News on West Papua's human rights and conflict situation
- The Salim group builds palm oil empire in West Papua
- New Caledonia rejects independence from France - Next referendum possible in 2020
- Papuan church congregation under surveillance - Church members prevented from attending worship in Jayapura
- Commemorations of Papuan independence proclamation - Protesters face intimidation and restrictions of freedom of assembly
- Update armed conflict in Nduga regency - security force members kill indigenous woman and take her baby
- Human rights defenders reveal illegal gold mining operation at Siriwo River, Nabire Regency
- Human Rights Update West Papua - 2nd Quarter 2019
- 23 victims of extra-judicial killings throughout 2018
- Update on ongoing military operation in Nduga Regency - death toll higher than expected
- Ronaldo Yawan dies during detention at police station in Baik - relatives raise allegations of torture
- Two prisoners die after attempted escape from Abepura Detention Facility - KOMNAS HAM suspects prison negligence
- Second extra-judicial killing in Wogikel Village within 10 months
- Political detainee's physical condition deteriorates during detention
- The Mairasi tribe protests against prolongation of logging concession
- Terrorist organization allegedly established training camps in West Papua
The Salim group builds palm oil empire in West Papua
![alt](https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e9aacf53193e3e7e43248d15e/images/561aa3b6-b864-415f-ac7d-deb0811a57ca.jpg)
New Caledonia rejects independence from France - Next referendum possible in 2020
![alt](https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e9aacf53193e3e7e43248d15e/images/769ae150-906d-4218-a598-51b56b13fd93.jpg)
Papuan church congregation under surveillance - Church members prevented from attending worship in Jayapura
The International Coalition for Papua (ICP) is concerned about the intimidation of members of a Papuan Tabernacle church (KINGMI Papua) congregation on 14 July 2019 in Jayapura. Human rights defenders claim that members of the Papuan regional police (POLDA Papua) and the Jayapura Municipality police parked a police truck, a mini bus (Toyota Avanza) and several motorcycles in front of the Anugerah Church at Lembah Bahari Street. The police officers intercepted congregation members on their way to the Sunday morning worship at 9.00 am and checked their identity cards. Many KINGMI church members who saw the police operation were afraid to enter the church building and attend the worship.
Commemorations of Papuan independence proclamation - Protesters face intimidation and restrictions of freedom of assembly
![alt](https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e9aacf53193e3e7e43248d15e/images/6892ba10-3c42-4dd6-800f-6b3f0c8ce75c.jpg)
Update armed conflict in Nduga regency - security force members kill indigenous woman and take her baby
![alt](https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e9aacf53193e3e7e43248d15e/images/5cd53340-2d49-4dde-8dc9-e6264d985e59.jpg)
Human rights defenders reveal illegal gold mining operation at Siriwo River, Nabire Regency
![alt](https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e9aacf53193e3e7e43248d15e/images/79b77976-2a4b-4126-91b6-7db1c531dcf4.jpg)
Human Rights Update West Papua - 2nd Quarter 2019
![alt](https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e9aacf53193e3e7e43248d15e/images/a554cd4d-8d5e-4ae8-a833-77733c9db9ff.jpg)
23 victims of extra-judicial killings throughout 2018
![alt](https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e9aacf53193e3e7e43248d15e/images/a554cd4d-8d5e-4ae8-a833-77733c9db9ff.jpg)
Update on ongoing military operation in Nduga Regency - death toll higher than expected
The extensive military operation in response to the killing of 19 road workers by TPN-PB members in the regency of Nduga has cost more civilian lives than initially estimated. Latest information on the number of victims indicates that the death toll has reached more than 100 civilian victims, who died between December 2018 and March 2019. According to latest counts, fifteen civilians were killed during armed clashes, while another nine were injured. At least 83 indigenous IDPs died after fleeing their villages, while another five villagers have been reported missing.
Ronaldo Yawan dies during detention at police station in Baik - relatives raise allegations of torture
The victim solidarity group ‘Bersatu untuk Kebenaran’ (BUK) expressed concerns over allegations of torture during the detention of a suspect at the district police station in Biak, Papua Province. Police officers arrested Ronaldo Yawan on 13 June 2019 after a resident had filed a complaint against him for stealing a pig. Ronaldo Yawan was arrestedÂÂÂ and died two days later during detention. Police officers claim that Ronaldo Yawan hung himself using his belt. While the autopsy report concludes that Ronaldo Yawan died through strangulation, his relatives stated that Ronaldo did not use a belt, suspecting that he died as a result of torture during arrest and detention.
Two prisoners die after attempted escape from Abepura Detention Facility - KOMNAS HAM suspects prison negligence
![alt](https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e9aacf53193e3e7e43248d15e/images/e5c23c35-ad09-4eb0-8059-302a0c21763f.jpg)
Second extra-judicial killing in Wogikel Village within 10 months
According to Papuan news outlet Tabloid Jubi, another case of extra-judicial killing occured in Wogikel Village, Merauke Regency. An intoxicated police officer shot dead Yohanes Octo Moiwend on 4 June 2019, around 0.30 am. The shooting occurred during a dispute between the officer and Yohanes Octo Moiwend in front of a local bar. Witnesses stated that officer RK pulled his revolver and repeatedly hit Yohanes Moiwend with the gun handle before he shot him twice. Yohanes Moiwend sustained a bullet wound near the ear, causing his instant death. TheÂÂÂ spokesman of the Papua Regional Police (Polda Papua) announced that the police internal investigation body PROPAM initiated an internal investigation on violation of the police ethic code.
Political detainee's physical condition deteriorates during detention
![alt](https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e9aacf53193e3e7e43248d15e/images/c7065c44-afde-4634-802f-3c7d28fedb30.jpg)
The Mairasi tribe protests against prolongation of logging concession
Indigenous communities of the Mairasi tribe living in the Teluk Wondama Regency of Papua Barat Province are protesting against the extension of a logging concession on their ancestral land. The ministry for forestry and environmental affairs approved the logging concession for the company PT. Kurniatama Sejahtera in October 2019. The Mairasi communities represent the view that the presence of the company has not contributed to their welfare, demanding the provincial agency for forestry and environmental affairs not to prolong the concession. The presence of the company has resulted in heavy military presence.
Indigenous communities of the Mairasi tribe living in the Teluk Wondama Regency of Papua Barat Province are protesting against the extension of a logging concession on their ancestral land. The ministry for forestry and environmental affairs approved the logging concession for the company PT. Kurniatama Sejahtera in October 2019. The Mairasi communities represent the view that the presence of the company has not contributed to their welfare, demanding the provincial agency for forestry and environmental affairs not to prolong the concession. The presence of the company has resulted in heavy military presence.
Terrorist organization allegedly established training camps in West Papua
The Papua Regional police (Polda Papua) is investigating allegations regarding several training camps which have been established by the Islamist terror organisation Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD). JAD allegedly recruited and trained fighters in the regencies of Merauke and Keerom, where several of its members own companies and land. In May 2019, started investigations but did not find any proof of such training camps.