated," said President Jokowi after having a dialogue with the evacuees on Monday, April 1.

Ivany Atina Arbi, Jakarta – The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) announced on Saturday that authorities had decided to end the 14-day emergency period in Sentani district, Jayapura, Papua, after a flash flood struck the area on March 16.

Jakarta – An independent team called the Nduga Case Investigation Team has reported a number of alleged human rights violations (HAM) during the military operations conducted by the TNI (Indonesian military) and Polri (Indonesian police) in Nduga regency, West Papua.

Kristianto Galuwo – A Hound, totally wet, are walking around, scrapping over damp branches lying on the ground. Thirsty, it moves to a puddle for a sip of water. Doesn't know what to do, it turns to sniff piles of stumps that just tumbled from trees.

Duncan Graham – Before the horrifying March 15 mosque massacres in Christchurch, New Zealand was best recognized for its knockout landscapes and relaxed lifestyle.

Yamin Kogoya – Last Thursday, The Jakarta Post published an opinion article by the Indonesian Foreign Affair Minister, Retno LP Marsudi, highlighting a plan for diplomatic engagement with the South Pacific countries.

Jakarta – Papuan independence fighters are vowing more attacks on a highway that's the Indonesian president's key development project in the troubled easternmost region.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua has urged all Papuans in Indonesia to boycott the upcoming national elections.

Indonesia, which has over 190 million eligible voters, goes to the polls on 17 April. It will be the first time the country's president, vice president, and members of the legislature are elected on the same day.

New Zealand's Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, has called for an end to violence in Indonesia's Papua province.

Mr Peters was responding to a letter from a representative of the West Papua Liberation Army, which is waging war with Indonesia's military in Papua.

Indonesia's Provincial Red Cross in Papua is working with local disaster authorities and other agencies to supply shelter, clean water and sanitation to over 11,000 people displaced by the Sentani floods ten days ago.

The death toll remains at 112 and 94 people are still missing after flash floods and landslides hit Sentani in Jayapura Regency, in Papua Province.

As the representative body of the West Papuan people and all West Papuan groups, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) formally declares a boycott of the Indonesian presidential and general elections on April 17, 2019.

Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency says the death toll from flooding in Papua province has risen to 112.

Torrential rain triggered flash flooding and landslides over a week ago, causing Lake Sentani in Jayapura regency to overflow and numerous rivers to burst.

Papua villagers displaced from their Central Highlands regency have rejected proposals for them to return home.

Over 2000 people have fled Nduga regency to neighbouring Jayawijaya regency due to ongoing armed conflict.

Hundreds of Indonesian military troops have deployed to Nduga to try and capture members of the West Papua Liberation Army.

On the afternoon of March 23 around 70 people from various different organisations which are part of the People United Front (FPR) and the Anti-Militarism Students Against Military Operations in Nduga held a protest action in the Simpang Lima district of the East Java provincial capital of Semarang.

Jakarta – The Environment and Forestry Ministry announced on Wednesday that five people, including three directors of different timber companies, had been named suspects in connection with the inspection of hundreds of shipping containers containing Intsia bijuga logs in separate locations of Jayapura, Papua.

Gemma Holliani Cahya, Jayapura – By Wednesday morning rescue workers had recovered 104 dead victims of a flash flood and landslide that happened across Jayapura regency, Papua on Sunday.

The National Disaster and Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said that 79 people were still reported missing since the flash flood hit the regency.

Asrida Elisabeth, Della Syahni, Lusia Arumingtyas, Jayapura/Jakarta – Rain-triggered flash floods and landslides that struck Indonesia's easternmost province this past weekend have killed nearly 90 people and driven thousands from their homes. The country's disaster mitigation agency has cited human-caused deforestation as having exacerbated the scale of the damage.

Arie Ruhyanto – Three soldiers and several members of an armed group were killed in a shootout earlier this month in Nduga, Papua. Last Sunday, Indonesia's easternmost province suffered another blow; flash floods killed at least 79 people in Sentani, near Papua's capital, Jayapura.

The death toll from flash floods in Indonesia's Papua region has risen to 89. Over 6000 people have been evacuated from flooded villages after days of heavy rain.

The worst affected parts are in and around Jayapura and villages near Lake Sentani which overflowed, spilling large volumes of water through surrounding areas.

Robert Isidorus, Jakarta – The flash flood in Sentani, Papua, which has killed at least 100 people since Saturday (16/03) has been years in the making, experts said, with Papua's unique mountainous terrain and a recent weather anomaly combining to a disastrous effect.

Victor Mambor and Gemma Holliani Cahya, Jayapura and Jakarta – Residents fled their homes as heavy rain and flooding continued on Tuesday in Jayapura, Papua, inundating more villages across the regency.

At least 89 people are reported to have died with 84 suffering serious injuries on the third day of the torrential rain that has hit the country's easternmost province.

