Papua

MSG Chair calls for Forum mission to Papua

The Solomon Islands prime minister made the call as he welcomed what he described as Indonesia's change of strategy on West Papua and its approach towards West Papuan separatists.

Extra police sent to Papua

Tabloid Jubi reports that about 150 police personnel were deployed to hunt for the perpetrators of the attack on the Sinak Police Headquarters.

The Papua Police Chief, General Paulus Waterpauw has indicated that police believe they know who the suspects are and have homed in on their communities, searching also for stolen ammunition.

Jakarta to boost Papua infrastructure

He has signaled the construction of a large port to accommodate bigger ships which in turn should lower cost of goods to be distributed.

According to the Antara news agency, the president pledged that all regencies would be connected with a railway track in three years, with Sorong being the likely starting point for the network.

Pacific Churches condemn killing in West Papua

And they have called on regional leaders to speak out against summary killings, torture and human rights abuse in the Indonesian-occupied territory.

Reports from Timika, West Papua, say a group of Special Forces troops shot dead two members of the Catholic Youth Group at the Cathedral Parish of the Three Kings Timika.

At the time of the Kamoro people were performing traditional rituals.

Sources say the soldiers, who were refused entry to the area, went to their barracks, returned with weapons and fired on the group.

Attempt to smuggle bullets to Papua foiled

A Jakarta police spokesperson says they are still investigating the case, but it's suspected the ammunition had been ordered by Papuan separatists.

The police say the ammunition was found without proper paperwork on Monday, and was ready to be dispatched to Papua.

After arresting the man who checked in the baggage, the police say they learned that a Papua separatist group member had ordered the bullets.

The ammunition is now being kept at the airport while investigations continue.

 

Indonesian airline carrying 54 missing over Papua

A search for the plane was suspended and will resume Monday morning.

The Trigana Air Service plane was flying from Papua's provincial capital, Jayapura, to the Papua city of Oksibil when it lost contact with Oksibil's airport, said Transportation Ministry spokesman Julius Barata. There was no indication that the pilot had made a distress call, he said.

The ATR42-300 twin turboprop plane was carrying 49 passengers and five crew members on the scheduled 42-minute journey, he said. Five children, including three infants, were among the passengers.