archive

Armed group demands Rp 1b ransom, gold (29 Apr 2010)
The Jakarta Post - A group of 30 people, armed with six weapons, have reportedly besieged a mine in Paniai, Papua province since Monday, demanding a ransom of Rp 1 billion (US$110,000)and 10 kilograms of gold dust.

Statement on Human Rights for the UN Forum on Indigenous Issues (26 Apr 2010)
9th Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues - Chairperson, there are significant current and imminent threats of violations of indigenous peoples land rights taking place throughout Indonesia including in Borneo, in Sulawesi, in West Papua and in Sumatra where I come from. Chairperson, I would like to use this opportunity to draw your attention to the situation of Indigenous Peoples in my homeland North Sumatera and in Merauke, West Papua.

Government urged to end discrimination (26 Apr 2010)
UCANews - Rights groups and churchmen have urged the government to cease what they call its discriminatory treatment of Papuan nationalists.

Building Papua from within (25 Apr 2010)
The Jakarta Post - Despite the lingering image of the people of Papua being "backward", the land of the bird of paradise has always attracted various circles. Is it just the "backwardness" that has been a magnet for outsiders? If your answer is yes, then the next question is why? Papua is not the only poor region in Indonesia. What makes Papua unique?

Portraying a threat for a reluctant government (25 Apr 2010)
Budi Hernawan OFM - It might have simply been a coincidence that 22 members of KNPB (the West Papua National Committee) were arrested by the Papuan police during a peaceful demonstration only 11 days after the International Crisis Group (ICG) released its report on the situation in Papua (no. 188) on 11 March 2010. The announcement by the Indonesian Military (TNI) of a plan to deploy four additional infantry battalions to Papua 2 weeks after the publication of the ICG report may also be coincidental. However, it is unquestionable that the report has prompted a flurry of commentary and debate.