News
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.
West Papua Council of Churches calls for immediate UN investigation in West Papua
April 16, 2021
The West Papua Council of Churches (WPCC) has written to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, on April 12, urging an immediate visit to West Papua to investigate the escalating ‘humanitarian crisis’. The WPCC, representing the four major denominations of Christians in West Papua, also wrote to the leaders of the Melanesian […]
UN human rights chief and Vanuatu condemn Indonesian abuses in West Papua
April 5, 2021
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, has spoken out against the ‘alarming situation’ in West Papua in an update to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) at the 46th session on February 25. Vanuatu also expressed their concern over the ‘infringement of the human rights of the people of West Papua’ in […]
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 […]
West Papua in 2021: arrests, abductions and plans for ethnic cleansing
January 18, 2021
Following the announcement of a Provisional Government of West Papua and rejection of Jakarta’s “Special Autonomy” renewal, the Indonesian state has pursued its strategy of aggressive arrests and violence against peaceful demonstrations for independence. ULMWP Chair Benny Wenda was named interim President of the Provisional Government on December 1, 2020, as the Papuan people roundly […]
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 […]
Provisional Government of West Papua announced
December 1, 2020
Press release from The United Liberation Movement for West Papua. (ULMWP) begins forming a new ‘Provisional Government’ in West Papua today (Tuesday December 1). The announcement marks an intensification of the struggle against Indonesia’s colonisation of the territory, ongoing since 1963. The new government-in-waiting aims to mobilise the people of West Papua to achieve a […]