Papuans worry about new plan to revive transmigration

Transmigration is the process of moving people from densely populated regions to less densely populated ones in

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Indonesia criticises Vanuatu’s support for West Papua, Vanuatu stands firm

Indonesia has expressed concerns over Vanuatu's public support for West Papua's independence movement and its diplomatic

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Solomons maintain ‘balanced stance’ on West Papua issue, ahead of PM’s Indonesia trip

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has reaffirmed Solomon Islands’ measured approach to the West Papua issue, stating that his GNUT administration respects Indonesia's

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Indonesia, New Zealand deny paying Papuan rebels to free pilot

Jakarta and Wellington on Monday denied claims by a Papuan rebel spokesman that Indonesian authorities had paid a guerrilla commander to free a New Zealand pilot from 19 months of captivity.   Egianus Kogoya, who

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Ban on journalist during PNG visit by Indonesia’s Prabowo condemned

Papua New Guinea’s media council has condemned as “concerning” and “shameful” the exclusion of a BenarNews journalist from media events during a visit by Indonesia’s President-elect to the capital Port

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Papua independence protestors seek papal intervention after clashes with Indonesian forces

Indonesian security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets in clashes with protestors marking the 62nd anniversary of a UN agreement that paved the way for Jakarta’s annexation of the Papua region.   At least one

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Indonesian forces retrieve New Zealand pilot’s body in Papua

The body of a New Zealand helicopter pilot shot dead by rebels in eastern Indonesia’s restive Papua region has been retrieved, the joint task force of police and soldiers leading the search said on Monday. Glen

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ULMWP condemns killing of NZ pilot, blames Indonesia for danger

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has condemned the reported killing of New Zealand helicopter pilot Glen Malcolm Conning in Alama, Mimika Regency  “If true, I condemn this killing in the

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Indonesia starts exporting electricity to Papua New Guinea

Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape met at the Bogor Palace on Monday to discuss cooperation in various fields, including electricity exports to the border region.

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Indonesian soldiers thwart fuel smuggling to Papua New Guinea

Indonesian soldiers from the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea Border Security Task Force successfully thwarted an attempt to smuggle 700 litres of subsidised fuel to PNG. The task force personnel, serving at the 122/Tombak

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Indonesian President Widodo keen to step up cooperation with Fiji

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) pushed for the intensification of mutually beneficial cooperation between Indonesia and Fiji during a bilateral meeting with the President of Fiji, Williame Maivalili

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West Papuans still inspired by the heritage of Arnold Ap

In 1969, Indonesia annexed the western half of the island of New Guinea, through the so-called Act of Free Choice. As Indonesian authorities began to expand legal systems and education in Bahasa Indonesia, a generation

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PNG, Indonesia ratify defence deal to expand security cooperation

Indonesia and Papua New Guinea will boost defense cooperation, officials from the two countries said Tuesday, including border patrols in a region where indigenous Papuans have waged a decades-long insurgency against

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Indonesia cancels West Papua rights meeting with Melanesian nations, delegate says

Indonesia cancelled a regional meeting this week on the human rights situation in its Papuan provinces on the grounds that the leaders of Melanesian nations weren’t attending it, a member of Papua New Guinea’s

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Indonesia’s MSG bid on back burner: PM Marape

A one-year moratorium has been placed on Indonesia’s application to join the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). Prime Minister James Marape said this was so that Pacific Island Forum could address the West Papua issue

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Indonesia President Joko’s Papua visit sparks fresh hope in hostage saga of NZ pilot

Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo will visit the far-eastern province of Papua this week after flagging his government is working to secure the release of a New Zealand pilot detained for five months. Philip Mark

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Port Moresby suppresses West Papua flag raising ahead of Indonesian president’s visit

Authorities in Papua New Guinea have clamped down on displays of the West Papuan independence flag ahead of the Indonesian president’s visit to the Pacific island country this week. Papua New Guinea, which has a

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28 Indonesians caught illegally fishing in PNG waters

About 28 fishermen from Indonesia who were caught illegally fishing in PNG waters would be handed over to Immigration officers and would be detained at the Bomana Immigration Centre (BIC) awaiting full investigation and

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West Papuan provisional government backs full membership of MSG

The self-styled provisional government of the United Liberation Movement of West Papua “with the people” of the Melanesian region have declared political support for full West Papuan membership of the Melanesian

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Indonesian President to visit PNG next month

Indonesian President Joko Widodo will be making a state visit to Papua New Guinea next month, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister James Marape has announced. Confirmation of the one-day visit on 06 July 2023, was made

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Samoa sends first team of UN Peacekeepers since COVID lockdown

A 10 member team of Samoan police officers leaves today for training in Jakarta, Indonesia before deployment under the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission. It is the first team sent for peace keeping duties since the

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Indonesia recovers bodies of 4 troops killed in Papua clash

Indonesian security forces recovered the bodies of four government soldiers who were killed in a separatist attack while searching for a New Zealand pilot taken hostage by the rebels in Indonesia’s restive Papua

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Gunmen attack Indonesian troops deployed to rescue NZ pilot

Separatist gunmen attacked Indonesian army troops who were deployed to rescue a New Zealand pilot taken hostage by the rebels in Indonesia’s restive Papua province, leaving at least six dead and about 30 missing,

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Papuan rebels holding NZ pilot prepared to drop key demand

Separatist rebels in Indonesia’s Papua region who are holding a New Zealand pilot hostage are prepared to drop a demand that Jakarta recognise the independence of the area before they could consider freeing him, a

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