Aksi berlangsung berlangsung sekitar pukul 12:30–15:21 Waktu Papua dan dibawah kendali Komite Nasional Papua Barat (KNPB) Personel Polres Jayapura Kota dan Brimob Polda Papua membubarkan aksi tersebut sebelum perwakilan massa membacakan pernyatan sikap mereka Ketua 1 KNPB  Warpo Sampari Wetipo mengatakan unjuk rasa mereka merupakan aksi damai dan terbuka pembubaran aksi tersebut merupakan salah satu praktik kolonialisme di Tanah Papua “Kolonial tidak akan pernah memberi ruang [kebebasan] sedikit pun kepada bangsa yang dijajahnya Mereka merasa superior sehingga berbuat sewenang-wenang kepada Bangsa Papua,” kata Wetipo dia tetap menyerukan seluruh Rakyat Papua jangan lemah apalagi mundur dari barisan perlawanan terhadap penindasan tersebut Mereka harus terus menggalang kekuatan dan menjadi semangat baru bagi perjuangan Bangsa Papua [Pembubaran] itu [justru] memberi kekuatan serta semangat baru sehingga [perjuangan Rakyat Papua akan] menjadi lebih maju dan radikal,” kata Wetipo Wakil Kepala Polres Jayapura Kota Ajun Komisaris Besar Deni Herdiana mengatakan mereka membubarkan aksi tersebut karena menilai koordinatornya tidak mampu mengendalikan situasi ada indikasi massa hendak melakukan vandalisme seperti membakar ban bekas di jalan sehingga dapat mengganggu keamanan “Kami sudah koordinasi [bersepakat] dengan korlap [koordinator lapangan] yakni memberi waktu 1–2 jam [bagi massa untuk berorasi] korlapnya tidak komitmen sehingga kami lakukan upaya penegakkan hukum terukur,” kata Deni Perjanjian New York merupakan perjanjian antara Pemerintah Indonesia dan Pemerintah Belanda mengenai pengalihan kekuasaan di Tanah Papua Perjanjian yang ditandatangani pada 15 Agustus 1962 tersebut tanpa melibatkan Orang Asli Papua Di Kota Jayapura ada sekitar 700 personel keamanan dikerahkan untuk mengamankan aksi Peringatan Perjanjian New York 1962 Mereka terdiri atas personel Polri dan TNI “Polri dan TNI menjaga [mengamankan aksi] itu karena menjelang 17 Agustus [Peringatan Kemerdekaan Indonesia] belum ada massa aksi kami amankan [tangkap],” ujar Deni Untuk melihat lebih banyak content JUBI TV, click here and website in this browser for the next time I comment Terverifikasi Administrasi dan Faktual oleh Dewan Pers Penolakan tersebut dinyatakan dalam demo yang digelar di Abepura “Bagi KNPB militerisme itu mendingan daripada transmigrasi karena transmigrasi itu akan membunuh ras budaya orang Papua,” kata Korlap Umum KNPB KNPB di wilayah Numbay dan Sentani menggelar aksi damai di beberapa titik aksi KNPB di beberapa lokasi di Kota Jayapura ini diadang polisi Di asrama Yahukimo Brimob mengadang massa di depan asrama sehingga mereka tidak bisa keluar ke jalan aparat tidak mengizinkan KNPB sampai ke jalan Termasuk di beberapa titik aksi juga mengalami hal yang sama Sebelum massa KNPB berkumpul di titik aksi Sekitar pukul 9.30 WP massa datang ke titik kumpul di Lingkaran Abepura Tujuannya untuk menyampaikan aspirasi kepada DPRP Massa aksi membawa spanduk dan poster bertuliskan “Transmigrasi Bentuk Nyata Kolonialisme: Jalan Cepat Menuju Genosida dan Ekosida di West Papua” dan “Kami Tolak Transmigrasi ke Papua” Ada juga yang bertuliskan “Papua bukan tanah kosong” Massa KNPB secara bergantian melakukan orasi ratusan massa dari gapura Uncen Bawah memadati kawasan Lampu Merah Abepura Negosiasi antara massa dengan aparat tak menemukan hasil Sempat terjadi adu mulut antara aparat dengan KNPB Brimob melepaskan gas air mata kepada kerumunan massa Kapolresta Jayapura Kota Kombes Victor Mackbon mengatakan sebelumnya mereka mengimbau agar KNPB tidak melakukan aksinya “Mereka ini mau long march menuju DPRP Papua Ini yang sudah dari jauh-jauh hari kemarin dan juga tadi kita sudah memberikan tempat untuk mereka menyampaikan aspirasi Tetapi tidak direspons apa yang disampaikan oleh pihak kepolisian,” kata Kapolresta Jayapura Kota tindakan dari kelompok tersebut melempari petugas sehingga salah satu dari petugas kami dievakuasi ke rumah sakit,” kata Mackbon Victor menjelaskan bahwa aparat keamanan melakukan protap (prosedur tetap) karena massa KNPB menutup jalur utama di kota “Sebab yang dikhawatirkan nanti arahnya tentunya akan melakukan pengrusakan oleh massa aksi Menurut Victor, memang isu yang dibawakan saat aksi adalah terkait transmigrasi di Papua di dilapangan ditumpangi muatan isu lain seperti Papua merdeka pasti ada tumpangan lain terkait dengan juga mungkin bicara terkait dengan Papua merdeka,” katanya pihaknya menyekat-nyekat kegiatan massa dari KNPB tersebut Titik lain selain Lingkaran sudah diimbau untuk bubar dan mereka paham itu asal mulai dari Uncen Bawah mereka menerobos jalan sehingga kita lakukan tindakan tegas yang terukur,” katanya to verify a report sent to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture alleging abuses inside the jailhouse I passed through a metal detector into the prison hall joining the Sunday service with about 30 prisoners He had a thick beard and wore a small Morning Star flag on his chest so I was a little surprised to see it worn inside the prison I immediately recognised him. Karma was arrested in 2004 after giving a speech on West Papua nationalism, and had been sentenced to 15 years in prison for "treason." When I asked him about torture victims in the prison, he introduced me to some other prisoners, so I could verify the allegations It was the beginning of my many interviews with Karma And I began to understand what made him such a courageous leader when Karma returned after studying from the Asian Institute of Management in Manila he found Indonesia engulfed in student-led protests against the authoritarian rule of President Soeharto he led a ceremony to peacefully raise the Morning Star flag on Biak Island It prompted a deadly attack by the Indonesian military that the authorities said killed at least eight Papuans Karma was arrested and sentenced to 18 months in prison Karma gradually emerged as a leader who campaigned peacefully but tirelessly on behalf of the rights of Indigenous Papuans He was invariably straightforward and precise. He provided detailed data, including names, dates, and actions about torture and other mistreatment at Abepura prison. Human Rights Watch published these investigations in June 2009 prompting media pressure that forced the Ministry of Law and Human Rights to investigate the allegations In August 2009, Karma became seriously ill and was hospitalised at the Dok Dua hospital recommended that he be sent for surgery that could only be done in Jakarta either deliberately or through incompetence "I used to be a bureaucrat myself," Karma said "But I have never experienced such [use of] red tape on a sick man." Papuan activists started collecting money to pay for the airfare and surgery in Jakarta People deposited the donations directly into his bank account