The Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) has declared its solidarity with civil society groups and student protesters demonstrating against the torture of a Papuan man, Defianus Kogoya, by Indonesian troops in West Papua last February....
A West Papua freedom movement leader is renewing calls for a UN human rights visit to Papua after new videos of Indonesian soldiers torturing a West Papuan man emerged online.
Amnesty International Indonesia is calling for an evaluation of the placement of TNI (Indonesian military) in Papua after a video of a Papuan man being tortured by several soldiers at the Gome Post in Puncak regency, Central Papua, went viral on social media. “This incident was a [case of] cruel and inhuman torture that really...
On the day that Indonesia went to the polls — Valentine’s Day, February 14 — Benny Wenda, president of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), accused Jakarta’s military of continuing its “reign of terror” in rural West Papua....
Separatist fighters who seized Phillip Mehrtens say he will be released to protect humanity and safeguard human rights, but did not say when. Rebels in Indonesia’s West Papua region have said they will release a New Zealand pilot who was taken hostage a year ago as a bargaining chip for their independence movement....
In a region historically linked more closely with Israel than Palestine, some activists in the Pacific Islands have been speaking up against the status quo, staging rallies and voicing solidarity on social media.
At the time of his death, he was serving an eight-year prison sentence for a graft conviction.
His attorney, Petrus Bala Pattyona, said Lukas had been diagnosed with acute kidney failure since the start of his legal proceedings and he died at around 10:45 a.m. at 56 years old.
"He was first diagnosed with kidney failure amid the court hearings in October," Petrus said.
Enembe was arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Jan. 10, 2023, as he was trying to flee the country. Since his arrest, Lukas Enembe had been in poor health, leading to his hospitalization. Lukas claimed to have suffered a stroke and kidney failure. After his condition improved, Lukas was detained at the KPK Detention Center.
The Jakarta Anti-Corruption Court found former Papua Governor Lukas Enembe guilty of corruption and sentenced him to eight years in prison on Oct. 19, 2023. In addition to the prison term, he was ordered to return Rp 19.7 billion ($1.2 million) in embezzled state funds and fined Rp 500 million.
During his tenure, Lukas has been accused of accepting Rp 47 billion in bribes from private companies that secured contracts with the Papua government. He also faces a separate indictment related to money laundering allegations after the KPK seized a substantial sum of banknotes worth Rp 82 billion in various denominations from him.
The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) revealed that Lukas made payments totaling 55 million Singapore dollars (US$39 million) to overseas casinos since 2017. This information came to light after analyzing the governor's financial records at the KPK's request. At one point, Lukas made a single casino payment of 5 million Singapore dollars, according to the PPATK.
KPK was also investigating allegations of the purchase of a private jet by Lukas Enembe. The KPK suspected that the purchase of the jet was related to the alleged receipt of gratuities and money laundering offenses.
A new video of the New Zealand pilot held hostage in the Indonesian region of Papua is circulating on social media. Susi Air pilot Phillip Mehrtens was taken hostage by the West Papua Liberation Army fighters in February 2023 shortly after landing on a remote airstrip....
The Blue-eyed Spotted Cuscus is a critically endangered #marsupial in #WestPapua. Help them keep their forest home with some simple changes to how you shop #Boycottpalmoil#Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket!
While #WarCrimes and #Genocide are being openly committed against Palestinian civilians in #Gaza, they are also being openly committed against the #Indigenous peoples of #WestPapua, only a few hundred kilometres from Australia's border:
February: Massacre in Wamena as eleven West Papuans are murdered by Indonesian security forces.
February: New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens is kidnapped by a West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) group.
March: A Papuan woman is decapitated and eight people are shot in attacks by the Indonesian military.
March: Indonesian soldiers kill twelve-year-old boy – and then mock his dead body in a shocking video.
April: Indonesian military ‘combat alert’ is called, ramping up militarisation in West Papua.
July: UN Special Advisor on Genocide Prevention issues grave warning on West Papua.
August: Protests brutally suppressed ahead of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leaders’ Summit. Three are killed and dozens arrested as Indonesian forces turn their guns on massed crowds.
