Jakarta Onews,-- Papua continues to be plagued by violence. Last month gunmen shot at an army helicopter, as the military was to evacuate victims of an ambush which killed eight soldiers and four civilians. Activists say the solution lies in a mediated comprehensive dialogue, but the government rejects any attempt to revisit history.
The Jakarta Post’s Prodita Sabarini reports on the political dynamics after a visit to Wamena in Jayawijaya regency.

Describing the viole ... Read more »

Jayapura Onews,-- The Prime Minister of Fiji and Chairman of the Melanesian Spearhead Group Voreqe Bainimarama received representatives of the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation (WPNCL) in Suva, Fiji this week, in their quest for membership to the Melanesian bloc.

The WPNCL was led by Dr Otto Ondowame, the Vice Chairman of the grouping and included Mr Rex Rumakiek, the Secretary General and Mr Barrack Sope, former Prime Minister of Vanuatu and adviser to the WPNCL.

In welcomin ... Read more »

Jakarta Onews,-- Human Rights Watch on Tuesday called on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to order local governments not to demolish houses of worship and also to revoke discriminatory regulations on religious structures.

On Thursday local authorities in Bekasi, just east of Jakarta, used an excavator to demolish the new red-brick structure of the Batak Protestant Christian Church (Huria Kristen Batak Protestan, or HKBP).

Officials ordered the church demolished for its lack of building permit on the request of the Islamic People’s Forum in Taman Sari (Forum Umat Islam Taman Sari), a militant Islamist organization.

"The government’s demolition of a church in Bekasi not only violates religious freedom, but it will fan the flames of religious division in Indonesia,” Brad Adams, Asia directo ... Read more »

The Papua Police reportedly has identified the gunmen who attacked a missionaries’ helicopter in Puncak Senyum, Puncak Jaya, Papua.

The Bell 206 JetRanger helicopter was manned by a German pilot and was on a flight to pick up two missionaries from Lumo village. There were no fatalities in the incident, but two bullet holes were found in the front window.

"Based on our investigation, the attackers fired from the hilly area in Puncak Senyum and the only people who live in the area are an armed group led by PW [Puron Wenda],’’ Papua Police Chief Insp. Gen. Tito Karnavian told reporters on Thursday.

Puron Wenda was allegedly involved in a number of attacks against civilians and police officers in the Puncak Jaya area. It is believed that he started his operations in 2010. The police, however, have yet to arrest any of the groups’ members.

More: ... Read more »

The Papua Police reportedly has identified the gunmen who attacked a missionaries’ helicopter in Puncak Senyum, Puncak Jaya, Papua.

The Bell 206 JetRanger helicopter was manned by a German pilot and was on a flight to pick up two missionaries from Lumo village. There were no fatalities in the incident, but two bullet holes were found in the front window.

"Based on our investigation, the attackers fired from the hilly area in Puncak Senyum and the only people who live in the area are an armed group led by PW [Puron Wenda],’’ Papua Police Chief Insp. Gen. Tito Karnavian told reporters on Thursday.

Puron Wenda was allegedly involved in a number of attacks against civilians and police officers in the Puncak Jaya area. It is believed that he started his operations in 2010. The police, however, have yet to arrest any of the groups’ members.

More: ... Read more »