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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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,
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
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