2) NIT-The New York Agreement 64 years on - West Papuans 'still oppressed'
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https://en.jubi.id/highland-papua-legislative-council-denied-request-for-meeting-knpb-said/?_gl=1*13y63az*_ga*MTU0NTkyNDAxLjE3NzM5NjI3MDk.*_ga_ZZTT8RG182*czE3ODY2MTAxNzIkbzE2NiRnMSR0MTc4NjYxMDQxMyRqNjAkbDAkaDA.*_ga_CNWVJ6KFKD*czE3ODY2MTAxNzMkbzE2MCRnMSR0MTc4NjYxMDQxMyRqNjAkbDAkaDA.
1) Highland Papua Legislative Council Denied Request for Meeting, KNPB said
Wamena, Jubi – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) says it was denied an opportunity to meet with members of the Highland Papua Legislative Council (DPR Papua Pegunungan) after representatives of the organization visited the council building on Wednesday (August 12, 2026).
KNPB chairperson Agus Kossay said the group had sought a meeting because the legislative council is expected to represent the people of Highland Papua.
KNPB intended to discuss its planned “Papua: Military Emergency and Humanitarian Crisis Zone” peaceful demonstration, which it plans to hold with communities in the Lapago customary region on August 15 to mark the 64th anniversary of the New York Agreement.
The Highland Papua legislative building is expected to be the main target of the demonstration, as KNPB considers the council a representative institution for the people of the province.
“As a people’s organization, KNPB came in a spirit of respect as Indigenous people and requested an audience with the Highland Papua Legislative Council. However, they did not give us an opportunity to meet,” Kossay said on Wednesday.
He said KNPB and the council had agreed on August 10 to hold the meeting on August 12. However, he said the council did not follow through with the agreement.
“Today, they have been influenced by the colonial system, so they have refused to give space to the people of Papua, who have experienced human rights violations since 1961 until today. We have shown them our respect as Indigenous people,” he said.
Kossay alleged that government officials representing the Indonesian state in Tanah Papua were reluctant to meet with KNPB, which he described as representing the Indigenous people and customary landowners of the Baliem Valley.
“For a long time, we have been throughout Tanah Papua and allowed outsiders to govern us in Lapago. Today I have returned home. This is my home. I have set foot in my own home, and I must speak,” he said.
Furthermore, KNPB called on the Indonesian military, police and other institutions not to be alarmed by claims or narratives circulating beyond the organization’s responsibility. Kossay said KNPB remained committed to holding the August 15 demonstration peacefully and was prepared to take responsibility for the action.
“As the person responsible for the peaceful demonstration here, I am ready to take responsibility. As long as the Indonesian security forces and the people of Papua maintain good communication and consultation, there will be no misunderstanding or confrontation,” he said.
Kossay said KNPB had also asked the Jayawijaya police chief to provide space for people to express their demands during the August 15 demonstration.
He said the action would focus on the humanitarian situation in Tanah Papua and
called for Indonesia and Papua to engage in dialogue to find a resolution to the conflict.
“There must be no more military violence or military approaches to resolving the problems in Papua,” he said.
He also called on the Indonesian government in Jakarta, which he described as operating under a democratic, rule-of-law and human-rights system, to uphold humanitarian principles and justice.
Kossay said August 15 also marked what KNPB considers the “betrayal” of the Papuan people by the international community through the New York Agreement, which he said did not include Papuans as subjects of international law.
KNPB urged Papuans throughout Tanah Papua, particularly those in the Lapago customary region, to participate in the August 15 demonstration.
“People of Papua in the Lapago customary region — Lani, Nduga, Baliem and Yali communities, and all others — come on August 15, 2026, and gather at the Highland Papua Legislative Council. Let us hold a peaceful demonstration and do not bring sharp weapons. What can be brought are pamphlets, banners, billboards and red crosses,” Kossay said. (*)
Saturday will mark 64 years since the New York Agreement, which saw the West Papuan people "betrayed by the international community", the Australia West Papua Association noted this week.
On 15 August in 1962, an agreement was concluded in New York between the Netherlands and Indonesia. Under the agreement, the Dutch were to leave their colony of West New Guinea and transfer sovereignty to the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA).
Seven months on, the UN would transfer control of the territory to Indonesia with the provision that a referendum be held to determine Papuan preference for independence or integration with Indonesia.
