News Stories
Category: Human Rights
US State Department: West Papuans jailed for supporting referendum
March 15, 2019
The United States Department of State has confirmed that Indonesia jailed West Papuans gathering a petition for independence. In its 2018 assessment report for Indonesia, the US State Department says: “On March 12, an (Indonesian) district court in Papua Province convicted Papuan activist Yanto Awerkion and sentenced him to 10 months in prison for involvement […]
Indonesia sends 600 Indonesian soldiers to secure controversial road in West Papua
March 7, 2019
The Indonesian government has deployed 600 soldiers, including 150 “combat engineers” to secure the controversial “Trans Papua” road, which is causing widespread violence, ecological destruction and social upheaval. The following is a report from BenarNews Calm has yet to return to Nduga regency in Indonesia’s Papua province where separatist rebels killed 19 construction workers in […]
United Kingdom: Parliamentary motion demands action on chemical weapon attacks
March 6, 2019
An Early Day Motion demanding action from the British Government on chemical weapon attacks in West Papua has been launched by Alex Sobel MP. Supporters of the Free West Papua campaign in the UK may contact their MP via our website to register support for the motion. Early Day Motion #2074 Early Day Motions are […]
Indonesian police say they will “arrest anyone” calling for West Papua’s independence
March 2, 2019
On Wednesday 27th February, the Head of the Indonesian police in West Papua, Inspector General Martuani Sormin Siregar announced that any people advocating West Papua’s freedom will be arrested. After a joint meeting with the Indonesian police, he stated, “If there is anyone who shouts for independence in the Unitary Republic of Indonesia, we will […]
United Nations experts condemn human rights abuses, impunity and racism in West Papua
February 21, 2019
This article was originally uploaded by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) and can be read here. The largest group of independent experts within the UN human rights system has issued an unprecedented statement condemning a ‘culture of impunity’ around human rights abuses in West Papua. The statement calls for ‘those who have […]
ULMWP gathers West Papuan people of Doberai in Manokwari show their support for petition
February 18, 2019
This article was originally published by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) and can be read here. On 14th February, the people of Manokwari in the Doberai region gathered to show their support and give thanks for the official submission of the West Papuan people’s petition to the United Nations. The historic petition, […]
West Papuan man shot by the Indonesian police in Merauke
February 17, 2019
West Papuan man Fransiskus Gebze was shot three times by the Indonesian police in Merauke on Wednesday 13th February. After the Indonesian Police Commissioner claimed he was a thief, Fransiskus told West Papuan media TabloidJubi on Friday that he had not stolen anything. He says a drunk Indonesian police officer had shot him three times […]
Pacific Islands Forum describes Vanuatu’s support for West Papua as “admirable”
February 14, 2019
Article originally published on the Vanuatu Daily Post. Vanuatu has always been very principled in its approach to West Papua, in the issue of self-determination of any country, particularly in our own region, Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Dame Meg Taylor said. She says the approach by Vanuatu is a very admirable position to take. Dame […]
Chairman of the ULMWP condemns Indonesian crack-down on freedom of expression
February 11, 2019
[Note: This statement was originally published by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP).] On January 25, I, as chairman of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), led by the courage and spirit of the people of West Papua, delivered a historic petition to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, in […]
Indonesian police admit to torturing West Papuan activist with a snake
February 10, 2019
The Indonesian police have admitted to using a snake to torture and terrorise West Papuan activist Sam Lokon in Wamena. In a disturbing video which went viral on social media, the Indonesian police can be seen sadistically laughing and using a snake over two meters long to terrorise Sam Lokon, threatening to push it into […]