News Stories
Category: Human Rights
A Half Century On, Papua Still Poisons Neighbourly Ties
May 10, 2013
The Sydney Morning Herald Comment by Michael Bachelard West Papua marked its 50-year anniversary under Indonesian rule last week and three events amply reminded us why it is…
West Papua’s stolen generation
May 4, 2013
An investigation by the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper has found that West Papuan children are being removed from their families and sent to…
UN expresses serious concerns over West Papua crackdown
May 2, 2013
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Thursday expressed serious concerns over the crackdown on mass demonstrations across Papua since 30 April, with police reportedly…
Papuans mourn 50 years of Indonesian occupation
May 2, 2013
Warning: this article contains some images that readers may find disturbing – we include them as we feel it is important to document the reality of what is happening in West Papua. by Alex Rayfield For many people around the…
Indonesia told: end the myth of ‘no political prisoners’
April 29, 2013
A new report by UK-based NGO, TAPOL, forcefully challenges the Indonesian government’s repeated assertion that the country has ‘no political prisoners.’ The report urges President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to open up democratic space in West Papua and order the release…
KNPB members given one year prison sentences
April 22, 2013
Six members of the KNPB, from Timika have today been given one year prison sentences. They were sentenced on allegations that they were carrying dangerous weapons and for treason.…
Rio Tinto accused over West Papua
April 22, 2013
Protesters from the Free West Papua Campaign joined activists from other groups for a protest outside the Annual General Meeting of multi-national mining company Rio Tinto in London last week. Rio Tinto, the main shareholder in the Freeport mine in…
95 Papuans starve to death
April 16, 2013
West Papuan students from AMP in Yogyakarta (Indonesia) have protested against the deaths of 95 Papuans due to ‘systematic starvation’ by the Indonesian state. We are sorry to report the tragic news from West Papua that 95 Papuans have starved…
Freedom Flotilla to sail to West Papua
March 16, 2013
Later this year, a group of people will travel from Lake Eyre in South Australia – heading North before setting sail in a flotilla of boats for West Papua. The convoy will be led by Arabunna Aborigial elder Uncle Kevin…
Video footage of police opening fire on West Papuan demonstration
October 23, 2012
Today police opened fire on a demonstration in Manokwari in West Papua. The following disturbing video footage is from Indonesian MetroTVNews channel: http://youtu.be/7Py9Ghj-8Xg The demonstration was held by the KNPB (National Commitee of West Papua) in support of a UK…