West Papua

August 2023

News
Suara Papua – August 24, 2023

Onoy Lokobal, Wamena – The Republic of Indonesia delegation, who are taking part in the 22nd Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leaders Summit (KTT) in Port Vila, the capital city of Vanuatu, staged a "walkout" during a session on Wednesday August 23.

News
Kompas.com – August 19, 2023

Singgih Wiryono, Jakarta – Former Jakarta governor and presidential hopeful from the Coalition for Change and Unity (KPP), Anies Baswedan, says that the solution to the armed conflict in Papua is policies that create to a sense of justice.

News
Suara Papua – August 15, 2023

Jayapura – After a peaceful action in Sentani was forcibly broken up by police on the morning of August 15, demonstrators from the Jayapura West Papua National Committee (KNPB) decided to hold a free speech foru

News
Suara Papua – August 15, 2023

Agus Pabika, Sentani – One person was arrested and scores of others beaten black and blue by a joint unit of police and military when they forcibly broke up a peaceful action by the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) in the Sentani area of Jayapura regency, Papua, on the morning of Tuesday August 15.

July 2023

News
Kompas.com – July 12, 2023

Dian Erika Nugraheny, Bandung – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo says that there are underground and above ground efforts to free Susi Air pilot Mark Mehrtens who is being held hostage by a Papuan armed criminal group (KKB) – the government’s term for the West Papua Na

News
CNN Indonesia – July 10, 2023

Jakarta – The Papuan regional police say they never said that the armed criminal group (KKB) led by Egianus Kogoya had asked for a 5 billion rupiah ransom for the release of Susi Air pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens.

News
CNN Indonesia – July 8, 2023

Jakarta – The leader of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) or KKB (armed criminal group), Egianus Kogoya, has denied asking for 5 billion rupiah for the release of Susi Air pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens, who they have held

News
Kompas.com – July 7, 2023

Singgih Wiryono, Jakarta – Former National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) Chairperson for the period 2017-2022, Ahmad Taufan Damanik, says that it is difficult to expect Komnas HAM to play a role in resolving the hostage case involving Susi Air pilot Philips Mark

June 2023

News
CNN Indonesia – June 30, 2023

Jakarta – West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organisation (TPNPB-OPM) or KKB (armed criminal group) spokesperson Sebby Sambom claims that they have not asked for a ransom to be paid for the release Susi Air pilot Mark

News
Detik Sulsel – June 12, 2023

Juhra Nasir, Tambrauw – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) has spoke out about the declaration and inauguration of its management board in Tambrauw district, Southwest Papua province, which was broken up by police on Friday for alleged treason.

News
Detik Sulsel – June 10, 2023

Juhra Nasir, Tambrauw – Police have arrested 19 West Papua National Committee (KNPB) activists in Tambrauw regency, Southwest Papua province on Friday after they announced or proclaimed Papuan independence.

News
CNN Indonesia – June 2, 2023

Jakarta – Indonesia's 5th President and chairperson of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Megawati Sukarnoputri, has expressed criticism over the problems in Papua that are never settled.

May 2023

News
CNN Indonesia – May 29, 2023

Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Security, Politics and Legal Affairs Mahfud MD has emphasised that the government rejects all assistance from outside parties related to efforts to free Susi Air pilot Captain Philip Mark Mehrtens from the Papuan Armed Criminal Group (

News
Kompas – May 9, 2023

Singgih Wiryono, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid is urging the Indonesian government to unconditionally release Papuan political activist Victor Yeimo, who was sentenced to eight months in prison on

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Tribun Papua – May 6, 2023

Putri Nurjannah Kurita, Sentani – The Jayapura District Court in Papua trying Victor Frederick Yeimo on charges of makar (treason, subversion, rebellion) sentenced him to eight months in prison on Friday May 5.

News
CNN Indonesia – May 1, 2023

Makassar – A demonstration commemorating International Labour Day on May 1 by a group of Papuan students from the Democratic Struggle Alliance has been broken up by police. Five people were arrested because they were suspected of being provocateurs.

News
JPNN Bali – May 1, 2023

Ali Mustofa, Denpasar – An International Labour Day demonstration in the Balinese provincial capital of Denpasar, which fell on Monday May 1, ended in chaos after a clash between Papuan students and several social organisations.

April 2023

News
Kompas.com – April 19, 2023

Achmad Nasrudin Yahya, Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform is urging the TNI (Indonesian military) to cancel a decision to raise the operational status in conflict-prone Papua to combat ready (siaga tempur).

News
Kompas.com – April 15, 2023

Singgih Wiryono, Jakarta – Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) Deputy Coordinator for Advocacy Tioria Pretty says that nationalist policies will not resolve the structural problems in Papua.

News
Kompas – April 14, 2023

Singgih Wiryono, Jakarta – Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) research and mobilisation division head Rozy Brilian says that the Indonesian government always refuses to hold a dialogue with Papuan armed criminal groups (KKB).