I was surprised when I found out that the total donation had almost reached IDR1 billion (US$700,000) a cousin and an assistant to travel with him They rented a guest house near the hospital Some wondered why he traveled with such a large entourage The answer is that Indigenous Papuans distrust the Indonesian government Many of their political leaders had mysteriously died while receiving medical treatment in Jakarta They wanted to ensure that Filep Karma was safe he was considered fit enough to return to prison prompting criticism at the UN forum on the discrimination and abuses against Papuans He took a correspondence course at Universitas Terbuka He studied Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King on non-violent movements and moral courage He surprised me with my portrait that he drew on a Jacob's biscuit box Chinese artist Ai Weiwei drew political prisoners in an exhibition at Alcatraz prison near San Francisco Amnesty International produced a video about Karma "Agama" Saya Adalah Jurnalisme (My "Religion" Is Journalism) apparently inspiring him to write his own book He used an audio recorder to express his thoughts asking his friends to type and to print outside His 137-page book was published in November 2014 Seakan Kitorang Setengah Binatang: Rasialisme Indonesia di Tanah Papua (As If We're Half Animals: Indonesian Racism in West Papua) It became a very important book on racism against Indigenous Papuans in Indonesia The Indonesian government, under new President Joko Widodo, finally released Karma in November 2015, and after that gradually released more than 110 political prisoners from West Papua and the Malukus Islands Hundreds of Papuan activists welcomed Karma bringing him from the prison to a field to celebrate with dancing and singing saying that he had that "strange feeling" of missing the Abepura prison He had spent 11 years inside the Abepura prison "It's nice to be back home though," he said laughing traveling to many university campuses throughout Indonesia the environmental destruction in West Papua as well as his advocacy for an independent West Papua Students often invited him to talk about his book he rented a studio near my apartment as his stopping point and also attended public meetings together I organised his birthday party in August 2018 noted that Karma was an excellent diver: "He swims like a fish." The resistance of Papuans in Indonesia to discrimination took on a new phase following a 17 August 2019 attack by security forces on a Papuan student dormitory in Surabaya in which the students were subjected to racial insults The attack renewed discussions on anti-Papuan racial discrimination and sovereignty for West Papua Papuan students and others acting through a social media movement called Papuan Lives Matter inspired by Black Lives Matter in the United States took part in a wave of protests that broke out in many parts of Indonesia Everyone was reading Filep Karma's book. Karma protested when these young activists, many of whom he personally knew, such as Sayang Mandabayan, Surya Anta Ginting and Victor Yeimo "Protesting racism should not be considered treason," he said The Indonesian government responded by detaining hundreds. Papuans Behind Bars a nongovernmental organization that monitors politically motivated arrests in West Papua recorded 418 new cases from October 2020 to September 2021 Papuans charged with political offenses typically were sentenced to years - in Karma's case perhaps because of international and domestic attention the Indonesian courts handed down much shorter sentences The coronavirus pandemic halted his activism in 2020-2022. He had plenty of time for scuba diving and spearfishing. Once he posted on Facebook that when a shark tried to steal his fish On 1 November 2022, my good friend Filep Karma was found dead on a Jayapura beach "I know you're his close friend," she told me He died doing what he liked best … the sea West Papua was in shock. More than 30,000 people attended his funeral as their last act of respect for a courageous man Mourners heard the speakers celebrating Filep Karma's life And this is exactly Filep Karma's message about *Andreas Harsonois the Indonesia researcher at Human Rights Watch and the author of its new report, "If It's Not Racism, What Is It?": Discrimination and Other Abuses Against Papuans in Indonesia many Papuans fear that their future will be marked by further violence and repression Indonesian police have failed to solve previous attacks on Papuan media workers in recent years regional commander of the West Papua National Liberation Army claims the group achieved their mission to raise international awareness for West Papua's independence from… the vice president of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua is asking the New Zealand government to keep watch on Indonesia in case they launch an assault Pacific RSS Follow RNZ News Cari English Petronela Merauje, Women's Expression in Protecting Mangrove Forests TEKS › English›Petronela Merauje Women's Expression in Protecting Mangrove Forests For Mama Nela mangroves as a source of livelihood for the community must continue to be protected by empowering women Audio Berita This article has been translated using AI. See Original Please note that this article was automatically translated using Microsoft Azure AI, Open AI, and Google Translation AI. We cannot ensure that the entire content is translated accurately. If you spot any errors or inconsistencies, contact us at hotline@kompas.id and we'll make every effort to address them TEKS KOMPAS/NASRUN KATINGKAPetronela Merauje (43) or Mama Nela an environmental activist from Enggros Village For Enggros women, mangrove forests as an ancestral heritage are a very meaningful source of livelihood. They hold the prerogative in its use, while making this "women's forest” a place of freedom of expression In the last dozen years, Mama Nela has become a figure of an Enggros woman who continues to consistently advocate for environmental conservation for the sake of mangrove sustainability in Youtefa Bay She also consistently empowers Enggros women to utilize the various potentials of women's mangrove forests Also read: Usilina Epa's concerns about the romanticization of local Papuan culinary delights Mama Nela tells the story that this utilization heritage has been passed down from generation to generation and given to women in two villages in Teluk Youtefa These two villages are adjacent to each other near Youtefa Bridge Men are given the right to utilize various potentials that exist in the sea while women act as guardians as well as beneficiaries of the existing mangrove forest in searching for shells and crabs in the "women's forest" in Enggros Village it is not surprising that women are