August: Mixed results for West Papua at the MSG summit. Full membership for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) is rejected; but the MSG issues an urgent call for a UN visit to West Papua, increasing the pressure on Indonesia.
September: Thousands take to the streets in celebration as independence leader Victor Yeimo is released after two years in prison.
September: Five Papuan civilians are killed during a military sweep in the coastal regency of Fakfak.
September: A second massacre in September, as five Papuan teenagers, aged between 15 and 18, are killed by Indonesian forces in Yahukimo.
October: Indigenous West Papuan Governor Lukas Enembe is jailed for eight years after being convicted on corruption charges.
A joint military and police force killed the five fighters from the West Papua Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement, in a battle on Saturday with dozens of rebels armed with military-grade weapons and arrows in the hilly Serambakon village in Papua Highland province, said Faizal Ramadhani, a national police...
Let in UN human rights mission to West Papua – stop Indonesian impunity, says Pacific Network on Globalisation (asiapacificreport.nz)
The Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) has declared its solidarity with civil society groups and student protesters demonstrating against the torture of a Papuan man, Defianus Kogoya, by Indonesian troops in West Papua last February....
Renewed calls for UN visit to West Papua after torture video surfaces online (www.rnz.co.nz)
A West Papua freedom movement leader is renewing calls for a UN human rights visit to Papua after new videos of Indonesian soldiers torturing a West Papuan man emerged online.
Amnesty International urges review of Indonesian troops in West Papua after torture video (asiapacificreport.nz)
Amnesty International Indonesia is calling for an evaluation of the placement of TNI (Indonesian military) in Papua after a video of a Papuan man being tortured by several soldiers at the Gome Post in Puncak regency, Central Papua, went viral on social media. “This incident was a [case of] cruel and inhuman torture that really...
Wenda accuses Indonesia of more human rights atrocities in Papua (asiapacificreport.nz)
On the day that Indonesia went to the polls — Valentine’s Day, February 14 — Benny Wenda, president of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), accused Jakarta’s military of continuing its “reign of terror” in rural West Papua....
New Zealand pilot kidnapped a year ago and held hostage in West Papua will be freed, West Papua National Liberation Army says (www.theguardian.com)
Separatist fighters who seized Phillip Mehrtens say he will be released to protect humanity and safeguard human rights, but did not say when. Rebels in Indonesia’s West Papua region have said they will release a New Zealand pilot who was taken hostage a year ago as a bargaining chip for their independence movement....
The Pacific is generally closer linked to Israel than Palestine — but these activists are speaking up - ABC Pacific (www.abc.net.au)
In a region historically linked more closely with Israel than Palestine, some activists in the Pacific Islands have been speaking up against the status quo, staging rallies and voicing solidarity on social media.
Thousands gather in Papua to farewell Lukas Enembe (www.rnz.co.nz)
Thousands of Papuans gathered in Jayapura, Papua to mourn one of its leaders, Lukas Enembe.
Former Papua Governor Lukas Enembe Dies from Illness while Serving Prison Sentence (jakartaglobe.id)
Jakarta. Former Governor of Papua, Lukas Enembe, passed away on Tuesday after being treated for kidney failure at Gatot Subroto Army Hospital.
New Zealand Ministry of Foriegn Affairs acknowledges death threat video targeting Papua hostage Phillip Mehrtens (www.rnz.co.nz)
A new video of the New Zealand pilot held hostage in the Indonesian region of Papua is circulating on social media. Susi Air pilot Phillip Mehrtens was taken hostage by the West Papua Liberation Army fighters in February 2023 shortly after landing on a remote airstrip....
West Papua Liberation Army fighters (linked with kidnapped New Zealand pilot Phillip Mark Mehrtens) killed in clash with Indonesian security forces (www.abc.net.au)
A joint military and police force killed the five fighters from the West Papua Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement, in a battle on Saturday with dozens of rebels armed with military-grade weapons and arrows in the hilly Serambakon village in Papua Highland province, said Faizal Ramadhani, a national police...