Johni Korwa – The prospect of Indonesians abstaining from voting (golput), out of disillusionment with Jokowi or weariness of the options on offer, has been a widely-debated topic in this election.

The search is continuing in Indonesia's Papua Province for people missing after major floods at the weekend.

Local authorities said 68 people are confirmed to have died from the floods near the provincial capital Jayapura.

Heavy rain over the weekend caused flooding and landslides and authorities report over 1000 people have been evacuated to safety.

Jakarta – A seven-hour torrential downpour caused the flood, which has forced 4,728 residents to evacuate to six different emergency shelters. Meanwhile, the BNPB has estimated that 11,725 families have been affected by the flood.

Australia-based anthropologist Yamin Kogoya said there is too much emphasise on ramming the Indonesian state ideology down Papuans' throats.

Indonesia's president Joko Widodo has pushed major infrastructure development projects in Papua in the past three years.

Jakarta – Around 200 school students from many villages in conflict-ridden Nduga, Papua, may not be able to participate in the national exams this year following ongoing conflict between the Indonesian Military (TNI) and an armed group with ties to the Free Papua Movement (OPM) in the region.

Tom Stayner – West Papuan Victor Yeimo has given testimony to the UN Human Rights Council alleging more than 2000 people have fled violence in his homelands.

The spokesperson for the West Papua National Committee, told the council's 40th session in Geneva, Indigenous Papuans are being targeted in the Indonesian-controlled province.

Jakarta – The government has told the administrations of Papua province and Mimika regency to establish a region-owned enterprise (BUMD) to hold the 10 percent combined shares they were allotted through the divestment of copper and gold miner PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI).

A new US government report has found West Papuans continue to face violence, politically-motivated detentions and threats in Indonesia. The findings were part of a State Department review of Indonesia's human rights conduct last year.

The UN Human Rights Council has heard that at least 2000 Papuans have been displaced by escalating violence in Indonesia's Nduga regency.

The claims were part of presentations to the council by the West Papua National Committee, or KNPB, on Wednesday in Geneva.

Muh. Syaifullah, Jakarta – The former chief of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), AM Hendropriyono, asserted that the Free Papua Movement or OPM is categorized as a terrorist group because the group killed innocent people.

Jakarta – The Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) on Tuesday called for the National Police chief to investigate police officers in Wamena, Papua, for "arbitrarily" shaming alleged sex workers.

The rights group also urged the Home Ministry to assess Jayawijaya Regent Jhon Richard Banua, who had condoned "the violation of human rights".

John Mcbeth, Jakarta – Separatist rebels have ramped up attacks on Indonesia's Trans-Papua Highway, a 4,320-km project that aims to spur development in the contested region

Nithin Coca – With increasingly regular protests and a violent crackdown by police and the military, the contested Indonesian region of West Papua is currently seeing the highest levels of agitation it has experienced in years.

Victor Mambor, Jayapura – Calm has yet to return to Nduga regency in Indonesia's Papua province where pro-independence rebels killed 19 construction workers in December, forcing residents to flee to escape clashes between the insurgents and government security forces.

Hans Kapisa, Manokwari – The Manokwari Papuan Women's Forum (FPP) held a silent action on March 8 to commemorate International Women's Day (IWD).

During the action, the protesters handed out flowers and leaflets as a sign of the grief over the injustices against Papuan women who often fall victim to violence.

As many as 15 people are feared to have been killed in a firefight between Indonesian soldiers and Papuan independence fighters, adding to more than two dozen deaths in the simmering conflict since November.

Indonesia's military says negotiation with the West Papua Liberation Army can only take place if both sides have the same goal.

Humanitarian concern is growing for villagers displaced by armed conflict in the Highlands between the Liberation Army and Indonesia's military.

Johnny Blades – As the numbers of casualties and displaced people in Papua's Highlands pile up, prospects for an end to armed conflict in the Indonesian-ruled region appear dim.

Humanitarian concern is growing for villagers who have been displaced by conflict in the Highlands between Indonesia's military and the West Papua Liberation Army.

West Papuan independence campaigners are supporting a British parliamentary petition calling for investigations into Indonesia's alleged chemical weapon use in Papua.

Labour MP Alex Sobel last month filed a motion demanding the British government and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons investigate.

Victor Mambor and Ahmad Syamsudin, Jayapura and Jakarta – Three government troops and at least one rebel were killed in a shootout Thursday when scores of guerrillas attacked soldiers who were guarding the construction of a major highway in far eastern Indonesia's Papua province, the military said.

Primus Dorimulu, Jakarta – Papua looks blue from up above. Its shorelines and mountains are covered with verdant forest. The river that runs across its land resembles a thin brush of white paint drawn on a canvas of blue. Abundant minerals, notably copper and gold, lie beneath its fertile grounds.

Liselotte Mas – Residents of Papua, the easternmost province of Indonesia, have been fighting for decades to defend their rights and preserve their homeland against business interests, which seek to exploit the terrain for minerals and transform it into vast palm oil plantations.