free to express themselves in the women's forest This place has become a meeting point for them to share many stories about life Men are only allowed to enter the forest for specific purposes and with customary permission This free space allows Enggros women to easily take off their clothes when they are looking for clams or crabs To make it easier to move around and prevent clothing from getting muddy This also serves as a therapy for the body," said Mama Nela Also read: John Wona, Dedicated to Caring for Papuan Batik on the Jayapura Coast Mama Nela feels that women in Enggros need to be more sensitive to the condition of mangroves amidst the continued development of the city The threat of waste and deforestation is inevitable and could threaten their ecosystem we are also responsible for preserving the area for the sustainability of this ecosystem in the future," she said Mama Nela's concern began when she saw the various impacts of the rapid development of Jayapura City garbage has turned Youtefa Bay into an urban waste dumping site originating from households and industries around Abepura District the need for urban development space is also eroding the mangrove land area in Youtefa Bay "Household and industrial waste are increasingly flowing into the bay the use of open space is also reducing our mangrove forests," he said The planting of mangroves in commemoration of Wetlands Day in the Teluk Youtefa area Mama Nela also participated in this activity he joined a group of young environmental activists in Jayapura and formed the Forum Peduli Port Numbay Green (FPPNG) this movement has been active in mangrove reforestation and cleaning up Teluk Youtefa from household waste the community has experienced ups and downs it remains determined to continue its environmental concern particularly for the sustainability of women's forests mangroves have been inherited by women who manage them We also hold the responsibility of continuously preserving this ecosystem Mama Nela established the Ibayauw Studio to harness the potential of mangrove-derived products and handcrafts made from recycled plastic waste She invited a dozen housewives from Enggros Village to join the studio "The fruit from mangroves can be used to make juice or snacks we also empower mothers to make handicraft products such as bags and bracelets from waste that ends up in the mangrove forest," he said visitors can see local people using boats for daily activities he also initiated a movement for the community to be self-sufficient in cleaning and managing household waste Through the Monj Hen Wani Community formed in 2023 he regularly conducts voluntary activities for managing household waste as an effort to reduce waste that pollutes Teluk Youtefa Thanks to various contributions and care over the years Mama Nela received the Kalpataru award from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) This award to a figure who is considered to have contributed to environmental preservation was given directly by the Minister of Environment and Forestry "This award is a personal motivation to do more When women become more aware of the many benefits they will be more motivated to preserve the mangrove," she said Also read: Origenes Monim, Maintaining the Vitality of Sentani Culture Mama Nela also believes that with the increasingly protected forest there is potential for other benefits that can be gained from the Teluk Youtefa mangroves She sees that the unique value of the women's forest could become an attractive tourism potential She envisions a women's forest to become an exclusive tourism destination for women The presence of this women's tourism is expected to make housewives more enthusiastic in producing and marketing various processed products tourists will be taken to see the methods of catching clams or crabs tourists can also be invited to bathe freely with nakedness Mama Nela hopes that these various movements are able to mobilize women from different generations in Enggros to participate in preserving the environment this ecosystem will work together to maintain the sustainability of the women's forest as a legacy from ancestors and a provider of livelihoods Education: D-3 Management of the Indonesian Academy of Secretaries and Management Jayapura (2014-2018) Award: Winner of Kalpataru 2023 from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry Copyright©2025 UNODC, All Rights Reserved, Legal Notice Ricky Mohammad Nugraha Petir Garda Bhwana TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The operations at Wamena Airport in Papua is temporarily halted due to the reportedly violent protests that broke at the District of Jayawijaya Joko Harjani says airport management is yet to announce how long the temporary closure of its operations would last which was effective since 10:30 Western Indonesia Time (WIB) after three cargo planes left the airport “There are no more planes in the airport as of now,” said Joko on Monday who maintained that it will only be reopened under formal police or military requests The Wamena airport is located at the Baliem valley that serves 120 daily flights The airport’s high activity is due to its role as the entrance gate toward a number of cities and villages in the Central Mountain’s Region Previously reported, the police closed the Abepura-Padang Bulan Road in Abepura district of Jayapura The street is blocked following a student protests by at the Cenderawasih University campus in Abepura Prabowo Subianto Plans to Establish 100 People's Schools Soon Prabowo Plans to Build Emergency Bulog Warehouses in Aceh, West Nusa Tenggara Prabowo's Reason for Involving the Military in Food Matters Prabowo Open to Meeting Retired Military Forum Urging Gibran's Impeachment Free Meal Poisoning Case, Prabowo Alludes to Students Eating Without Spoons Learn About the Outsourcing Practices Prabowo Intends to Scrap Prabowo: Bill Gates to Support Free Nutritious Meal Program in Indonesia Prabowo Rejects 'Puppet President' 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Cyber Law Expert Warns of Worldcoin's Biometric Dangers Samsung to Open Galaxy AI-Driven Pop-Up Restaurant in Portugal BMKG Reports M5.4 Earthquake Striking Tomini Bay; No Tsunami Threats Jennie, Lisa, and Rose BLACKPINK Gather at the Met Gala 2025 Israel Approves Plan to Expand Gaza Onslaught, Occupy Territories WHO: Hand Hygiene is Essential, Medical Gloves Are Not a Substitute • The heavy rainfall that occurs since Thursday night (6 January 2022) have caused the flash flood and landslides in Jayapura. AKBP Suprapto, the local Police vice commander said that seven people died. • Severe affected areas are Jayapura Utara, Jayapura Selatan, Entrop, Abepura, Heram and Muara Tami. The flood also hit Aryoko Hospital, Yotefa Market, and the