News Stories
Category: Human Rights
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 […]
Papuans Behind Bars – Annual Report
October 10, 2021
The latest annual report from Papuans Behind Bars has been released, covering the period October 2020 – September 2021. 418 new political prisoners were recorded in the period October 2020 to September 2021. Most new political prisoners have been released after being arrested or detained with as many as 106 still being held in…
Another West Papuan priest killed by the Indonesian military amid internet blackout
May 28, 2021
URGENT – 5th WEST PAPUAN PRIEST SHOT IN MONTHS. We are devastated to report the killing of yet another West Papuan priest at the hands of the Indonesian military. Lagan Hagabal was shot dead by Indonesian soldiers in Demayu village this month amid the ongoing internet blackout.
Spanish Senate calls for UN High Commissioner access to West Papua
March 23, 2021
The Spanish Senate has called for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to be allowed into West Papua, where a long-running Indonesian occupation is accused of severe human rights abuses. Underscoring the urgency of the visit, five West Papuan students in Jayapura were arrested today (Monday) by Indonesian police for backing the campaign for […]
Indonesian military violence against West Papuan religious figures – summary
December 9, 2020
A spate of killings of religious figures has taken place in West Papua in recent months, carried out by the Indonesian military. The ULMWP summarises the cases here.
245 new political prisoners in West Papua
December 7, 2020
Report from Papuans Behind Bars There were 245 new political prisoners between 1 January 2019 and 30 September 2020. While 198 of the political prisoners on record have now been released, 27 remain in prison serving their sentences, seven are currently on trial and another is awaiting trial. There are at least twelve people on the police […]