Jayapura, Jubi – The Papua Legal Aid Institute (LBH Papua) has asserted that the government bears the responsibility for safeguarding the human rights of the numerous displaced people and children in Yahukimo Regency, Mountainous Papua Province.

An Australian human rights advocacy group for West Papuans has condemned the killing of 5 youths found dead in Dekai, capital of Yahukimo Regency, and have challenged Canberra to reconsider government ties with Indonesian security forces.

Antara, Jayapura, Papua – Papua Police Chief Inspector General Mathius Fakhiri stated that Susi Air's pilot New Zealander Phillip Mehrtens, held captive by the Egianus Kogoya-led armed group members since February 7, was reportedly in good health.

A Radio New Zealand Pacific journalist has alleged that an Indonesian official attempted to both bribe and intimidate him following an interview at the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) leaders' summit in the Vanuatu capital of Port Vila last month.

The Free Papua Organisation (Organisasi Papua Merdeka-OPM) has sent an open letter to the United Nations leadership demanding that "decolonisation" of the former Dutch colony of West New Guinea, the Indonesian-administered region known across the Pacific as West Papua, be initiated under the direction of the UN Trusteeship Council.The letter accuses the UN of being a "criminal acces

Jayapura, Jubi – Director of the Democracy Alliance for Papua (AIDP) Latifah Anum Siregar has criticized the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) for the slow progress in investigating the alleged shootings of civilians in Dogiyai Regency, Central Papua Province.

Jayapura, Jubi – The meeting of Committee II of the Papua Regional Representative Council (DPD) resulted in the agreement on various aspects concerning the impact of mining giant Freeport Indonesia's tailings in the Mimika region of Jita and Agimuga, Central Papua Province.

David Robie – Prime Minister James Marape has made two foreign policy gaffes in the space of a week that may come back to bite him as Papua New Guinea prepares for its 48th anniversary of independence this Saturday.

Jakarta – The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM) has confirmed that the Susi Air pilot from New Zealand, Philip Mark Mehrtens, who was taken hostage by the group in early February, is still alive.

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has backtracked on his comments that PNG had no right to comment on human rights abuses in West Papua and has offered a clarification to "clear misconceptions and apprehension".

Last week, Marape met with the Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the sidelines of the 43rd ASEAN summit in Jakarta.

Jayapura, Jubi – The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has accumulated pending tasks related to its investigation of alleged civilian shootings in Dogiyai Regency.

Theressia Silalahi, Jakarta – Prosecutors on Wednesday recommended a prison sentence of 10 and a half years for former Papua Governor Lukas Enembe, who is on trial for allegedly accepting tens of billions of rupiah in bribe money.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy has spoken out about the poverty rate in Papua which has not been declining. He attributed this to the lack of direct monitoring of the affected region by policymakers.

Moh. Khory Alfarizi, Jakarta – Transportation Ministry through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, held a forum group discussion with the theme of "Advancing Together to Improve Civil Aviation Safety in Papua" on September 11-12, 2023 in Timika, Papua.

Jayapura, Jubi – Yustus Yekusamon, a key figure and driving force behind the economic progress of indigenous communities in Grime Nawa Valley, Jayapura Regency, is collaborating with the Assessment and Empowerment of Indigenous Peoples Association (PPMA Papua).

A Radio New Zealand (RNZ) journalist has alleged that an Indonesian official attempted to both bribe and intimidate him following an interview at a recent meeting of a Melanesian intergovernmental organisation in Port Vila, Vanuatu.

Manokwari, Jubi – Following an incident in the Kramomongga District, Fakfak Regency, West Papua Province on August 15, 2023, the police have apprehended a total of 12 individuals suspected of involvement in the attack. Seven of them have faced legal prosecution, while five were fatally shot by law enforcement officers.

The Regent of Bintuni Bay Regency in West Papua Province, Petrus Kasihiw, has officially recognized the ancestral lands of three clans within the Moskona tribe: Masakoda, Yen, and Yec clans, totaling 6,262 hectares. This decision was made following the issuance of a Decree during a meeting on Saturday, September 9, 2023 in Waraitama Village, Manimeri District.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – An Indonesian court has upheld a government decision to curb the expansion of a multibillion-dollar oil palm plantation project in the country's easternmost region of Papua.

Jayapura, Jubi – On Thursday, September 7, 2023, three students of the Jayapura University of Science and Technology (USTJ) who had been convicted in a treason case, were released from the Abepura Prison in Jayapura City. They were picked up by a group of student activists in Jayapura City.

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has told Indonesia's president Joko Widodo that PNG has no right to criticise Jakarta over what he calls alleged human rights abuses in West Papua.

Jayapura, Jubi – On Tuesday, September 5, 2023, the Military Court III-14 in Denpasar, Bali officially delivered its verdict, acquitting of all charges the murder defendants of Papuan teenagers Eden Bebari and Ronny Wandik, First Sgt. Vicentie De Oliviara and Chief Pvt. Bahari Muhrim of the Yonif Raider 900/SBW Unit.

Jayapura, Jubi – Local Papuan traders have urged the Jayapura City Administration to supervise and enforce Regional Regulation No. 10/2018, which focuses on safeguarding and empowering local traders, particularly Indigenous Papuans in the market.

Jayapura, Jubi – The initial report concerning the homicide of Michelle Kurisi has been forwarded to the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM). Frits Ramandey, the head of the Papua Representative of Komnas HAM, stated on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, that his office had submitted an initial report on the Michelle Kurisi murder case to Komnas HAM in Jakarta.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has declared it will now base itself in the region after years of partial exile.

At a conference in Port Vila late last month – coinciding with the Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders' Summit – UK-based Benny Wenda stood down as president. Menase Tabuni is now president.

