Indonesian forces on patrol in West Papua … file photo. Image: GreenLeft

Pacific Scoop:
Report – Special correspondent in Jayapura

Unidentified gunmen opened fire on a passing military convoy in Timika in the Indonesian-ruled Melanesian region of West Papua.

There were no casualties.

The ambush took place shortly before noon on Monday as four vehicles carrying five soldiers each motored past Tanggul Timur Road, in Timika, the Indonesian newspaper Kompas reported. Read more »

Vanuatu Prime Minister Moana Carcasses holding the West Papua Morning Star freedom flag flanked by the visiting West Papuan delegation. Image: Vanuatu govt

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Godwin Ligo in Port Vila

If Vanuatu national leaders, and some top brass in the opposition, mean what they say of the support to the West Papuan cause towards self-determination, Indonesia will likely be voted out and West Papua voted in as observer to the Melanesian Spearhead group at the June MSG Meeting in New Caledonia.

Vanuatu Prime Minister Moana Carcasses has assured a West Papua delegation during a meeting in his office that he will support a West Papua request to grant and admit the Indonesian-ruled Melanesian region as an observer in the meeting in Noumea.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Ham Lini has already pledged his support in the last government to move for Indonesia to be stripped off MSG status and West Papua to be granted MSG observer status instead. Read more »

A young mother feeds her son at an acute malnutrition centre in Indonesia. Image: Jakarta Globe/Unicef

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Ezra Sihite and  S P Jeis Montesori in Jakarta

Indonesian government officials have denied a recent allegation that dozens of people in a Papuan district died after suffering from severe malnutrition.

Frits Bernard Kamuki Ramandey, acting secretary of the Papuan Human Rights Commission, said 95 people in Tambrauw district, West Papua, died between November and April after suffering from malnutrition.

“This is insane. How did this happen? This is not even a natural disaster,” Frits said on Wednesday. Read more »

Kopassus … an elite Indonesian force used against indigenous peoples of Timor-Leste and West Papua have been implicated in prison killings. Image: Kopassus/PS

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Yuliasri Perdani and Bambang Muryanto in Jakarta

Indonesia’s National Police have been criticised for showing restraint in the investigation of an execution-style murder of four detainees in the Cebongan Penitentiary, Sleman, Yogyakarta over the weekend.

The National Police Commission (Kompolnas) said the police had appeared to be under a tremendous amount of pressure in its investigation, especially after allegations that the Army’s Special Forces (Kopassus) could have been involved in the murder.

“This is more about the culture of superiority between the two corps. Since the National Police became a separate entity from the Indonesian military in 2000, the police still perceive the military as their  ‘older brother’,” Kompolnas commissioner M. Nasser said. Read more »

Human rights allegations over torture at Poso, Central Sulawesi, portrayed in a YouTube video. Source: Al Jazeera English.

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Yeremia Sukoyo of the Jakarta Globe

Indonesia’s National Police counterterrorism unit, Densus 88, should not use its success in fighting terrorism as justification to violate human rights, a rights activist says.

“Just because [they're] police, they can’t treat suspects as though they’re not citizens. That’s just like the colonial police,” Mardjono Reksodiputro, the secretary of the National Law Commission, said during a discussion on whether Densus 88 should be disbanded.

“Densus 88 should not use its success to justify violations of human rights.” Read more »

Indonesian police in West Papua. Photo: Ravespot

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By the Pacific Media Centre news desk

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has protested over allegations of the torture of a priest in Pania, in the Indonesian-ruled region of West Papua earlier this month.

The 55-year-old priest. Yunus Gobai, was arrested and beaten by five police officers after randomly shouting in front of a police station.

Rev Yunus was injured from the beating but police failed to provide any medical assistance for him. Read more »

Rongomaiwahine kuia Pauline Tangiora at the New Zealand section of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) annual general meeting at the weekend. WILPF Tamaki Makaurau women were also at a picket of military headquarters in Auckland marking International Women’s Day on Friday. Image: Del Abcede/PMC

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Yohannie Linggasari, Dian Manafe and Yuli Krisna

As the world celebrated International Women’s Day on Friday, activists in Jakarta and Bandung held a rally to raise awareness of the violence, discrimination and marginalisation of women.

In Jakarta, members of 53 local women’s groups marched from the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle to the State Palace.

“In this rally we made eight demands, asking the government to fulfil its promises to protect women in the form of policies that to this day remained unrealised,”said Luviana, a coordinator of the rally. Read more »

The executive governor of the West Papua National Authority area 2, Markus Yenu, and the chairman of Solidaritas Pemuda Melanesia Papua Barat, Abraham Wainasiri, lead a peaceful rally at Manokwari on January 17. Image: WPM

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By West Papua Media

Markus Yenu, Manokwari Governor of the West Papua National Authority (National Federated Republic of West Papua), was forced to appear at Manokwari Police Sector HQ  today (March 6) for questioning over makar (treason) charges relating to the organising of a peaceful mass demonstration almost two months ago.

Yenu has not yet been released, and no further information has yet been received about his status – whether he will be charged or released.

West Papua Media has contacted police in Manokwari without reply and the Papua Police Criminal Investigation chief in Jayapura – who claims to know nothing about Yenu’s whereabouts. Read more »

Melanesian Solidarity Group Director-General Peter Forau (right) receives the application from West Papuan John Ondowame (left). Image: Jubi/WPNCL

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Victor Mambor in Jayapura

Officials from the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation (WPNCL) have submitted an application for Melanesian Spearhead Group membership at the organisation’s headquarters in Port Vila, Vanuatu.

The WPNCL officials had a one hour meeting recently with Director-General Peter Forau of the MSG. The delegation comprised the WPNCL’s vice-chairman, secretary-general, head of the Vanuatu mission, a woman representative and a student and youth representative.

They were accompanied by former Prime Minister and staunch advocate for West Papuan independence, Barak Sope Maautamate and a representative from the FLNKS of Kanaky/New Caledonia. Read more »

Indonesian troops in West Papua. Image: Pacific Scoop

Pacific Scoop:
Report – Jakarta Globe and agencies

Indonesian authorities suspect pro-independence militants were behind the slaying of eight soldiers in Indonesian-ruled West Papua in the biggest attack on security forces in the restive region’s recent history.

Gunmen shot dead the eight and wounded another in two separate incidents among the mountains of Puncak Jaya district, a known hideout for rebels where attacks on police and soldiers are common.

Coordinating Security Minister Djoko Suyanto said the government “strongly condemned the brutal incident” and suspected the Free Papua Movement (OPM) was behind the shootings. Read more »