Governor’s office. • 125 families (500 people) have been displaced to safer places or their families’ houses. • The Jayapura disaster mitigation agency (BPBD) currently is still in Abepura District and is evacuating affected residents and collecting data on building damage including public facilities. • The BPBD received information that a landslide had occurred in the Jayapura Utara District but did not get the complete data because all BPBD personnel were still evacuating affected residents in the Abepura. • 3 rubber boats & 1 unit of the multipurpose truck were deployed by BPBD Jayapura City to evacuate affected residents. • Caritas Indonesia is in a coordination process with the Diocese of Jayapura to gather the number of the affected people and the affected area while determining the type of response as needed in early emergency response. • Ready to eat food, cleaning equipment, clean water, bedding (blankets, mattresses/mats), medicines/medical check-up, masks, rubber boats (for evacuation purposes) The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Jayapura City said heavy rain fell for around 3 hours from 22:00 on 06 January the city recorded 140 mm of rain in 24 hours to early 07 January The rain caused severe flooding in the districts of North Jayapura Many areas were under water up to 2 metres deep In Yotefa Abepura Market the water was 3 metres deep public buildings and a hospital were all flooded Over 500 residents are thought to have evacuated their homes Authorities said evacuations were ongoing and displacement numbers could rise There were also reports of several landslides with the largest believed to be in North Jayapura District Full damage assessments were yet to be completed and further details were unavailable Jayapura is situated on the northern coast of New Guinea island where the PNG National Weather Service has issued warnings for severe weather Jayapura Banjir dini hari 6/1/2022 malam pic.twitter.com/HmmSaWEKc2 — Ambrosius Mulait (@Mulalt_) January 6, 2022 Banjir di Jayapura pic.twitter.com/fG2OR7AHIG — Hidayat Abdullah🇮🇩🇸🇩 (@Yayat_daenk) January 7, 2022 Richard Davies is the founder of floodlist.com and reports on flooding news Cookies | Privacy | Contacts © Copyright 2025 FloodList Thousands of protesters gathered at the Trikora Field in Abepura demanding the disbandment of West Papua National Committee (KNPB) an arm of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) arguing that both organizations contravene state ideology Pancasila and are illegal under Indonesia's 1945 Constitution The protesters—who called themselves Defenders of the Indonesian Republic and numbered around 15,000—marched to the local parliament house on Thursday “There should be no "December 1," [the anniversary of the Free Papua Movement or OPM] there is only "May 1," the day of our integration [with Indonesia] The organization also called on the British government to arrest UK-based West Papua freedom activist Benny Wenda and extradite him to Indonesia Umar claimed his group was sincere in its intention “There is no ulterior motive [behind the protest] We are here because we care about West Papua,” Umar said Vendors at the Yotefa Market—the city's main trading spot—had closed up shops earlier in the day after receiving letters and flyers about the rally only a few people were seen conducting their business as normal but the buyers also didn't turn up today,” said Marten Sremsrem the pro-government group called on all Indonesians to rally in support of the government saying “Let us take a moment to help create a better economic climate in the long run Voice your support for the Republic of Indonesia.” Laila Afifa TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jayapura in Papua is currently devastated by widespread flooding as the region experienced heavy rainfall on Thursday It caused a number of landslides that unfortunately killed seven people and injured six.  Flooding also displaced 160 people; 80 of them are children and eight newborns They are currently relocated to a evacuation site in Gurabesi, South Jayapura District.  The Papua Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD Papua) announced that other areas affected by the 2-3 meter floods are North Jayapura Landslides in North Jayapura killed three people in four locations; they are Nirwana Other Indonesian regions currently facing flood disasters up to Thursday evening include North Kalimantan and East Aceh that inundated 2,169 houses and displaced 2,471 people.  Read: Kemang Raya Flooded after Heavy Rains Jobs That AI Will Replace: Is Your Current Job at Risk? 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plates The epicenter of the July 27 event lies close to the boundaries between the Maoke the Pacific plate moves towards the southwest with respect to Australia the Pacific (Caroline) plate subducts to the southwest beneath Australia (Maoke and Woodlark) at the New Guinea Trench and the location and mechanism of the July 27 2015 earthquake are consistent with its occurrence on or near that slab interface at depth The Australia:Pacific plate boundary through Papua New Guinea experiences frequent moderate-to-large earthquakes and has hosted 29 other events of M 6.5 or greater over the prior century The largest was a M 7.7 earthquake 150 km to the east-southeast of the July 27 event in January 1971 All of these earthquakes reflect the complex tectonics of the region exhibiting reverse faulting mechanisms associated with Pacific subduction and normal faulting mechanisms associated with upper plate deformation None are known to have caused significant damage likely because of the sparse population of the region Benny Wenda’s world was his village in the remote highlands of West Papua Life consisted of tending gardens with his mother among the Lani people who ‘lived at peace with nature in the mountains’ Benny and his mother and aunties would be stopped and checked by Indonesian soldiers Often the soldiers would force the women to wash themselves in the river before brutally raping them in front of their children died in the jungle from the trauma and injuries inflicted during these attacks Every day Papuan women had to report to the military post to provide food from their gardens racism and enforced subservience became part of daily routine and in response to military violence towards Papuans Indonesian military aircraft bombed many Lani villages in the highlands Benny remembers an attack where their huts and crops were burned and many of his family were killed or injured Benny too suffered in the attack: his leg was badly injured and left untreated because his family was forced to flee into hiding in the jungle leaving him with one leg significantly shorter than the other and an awkward limp the pain and the difficulty in walking remain Between 1977 and 1983 Benny and his family and the weak struggled to survive the harsh conditions Violence from the military remained a constant threat soldiers happened across Benny’s family in the jungle The soldiers ripped Benny’s two year old cousin from his aunty’s arms and threw her to the ground with so much force that the child’s back was broken His small cousin died two weeks after the attack; his aunty sometime later from her own injuries Benny could not understand why the Indonesian military was doing this and he had no knowledge of the context in which this violence took place ‘I asked myself ‘why?’ Who are these people everyone else from his village had succumbed to the conditions and surrendered to the Indonesians Papuans had to present themselves to the local military post carrying an Indonesian flag which signalled their loyalty to Indonesia and their willingness to live in the community under Indonesian rule largely due to conditions in their jungle hideout their family decided it was time to surrender for the sake of the children Benny’s grandfather insisted that the children be taken back telling his mother that Benny’s well-being was important ‘so that one day he will know what happened to us and why…and one day he will act’ His education was entirely about Indonesia He learned about Indonesia’s independence from the Dutch and celebrated it on the anniversary of 17 August 1945 He learned about buffalos instead of pigs and of rice paddies instead of the Papuan-style gardens that he had grown up working in with his family He was told to eat rice instead of sweet potato Indonesian teachers and students alike called Benny and the other Papuan students ‘stupid’ and ‘dirty’ because they ate pork and their parents were ‘indecent’ with the men wearing nothing but the traditional koteka (penis gourd) Benny still could not understand why Indonesians treated him this way He constantly went to his mother with questions His mother refused to answer his questions In senior high school Benny was one of only two Papuan students in the class The others were children of Javanese and Sulawesi transmigrants the teacher directed him to sit next to a Javanese girl He smiled and respectfully greeted her as he sat down That must be why she doesn’t like me.’ Assuming the problem was his Benny went to the shop after school to buy an extra bar of soap he walked confidently into the class and sat down smiling and greeting the girl with respect attracted the attention of the entire class it dawned on Benny: this had nothing to do with his cleanliness enraged: ‘You think that because I am black We are both human and we both deserve to be treated the same Events such as these drove Benny to take on a leadership role in the Papuan community but from the desire to assert and celebrate Papuan identity and to encourage other Papuans to do the same Benny went on to complete a degree in sociology and politics in Jayapura he initiated discussion groups for Papuan students in Jayapura – of all ages and from all tribes from both the highlands and coastal regions – so they could come together and talk about what it was to be Papuan Benny wanted to change the mindset of Papuan children children who had been brought up being told they were primitive to teach them that they should be proud of being Papuan While he could speak of his own terrible experiences he still understood very little of the broader conflict and context in which his personal suffering – and that of his village – had taken place Frustrated with the lack of information he was provided in school and his mother’s refusal to answer his questions he sought out information about Papuan history Where is the history of Papua?’ he asked himself there was very little written history or discussion about the circumstances of Papua’s incorporation into Indonesia or the events that followed Benny came to learn how the Dutch had retained control of the province after 1945 and promised independence He found out about the declaration of Papuan sovereignty on 1 December 1961 about the West Papuan flag (the Bintang Kejora) the Indonesian invasion and the 1969 ‘Act of Free Choice’ when a small group of hand-picked Papuans were intimidated into voting for integration with Indonesia Finally he understood the root causes of why the Indonesians treated West Papuans as they did Benny recalls that no one was allowed even to use the word ‘Papua’ or ‘West Papua’ But knowing the historical origins of the oppression was enough Benny needed no written record: he had first hand experience the relaxation of military control and the independence of East Timor in 1999 demonstrations and flag raisings occurred across Papua with Papuans demanding their own referendum on independence Jakarta held dialogue with Papuan leaders and the Presidium of the Papuan Council (PDP) was formed to represent the Papuan nationalist movement and to negotiate Papua’s future It was during this period that Benny became leader of Demmak (Dewan Musyawarah Masyarakat Koteka) Demmak was established by tribal elders with the goal of working towards recognition and protection of the customs values and beliefs of the tribal people of West Papua and rejects special autonomy or any other political compromise offered by the Indonesian government The organisation supported PDP negotiations with Jakarta to the extent that they represented the aspiration of the Papuan people But when Megawati became President in July 2001 policy on Papua changed A compromised version of special autonomy was the only politically viable option The Papuan Spring was over and the military crackdown on known ‘separatists’ began But Benny stood firm to Demmak’s aim: full independence from Indonesia The political freedom to express aspirations for independence quickly evaporated it became dangerous to support independence Secret documents later discovered by human rights organisations named specific organisations and individuals that had to be ‘dealt with’ On 6 June 2002 Benny was arrested and detained in Jayapura His home was ransacked without a warrant and the police refused to inform him of the charges brought against him He was tortured by police and held in solitary confinement for several months Sometime later he was charged with inciting an attack on a police station and burning two shops in the small township of Abepura on 7 December 2000 which left a policeman and a security guard dead in which violent acts of retaliation by Indonesian police were committed against the Papuan community resulting in the arrest of over 100 people police violence and torture in detention and the death of at least three students in the days following Two police officers were prosecuted for crimes against humanity before the