Isabella Rayner – The Indonesian government has denied claims it intimidated and bribed a Radio New Zealand (RNZ) journalist during a leader's meeting last month.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry has spoken out over allegations that the Indonesian delegation at the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leaders Summit in Port Vila tried to bribe and intimidate a Radio New Zealand (RNZ) journalist in late August.

Jayapura, Jubi – Namantus Gwijangge, a Papuan lawmaker, has called upon the West Papua National Liberation Army Group (TPNPB), led by Egianus Kogoya, to adhere to humanitarian principles and respect the right to life of civilians residing in conflict zones.

Nadine Roberts – Sebby Sambon used to regularly hear from kidnapped Kiwi pilot Phillip Mehrtens' captors but three months ago that stopped.

Mehrtens was taken by the West Papua Liberation Army after members stormed his plane in the Papua province of Indonesia and set it on fire in February.

Koroi Hawkins – A Radio New Zealand journalist says an Indonesian government official attempted to bribe and intimidate him at the recent 22nd Melanesian Spearhead Group leaders' meeting in Port Vila.

The Indonesian government has responded on Monday saying it will "surely look" into the claims.

Len Garae – The population of West Papua represented by United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) have an Interim President to succeed Mr. Benny Wenda.

He is Mr. Manase Tabuni, 45, who risked finding his way to attend the recent ULMWP Summit here in Port Vila.

Wamena, Jubi – Human Rights Lawyers Association (PAHAM) Papua demands a thorough and impartial investigation into the death of Michelle Kurisi, a civilian who was tragically killed on August 28, 2023, in Kolawa District, Lanny Jaya Regency, Mountainous Papua Province.

Jayapura, Jubi – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has called on the police to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the murder of Michelle Kurisi Ndoga in Lanny Jaya Regency, Mountainous Papua Province.

Vanuatu Daily Post civil society correspondents have written in unison condemning the failure of the Melanesian Spearhead Group to admit West Papua as full members of the organisation at last month's leaders' summit in Port Vila.

Press freedom in Indonesia's predominantly Christian Papua province is now the worst in the Muslim-majority Southeast Asian nation, according to a recent survey.

Duncan Graham – An Australian academic is risking an eruption of diplomatic fury by publicly criticising Indonesia's brutal response to the Papuan independence movement, a hypersensitive topic for the governments of both countries.

Jayapura, Jubi – Spokesperson of the XVII Cenderawasih Military Command Lt. Col. Inf Johanis Parinussa refuted the statement of Sebby Sambom, the spokesperson for the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), which claimed that the TPNPB Ndugama group had murdered an Indigenous Papuan named Michelle Kurisi Ndoga in Kimbim, Jayawijaya Regency.

Leader of Opposition Hon Matthew Wale has expressed disappointment with the Prime Minister's stand on the West Papua issue labelling it as 'hypocritical'.

Hon Wale said the current Prime Minister used to be a strong supporter and advocator for West Papua in the past but he has taken a 180-degree on the issue.

An Australian advocacy group in support of West Papuan self-determination has criticised the Melanesian Spearhead Group leaders for failing to grant West Papua full membership in the organisation at last week's summit in Port Vila.

A provincial government in West Papua has launched a campaign to promote fish consumption among school students to help overcome the condition, which is generally caused by poor nutrition.

The Antara news agency quotes governor George Yarangga saying this is an extension of a programme that has been used in other parts of Indonesia for nearly 20 years.

Len Garae, Port Vila – The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) has failed West Papua, says a Vanuatu government champion of West Papuan self-determination.

Yamin Kogoya – The Jakarta District Court heard the case of alleged bribery and gratification against suspended Papua governor Lukas Enembe on Monday with evidence from expert witnesses saying that an audit showed records to be "clean and accurate".

The hearing was convened to hear the testimony of three expert witnesses on the allegations against Governor Enembe.

In spite of again being denied full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has welcomed the call from the MSG Leaders' Summit in Port Vila last week for Indonesia to allow the long-awaited visit of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to West Papua.

Timika, Jubi – The families of the murder and mutilation victims in Mimika Regency expressed their dissatisfaction with the decision made by the Appellate Judges Panel of the Surabaya High Military Court III, which reduced the sentence for Maj. Inf. Helmanto Fransiskus Dakhi, the defendant, from life imprisonment to 15 years in jail.

Doddy Morris, Port Vila – The controversial multimilion dollar funding that Indonesia is providing to Vanuatu comes in response to a request made by the Vanuatu government, says the Indonesian Ambassador of Indonesia to Vanuatu and Australia.

Daniel A. Fajri, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) led by Benny Wenda presented a false report on the situation in Papua at the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Summit, forcing Indonesia to walk out of the forum.

Jayapura, Jubi – Tropical glaciers in Papua are predicted to vanish within the next three years. The melting of the glacier on Puncak Jaya, the highest peak in Indonesia at 4,884 meters, is being accelerated by this year's El Nino phenomenon.

Grant Wyeth – Last week the 22nd Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leaders' Summit was held in Port Vila, Vanuatu. The MSG is a regional body that includes Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu, and Papua New Guinea as well as the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), an alliance of pro-independence political parties in New Caledonia.

A one-year moratorium has been placed on Indonesia's application to join the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

Prime Minister James Marape said this was so that Pacific Island Forum could address the West Papua issue and specifically human rights allegations in the province.

A West Papuan leader has condemned the Melanesian Spearhead Group for abandoning the West Papuan cause in favour of a "corrupt alliance" with Indonesia.

Jeffrey P Bomanak, chairman of the Free Papua Organisation (OPM), declared last week's MSG Leaders' Summit ruling on West Papua a "betrayal" of the Papuan people and called for the regional group to be dissolved.