Indonesia vows restraint as troops surround rebels holding NZ pilot
Security forces in Indonesia’s restive Papua region have surrounded separatists holding captive a New Zealand pilot, but will exercise restraint while negotiations for his release continue, a top security official
MSG responds to “misrepresentation”
The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat says there are no Indonesians recruited at the Secretariat, nor has it made any decision nor an official announcement to this effect. The Secretariat has 30 positions on
New Zealand pilot taken hostage by Papuan rebels
A New Zealand pilot has been taken hostage while flying in the Papua province of Indonesia. Phillip Mark Mehrtens, was abducted by separatist fighters when they stormed his small commercial plane and set it alight after
West Papua: Army major faces life imprisonment
The Indonesian military says a tribunal has sentenced an army major to life in prison for his involvement in the murder of four Papuan civilians. Their mutilated bodies were found in the restive region in August. Benar
Recruitment of Indonesians in MSG would be ‘unfair’, says Wenda
Vanuatu Free West Papua Association (VFWPA) has threatened to stage a peaceful demonstration if the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat in Port Vila pursues its plan to recruit Indonesians. Amid Daily Post’s
Indonesia president supports plan to scale back troops in Papua
Indonesian President Joko Widodo said on Monday he supports plans to scale back the presence of troops in the eastern region of Papua, where the country’s military has been accused of human rights abuses in tackling a
While West Papua faces an ‘existential threat’, PNG plans defence pact with Jakarta: Kogoya
“We are part of them and they are part of us,” declared politician Augustine Rapa, founder and president of the PNG Liberal Democratic Party, on the 61st anniversary of the struggle for West Papuan independence
‘I am shocked’: UN Human Rights Commissioner addresses Papua mutilations
United Nations Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif has expressed ‘shock’ over reports of West Papua mutilations at the 51st session of the Human Rights Council. “In the Papua region (Papua
PNGDF probe shooting in PNG waters
Papua New Guinea’s Defence Force has set the terms of reference to start off internal investigations into the shooting of an Indonesian fisherman in PNG waters allegedly by soldiers last week following the
West Papua: conflict continues, Indonesian soldiers arrested
Six Indonesian soldiers have been arrested on suspicion of killing and mutilating four indigenous Papuans. The soldiers are accused of luring their victims to a meeting with the promise of selling them weapons.
Indonesian fishing boat captain shooting in PNG to be investigated
Indonesia has lodged a diplomatic protest with Papua New Guinea after the alleged shooting of an Indonesian fishing boat captain last week. Indonesian Ambassador to PNG, Adriana Suprandy confirmed this last night and
MSG, Indonesia dialogue on Regional Security Strategy
The Indonesian National Police (INP) is hosting the 4th Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Regional Security Strategy (RSS) Working Group (WG) from June 6 to 10, 2022 in Bali, Indonesia. The event is attended by delegates
PNG PM responds to hefty fines owed to Indonesia
The Office of the Papua New Guinea Prime Minister has been tasked to seek clarificatioover a hefty penalty notice of K105 million (US$5 million) from the Indonesian government. Responding to the fine over six illegal
$5m for PNG PM’s one-day state visit to Jakarta
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape this week leads a 71-member delegation to Jakarta, Indonesia today in what could be his last state visit. Marape and his large delegation will spend 24-hours in Indonesia, in
Melanesian Spearhead Group receives US$100,000 from Indonesia police
The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat has received a contribution of US$100,000 from the Indonesian National Police (INP), for the formulation of the MSG Regional Security Strategy (RSS). At a virtual
Comment: West Papua’s long struggle for freedom
December 2021 will mark the 60th anniversary of the declaration of Papua’s independence and the beginning of eight years of international coalescence to rob a people of their
Pacific leaders want action on West Papua human rights issues
By Nic Maclellan in Funafuti, Tuvalu Members of the Pacific Islands Forum have urged Indonesia to take action on human rights violations in West Papua, and strongly encouraged Jakarta to facilitate a long-mooted visit
Pacific islands ramp up engagement with United Nations
By Nic Maclellan (Islands Business magazine) in Funafuti, Tuvalu Under “the New Pacific Diplomacy”, Pacific island governments are looking to international arenas to advance their regional agenda. Following