Human Rights Court in 2005 for these events Benny faced criminal prosecution for the initial attack on the police station for inciting acts of violence and arson and was likely to receive up to 25 years in prison Yet he was not even in the country at the time the alleged planning and execution of the attacks took place Benny was being charged with a crime he did not commit His trial commenced on 24 September 2002 and lasted for several weeks Armed policemen surrounded the courtroom each day as Benny’s many supporters turned out in a show of support for their leader Facing the judges he was stoic and resolute in proclaiming his innocence To his supporters he was warm and encouraging smiling and shaking hands with those who lined his path between the courtroom and police vehicle The prosecutor and judge requested bribes from Benny’s defence team The persons named as key prosecution witnesses could not be identified and failed to attend court to be cross examined on their statements Defence counsel for Benny insisted that the witness statements be thrown out on the basis they were fabricated by police to implicate Benny in the attack who appeared biased and hostile to Benny throughout the proceedings It was obvious that Benny would not receive a fair trial Benny was physically attacked several times by prison guards he did not eat the food provided in prison because of the risk of poisoning Because the evidence against him in court was so weak rumours were rife that military intelligence would kill him in detention before the judge rendered a decision The court was adjourned pending a decision in miraculous circumstances that he does not want to explain for fear of endangering the persons who helped him Benny escaped from Abepura prison on 27 October 2002 The Indonesian police allegedly issued a shoot to kill order But aided by West Papua independence activists Benny was smuggled across the border to PNG and later assisted by a European NGO group to travel to the UK where he was granted political asylum Benny and his wife Maria were reunited in England where they now live with their five children Soon after being granted refugee status in the United Kingdom Benny began campaigning for the self-determination of his people on a wide range of fronts which works to spread awareness of human rights abuse in West Papua and seeks self-determination for the people of Papua He has met with prominent politicians and presented petitions to 10 Downing Street He travels constantly throughout the UK and Europe raising awareness about the plight of his people Benny and Maria have also used traditional music to raise awareness about their struggle As The Lani Singers (http://www.thelanisingers.com/) Glastonbury Festival and the Thames Festival in London which has been reviewed in national newspapers and music magazines with British MP Andrew Smith and peer Lord Harries he launched International Parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP) at the House of Commons in London IPWP is actively developing support from parliamentarians around the world with the aim of creating support at the United Nations to provide Papuans the opportunity for a referendum for self-determination Benny launched International Lawyers for West Papua (ILWP) in Guyana ILWP seeks to develop a network within the international legal community which recognises the legal basis for West Papuan self-determination and raises awareness about human rights abuse in West Papua thousands of Papuans took to the streets to support the IPWP launch demonstrations were met with violence and arrests and many others were arrested and tortured Several activists are facing criminal prosecution for subversion for engaging in peaceful demonstrations in support of Benny’s campaign the Chief of Police in Papua and Interpol requested that the UK arrest Benny on the grounds that he is a criminal fugitive since escaping from prison in 2002 requesting further that Benny be extradited to Indonesia to face the outstanding charges against him One report even stated that an Interpol red notice – usually reserved for international terrorists and drug cartel leaders – had been issued for Benny While the UK and other parties to the European Convention on Human Rights are prevented from extraditing Benny to Indonesia (because of the real risk he would suffer torture or inhumane or degrading treatment once returned) Interpol arrest warrants are difficult to have removed and those subject to red notices are ill-advised to travel abroad He holds a deep and enduring belief that justice will eventually prevail and he sees his remarkable escape from persecution in Indonesia as testament to that fact ‘While my people continue to suffer and continue to die and ensure that Papuans enjoy the same freedoms that people elsewhere in the world already enjoy: Papua must be independent Jennifer Robinson (jkr.robinson@gmail.com) is an Australian lawyer and Rhodes Scholar at Balliol College She worked on Benny Wenda’s trial in Abepura in 2002 and his subsequent political asylum application in the UK Receive Inside Indonesia's latest articles and quarterly editions in your inbox © Copyright Indonesian Resources and Information Program (IRIP) 1983 - 2025. All rights reserved. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the stolen lands on which Inside Indonesia is based, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people, and we pay our respects to Elders past and present. We recognise that sovereignty was never ceded. Johnny Blades, West Papua - johnny.blades@radionz.co.nz The lid is lifting on what has been for so long Asia/Pacific's hidden region Since incorporation into Indonesia in 1969 outside access to West Papua - the western half of New Guinea has been tightly restricted amid a simmering separatist conflict Editor of the West Papuan newspaper Tabloi Jubi Victor Mambor and Johnny Blades contact the Papua Police Commander Indonesian and West Papuan girls sit side by side in the market Indonesia's new president Joko Widodo signalled restrictions on foreign media access to West Papua were being lifted I'd been declined a visa to visit West Papua in the past The process for obtaining a journalist visa involved jumping through a large number of bureaucratic hoops but after a few months securing the required supporting documents and submitting relevant applications across the border from Papua New Guinea - that arbitrary straight line running along the 141st meridian east down the middle of the huge island just north of Australia West Papua is tightly guarded by Indonesian military and police with reports of killings and human rights abuses against the local population commonplace over the last few decades the stark contrasts between Indonesia and PNG became clear: