Update on armed conflict in Puncak Regency – TPN PB suggests armed combat shifts to designated area

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Published on Thursday, 27 May 2021 09:07

The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN PB) has proposed to Indonesian security forces to move the armed conflict into a designated area to prevent civilian casualties and reduce the stresses for indigenous civilians living in the Puncak Regency. The TPN PB spokesperson, Sebby Sambom, suggested the Puncak estuary in the Ilaga District as the new combat area. According to Sambom, the TPN PB has gathered its guerrilla groups in the estuary area, where they wait for Indonesian security forces to move in.

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Indonesia votes against UN resolution on genocide and crimes against humanity

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Published on Thursday, 27 May 2021 08:56

Indonesia and 14 other countries have voted against a UN Resolution on the responsibility to protect and prevent (R2P) genocide, war crimes, ethnic genocide and crimes against humanity during a vote at the United Nations General Assembly on 18 May 2021. One-hundred-fifteen countries supported the resolution, while 28 states chose to abstain (see list of shame below, source: UN Watch). The R2P concept represents an international principle and agreement to prevent genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. The Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry affirmed that Indonesia in principle agrees with the substance of the resolution but rejects a proposal to establish a new annual agenda for discussing the P2P.

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New protests against special autonomy and for the release of Papuan political prisoners – 146 protesters arrested in Manokwari

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Published on Wednesday, 26 May 2021 08:41

Last week, hundreds of people from the Papua Barat province came together to join two public demonstrations in the city of Manokwari, the provincial capital of Papua Barat. Joint security forces dispersed the protest on 25 May 2021 -146 protesters were arrested and temporarily detained. The police claimed some protesters violated COVID-19 health protocols. The Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) and The Indonesia Peoples Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) organised peaceful protests in the Javanese cities Bandung, Jakarta, Malang and Jember. The rally in Malang was reportedly followed by violence between Papuan students and nationalist counter groups.  Protesters in Jember were allegedly intimidated by nationalist groups. All protests expressed disagreement with the continuation of the Papuan special autonomy funding and demanded the immediate release of all Papuan political prisoners.

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Update on Internet breakdown in Jayapura – Internet connection planned to be repaired in early June

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Published on Wednesday, 26 May 2021 08:08

On 21 May 2021, the Ministry for Communication and Informatics released a press statement (number 180/HM/KOMINFO/05/2021), according to which the internet connection in Jayapura has been partly re-established since 21 May 2021. However, the General Manager of Telkom Witel Papua, Sugeng Widodo, explained that the internet bandwidth is still very limited and only available in a few public places and essential institutions such as hospitals and government offices. Therefore, Jayapura-based journalists and media outlets are supposed to use a media centre set up at the Witel Papua head office in Jayapura.

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Six Papuan protesters standing trial in Sorong accused of treason

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Published on Wednesday, 26 May 2021 07:58

On 18 May 2021, judges at the Sorong District Court launched two trials against six Papuan defendants (see photo, source: LBH Kaki Abu) who had been arrested on 27 November 2020 during a peaceful demonstration in Sorong. People had gathered with Morning star flags and banners peacefully calling upon the Indonesian Government to recognize the proclamation of the Republic of West Papua New Guinea by a Papuan independence group at the European Parliament in Brussels on 27 November 1997.

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New shootings indicate spreading of armed conflict in West Papua

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Published on Thursday, 20 May 2021 11:43

Recent armed attacks on Indonesian security forces in the regencies Maybrat, Yahukimo and Pegunungan Bintang over the past weeks indicate the armed conflict is spreading to new regencies in West Papua. While isolated armed clashes have been reportedly occurred in Pegunungan Bintang and Yahukimo throughout 2020, the recent attack against police officers in Maybrat is the first incident of this kind reported from the regency.

The armed conflict recently gained momentum, as members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN PB) killed Papuan Security Chief I Gusti Putu Danny Nugraha Karya in the Puncak Regency on 25 April 2021. A few days later, joint security forces launched a massive operation in Puncak (see photo), which reportedly caused the internal displacement of thousands of indigenous villagers.

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