News Stories
Category: Human Rights
Violent crackdown against peaceful protestors in West Papua
May 11, 2022
Demonstrations took place in West Papua and across Indonesia on 10th May against the expansion of the proposed new autonomous regions. Protestors gathered in cities including Jayapura, Wamena, Yogyakarta, and Denpasar. The demonstrations were marked by the excessive use of force by the Indonesian security forces, with several protesters injured…
Pacific Elders call on Indonesia to allow UN access to West Papua
April 25, 2022
The Pacific Elders’ Voice (PEV), comprising former heads of state, US congresspersons and regional figures, has issued an urgent call for Indonesia to allow the UN High Commission for Human Rights to visit West Papua and to prepare a report for the Human Rights Council. Furthermore, the body has called on all members of the […]
US State Department report puts spotlight on West Papua
April 14, 2022
A report by the US State Department on human rights in Indonesia has cast a spotlight on the ongoing genocide being committed in West Papua. The report includes credible evidence supporting claims of human rights abuses by the Indonesian regime including: Unlawful civilian harm Torture and physical abuses Serious restrictions on free expression and media, […]
West Papua public hearing in Dutch Parliament
April 1, 2022
The ULMWP Provisional Government of West Papua will be taking part in a public hearing to discuss the situation in West Papua, happening in the House of Representatives, The Hague on 5th April. Full details below with a livestream available via this link.
UN experts report on shocking abuses against indigenous Papuans
March 3, 2022
The UN Human Rights Council have raised alarm about the escalating violent oppression of the West Papuan people by Indonesia, citing child killings, disappearances, torture and enforced mass displacement. “Between April and November 2021, we have received allegations indicating several instances of extrajudicial killings, including of young children, enforced disappearance, torture and inhuman treatment and […]
EU Commission urges Indonesian Government to allow West Papua visit
February 21, 2022
The EU Commission, head of a bloc of 27 countries, has joined 81 countries in the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) in calling for Indonesia to stop blocking the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from visiting West Papua. Currently, there are over 60,000 people internally displaced inside West Papua. […]
Activists demand release of imprisoned Papuan students
February 5, 2022
Human rights groups are demanding the unconditional release of eight Papuan university students, who have been held without trial by the Indonesian authorities for more than three months accused of treason. The students were arrested and charged after staging a pro-independence rally on Dec. 1 in Jayapura, capital of Papua province. During the rally, they […]
Punishment persists for Polish political prisoner in West Papua
December 9, 2021
Report from Radio New Zealand A Polish man imprisoned by an Indonesian court in 2018 after visiting West Papua as a tourist remains languishing in a cell in Papua’s remote interior with limited help from the government of Poland, and no compassion from Jakarta. Jakub Skrzypski is serving a seven-year…
Free West Papua merchandise announcement
November 29, 2021
The Free West Papua Campaign has formed a partnership with New Internationalist Ethical Shop to sell our range of merchandise, including t-shirts, flags, CDs and DVDs. Visit our new online store now.
West Papuans to launch historic Green State Vision at COP26
November 3, 2021
– The issue West Papua is a Pacific Island country under colonial occupation. Since Indonesia invaded and illegally occupied West Papua in 1963, over 500,000 indigenous West Papuan people have been killed. Home to one of the world’s largest rainforests, West Papua (bordering independent Papua New Guinea to the East) is one of the most biodiverse places […]