productive farmland Indonesian cultural and religious influence was everywhere Melanesian culture on the other hand was barely visible A main reason: the Indonesian state programme called transmigration whereby people from over-populated parts of the republic are resettled in less crowded regions like West Papua Transmigration has been changing the face of West Papuan society over the last two decades One evening in a house in suburban Kota Raja the secretary general of the Papua Customary Council told us that every week up to four ships arrived in Papua with migrants "One big ship can bring about one to three thousand people it means in one week we have up to twelve thousand people come to Papua," he said and the sound of the call to prayer at a nearby mosque filled the silence but for the future life of the Papuan people because if there is demographic change in Papua The Melanesian lifestyle and customs are struggling to adapt to a teeming Asian society with an expansive economy Papua's Governor Lukas Enembe warned that West Papuans may vanish as a people within twenty years if transmigration and other forms of marginalisation continued at their current pace Jakarta is persevering with transmigration saying Indonesians have the right to move around the republic freely A leading government representative on development in Papua argued that the influx of migrants helped West Papuans diversify their skills and become more competitive We visited Mrs Dipodiputro at a major new market construction in Sentani where she was overseeing the Jokowi government's programme aimed at fostering economic and social development among Papuan grassroots communities but to help them integrate into modern market mechanism is there," she explained "The idea is that the communities have to be part of the supply chain that exists in Papua And this supply chain begins in their village." The Phasaa market is what Mrs Dipodiputro called an integrated complex where the government was trying to meet all the cultural and welfare challenges who she described as the natural leaders of productivity She expected Jakarta's development drive to help grow satisfaction among Papuans with being part of Indonesia "Because the majority of our people are grassroots "The problem of Papua is not unique to Papua lack of basic infrastructure all over Indonesia." West Papuans felt their efforts to adapt to "modern mechanisms" were hamstrung by the rather backwards structures imposed on them According to Septer Manufandu of the Papua People Network if West Papuans complained about their basic rights not being recognised There are about 50 known political prisoners detained in West Papua The most prominent West Papuan political prisoner is Filep Karma who we visited at Abepura Prison where he is eleven years into a fifteen year jail term for raising the banned Papuan nationalist flag President Jokowi recently freed a handful of Papuan political prisoners but Filep Karma refused the government offer of a pardon because he said it would involve admitting guilt for a crime he didn't commit he walked us out to the carpark to say farewell reiterating that he would continue to campaign peacefully for independence intelligence officers emerged and grilled prison staff about our visit and numerous West Papuans we met did not want to talk on tape including those simply trying to carve out a constructive living under difficult circumstances a medical student who wanted to help improve HIV/ AIDS infection rates in Papua "so the most important thing for me is to do something for the HIV/AIDs prevent West Papuan people (getting infected)." Franzalbert Joku is a West Papuan who in recent years has returned to live in his homeland after years in exile campaigning for independence he told us life was far better today for West Papuans than during the years under President Suharto's rule we have a right to exist in our own land," he said "Whether we are part of Indonesia as a province or as a self governing region said that Papua had now gone through its worst "I say this without meaning to undermine my brothers and sisters who are still out there in the jungle or in other countries advocating outright independence "and try to look at what options are within the realm of possibilities." Getting into West Papua as a journalist was something I previously thought was not possible The Indonesian government must be credited with opening the door a little The success of the Indonesian government's efforts to open up Papua depend on whether the security forces will allow it to continue On our way out of West Papua at the border soldiers asked for selfies with us before we walked nervously It remains to be seen whether the smiling soldiers will accept the veil being raised on West Papua or if greater access to the troubled province gives them more problems than it solves Follow Insight on Twitter See terms of use for easy access to all your favourite programmes Some of the arrested students being taken to jail in Jayapura. Video: Majalah Kunume Net Students from several tertiary institutions in the Papuan provincial capital of Jayapura have been holding actions to support efforts by Vanuatu and other Pacific countries to take the West Papua issue before the 72rd Session of the UN General Assembly this week Protest actions organised by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) on Monday ended with students being assaulted and arrested by police Petrus Kosamah was assaulted on the campus grounds,” Papua ULMWP action committee secretary Crido Dogopia told Tabloid Jubi in Abepura Dogopia said Kosamah was assaulted when police broke up a free speech forum held by students on campus grounds “Police broke up the forum but students resisted Police forcibly dragged demonstrators into a crowd control [Dalmas] truck It was then that he was assaulted,” said Dogopia Dogopia said that all the students involved in the free speech forum were taken to the Jayapura municipal police station There they joined protesters who had been arrested earlier at an Expo gathering point in front of the regional post office in Abepura “None of our officers behaved violently towards protesters they only questioned them and tonight they’ll be returned [home]” the protesters failed to inform police beforehand about the demonstration “We don’t require [protests] to have a permit Senior human rights lawyer Gustav Kawer said that arresting protesters on the ground that there was no prior notification is invalid Law Number 9/1998 on freedom of expression does not stipulate that police have the authority to reject a notification of a demonstration There is no [stipulation] in the law stating that police can reject [a notification]” “The proper way is for police to escort them until the demonstrators