News Stories
Category: Human Rights
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…
Al Jazeera documentary highlights repression of West Papuans
October 16, 2012
A new Al Jazeera documentary – People and Power – sets out to find what is behind what it calls ‘one of the most forgotten conflicts in the world.’ The documentary includes an interview with KNPB activist Uchak Logo who…
Benny Wenda’s Statement on the Wamena Arrests
October 3, 2012
Recent information received by the Free West Papua Campaign indicates that the Indonesian National Police and the Australian trained Detachment 88 counter-terrorist unit are continuing to increase their operations against nonviolent West Papuan independence activists. Papuan villages have been entered…
ABC and BBC News Reports on West Papua
August 29, 2012
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has broadcast an excellent report from undercover journalists on the independence struggle in West Papua and the abuses faced by those who campaign for freedom there. It includes a rare interview with KNPB Chairman Viktor Yeimo…
Sound of West Papua freedom at Olympic Games music event
July 21, 2012
The sound of West Papua freedom was brought to the people of London at the official pre-Olympic concert in Greenwich Park, London, July 21st 2012. The flag of West Papua was raised on stage as legendary Papua New Guinean musician…