have achieved their goal,” he said Kawer added that he was shocked at how police violated laws which guaranteed freedom of expression Police instead see it as an issue of law enforcement “Police frequently violate the law” police were not actually aware that actions which they saw as enforcing the law harmed Indonesia Indonesia becomes the focus of world attention on freedom of expression “This approach attracts world attention The international community questions how far Indonesia is open to free expression,” he said in future police must adhere to regulations The following is a chronology of the arrests which took place at three protest gathering points: At 9.22 the protesters began giving speeches Police then approached the demonstrators and negotiated with them The negotiations ended with the arrest of demonstrators The protesters were ordered into a Dalmas truck and taken to the Jayapura municipal police station Jayapura Science and Technology University (USTJ) campus: At 10.30am local time students had gathered on campus grounds and were giving speeches police entered the USTJ campus grounds and forcibly broke up the free speech action But the students refused to disband and in the end police acted violently and the students were arrested and dragged into to Dalmas truck and taken to the Jayapura municipal police station Biak in front of the Jayapura State Senor High-School 1 The protesters then marched on foot to the Abepura post office At 11.20am local time the protesters arrived at the post office and began giving speeches At 11.30 police approached the demonstrators and closed down the free speech forum The following are the names of those arrested who based at the mobilisation points: Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the article was ” Demo ULMWP; 67 mahasiswa ditangkap, satu dipukul polisi“ Benny Mawel is a journalist with Tabloid Jubi which has a content sharing arrangement with the Pacific Media Centre eight-year-old Gloria grew up in a Christian family and was a diligent Sunday school student her transition to elementary school brought unexpected hardships demanding money and resorting to physical violence if she refused This repeated mistreatment left Gloria with a deep-seated grudge against her tormentor The turning point in Gloria's life came with the arrival of Superbook’s Super Easter event she registered through her Sunday school class to host a Super Easter Movie Party at her home Gloria invited her friends one by one to join the event Gloria's heart was profoundly touched by the Superbook episode “He Is Risen.” The story of Jesus' sacrifice resonated deeply with her reminding her of the bullying she endured and the resentment she held overwhelmed by the love and forgiveness exemplified by Jesus Gloria followed the prayer shared during the Super Easter event and made a life-changing decision to forgive her bully "Lord Jesus has died to atone for the sins of all people So I must forgive my friends who do wrong to me," she declared This moment marked a significant transformation in Gloria's life The power of God's love and the lessons from Superbook helped her let go of her anger and embrace forgiveness Her story is a testament to the profound impact of CBN Animation’s Superbook which transcends cultural and regional boundaries to bring the Word of God to children worldwide Your support can help extend the reach of Superbook to even more children and families in need of hope and transformation Whether by donating to CBN Animation’s Superbook ministry through the link below or accessing Superbook resources for your own family we can continue to bring the light of God's Word to young hearts around the world Give to Superbook You are signing up to receive general newsletters from CBN. By signing up, you are consenting to our privacy policy You can specify preference after sign-up and opt out at any time A nonprofit 501 (c)(3) Charitable Organization Activists have condemned alleged terror and intimidation against Papuan human rights activists and called the police to thoroughly investigate an alleged arson attack at Papua Legal Aid Institute (LBH Papua) on May 9 The Foundation of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI) and Papua Humanitarian Coalition condemned the alleged attack of burning a motorcycle in the garage of the LBH Papua office on Monday morning in Abepura district which comprises a number of human rights organisations and activists Kontras and Public Virtue Research Institute called on the police to thoroughly investigate the incidents and prevent similar attacks from recurring YLBHI is also calling on the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) to carry out investigations and provide protection to human rights defenders “The incident should be seen as an attack on human rights defenders,” YLBHI said in a statement on Monday adding that LBH Papua recently advocated civil liberties to indigenous Papuans victims of violence committed by the state and victims of land grabbing “This is part of terror against the democratic movement It’s very dangerous for democracy,” YLBHI chairman Muhamad Isnur told the Jakarta Post on Tuesday LBH Papua director Emanuel Gobay suspected someone deliberately set the motorbike on fire The institute had reported the incidents to the Papua Police on Monday a motorbike parked at the institute’s office garage was found burned a wick smelling of kerosene and a plastic bag with remains of gasoline were found near the office LBH Papua members also gathered information from two local residents hat and mask had run out of the LBH Papua office before the incident Papua Police said they had visited the alleged crime scene and were carrying out an investigation into the alleged attack “The Abepura Police have visited the crime scene for an initial investigation but the crime scene had been cleared,” Papua Police spokesperson Sr Ahmad Musthofa Kamal said on Monday night as quoted by Kompas It is the latest incident in a series of attacks against Papuans or those voicing human rights in the easternmost provinces of the country the family of human rights lawyer Veronica Koman who has long been vocal in speaking up against alleged human rights abuses in Papua at least two protesters were killed and several others were wounded during protests against the plan to form new provinces that turned into a clash between protesters and security forces in Yahukimo In August-October 2019 in Malang and Surabaya violence and racial discrimination during a series of rallies A strong magnitude 5.1 earthquake hit 90 km (56 mi) away from Jayapura, Papua,  Indonesia 2025 at 3.04 am local time (Pacific/Port Moresby GMT +10) The quake had a very shallow depth of 29 km (18 mi) and was not felt (or at least not reported so).