'The Act of No Choice'
Indonesia did hold a referendum in 1969 called the Act of Free Choice. Many West Papuans refer to the vote as "the act of no choice". Indonesian authorities choose only 1025 people to vote (one representative for approximately every 700 Papuans) and under coercion they voted to remain with Indonesia.
On August 3 the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) held rallies across West Papua with the theme "Papua: Military and Humanitarian Emergency".
The rallies were called to bring attention to the humanitarian crises in the territory: The ongoing human rights abuses, the military operations, the killing and torture of civilians, the Australia West Papua Association said on Thursday.
Violent repression of peaceful protests
The Association said security forces responded with "their usual heavy-handed approach to rallies in the territory" at the protest organised in Sentani, Jayapura.
"As the demonstrators gathered for their planned march to the Jayapura Regent's Office, police officers dispersed the protesters using rubber batons and sticks, striking blows to protesters' heads and bodies during the dispersals," AWPA said.
According to Human Rights Monitor 33 protesters were injured.
In another incident, a Jubi journalist was intimidated by a police officer. The journalist reported the incident occurred as he attempted to photograph police officers placing a protester into a crowd-control vehicle on Ifar Gunung Road in the Sentani District. The Jayapura Police Chief later apologised for the incident.
More protests planned
The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) says it will stage another round of demonstrations this Saturday - 15 August - on the anniversary of the New York Agreement, under the theme "Papua: Military Emergency and Humanitarian Crisis Zone".
A KNPB spokesperson announced the plan after the group's rally in Jayapura City on Monday 3 August. He said that the rallies on the 3 August were an initial mobilisation ahead of the larger coordinated demonstrations planned for 15 August.
Australia West Papua Association (Sydney) spokesperson Joe Collins noted: "Every year West Papuans commemorate this tragic event in their history."
"In the past the security forces have responded with a heavy-handed approach to any demonstrations on the 15 August," he said.
During the August 2024 commemoration police dispersed used force to disperse peaceful protests in the towns of Nabire, Wamena, and Sentani, as well as in Jayapura City. According to Human Rights Monitor, approximately 222 protesters were arrested and 41 injured as police forces dispersed the crowd with batons, teargas, and rubber bullets
"Hopefully this year there will be not a repeat of the incidents of brutally by the security forces that have occurred the past and as occurred on the 3 August and the planned rallies for the 15 August will be allowed to proceeded without interference from the security forces," Mr Collins said.
Allegations of more intimidation
The KNPB have been submitting official notices of the planned peaceful protest to government and security institutions ahead of the nationwide demonstration planned for the 15 August.
The Australia West Papua Association alleged that in one incident while the KNPB were informing police of the planned rally, members were subjected to violence by officers while attempting to deliver the notification letter.
A KNPB official said several members were subjected to repressive treatment, including physical violence by the officers on guard. He reported police blocked the group from entering, confiscated two KNPB flags and assaulted two KNPB members.
The KNPB has called on security forces to refrain from any form of repression and to respect public safety and order during the planned demonstration.
Mr Collins said the KNPB can mobilise large numbers of demonstrators to take part in rallies and the crackdown on peaceful rallies in West Papua "should be seen as a way to try and intimidate civil society groups into not taking part as the rallies can be an effective way of bringing the world's attention to what West Papuans suffer under Indonesian rule".
"This is what Jakarta fears most, the internationalisation of the issue," he said.
The situation in the territory 64 years after the New York Agreement
"West Papuans continue to be arrested and intimidated as they take part in rallies to protest against the injustices they suffer under Indonesian rule," the Association said.
Human Rights Monitor notes that as a result of ongoing military operations in the territory there are more than 125,931 internal refugees.
"Civilians are bearing the brunt in the areas of conflict with children missing out on education because schools are closed, access to health services for people can be difficult and economic activity is paralysed. West Papua is basically a colony of Jakarta," the Australia West Papua Association said.
According to a Project Multatuli investigation, there are approximately 103,196 security forces (Military +police) in the territory.
West Papuans have also reported that they are not only seeing more military personnel deployed in the territory but also the rising use of drone technology by the Indonesian military.
There is also the "massive" environmental destruction caused by agricultural projects, such as the Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE) and projects to convert forests, into rice fields, sugarcane and palm oil plantations, the Australia West Papua Association noted.
The world must take action
"If the International community continue to turn a blind eye to the human rights abuses in West Papua, we will see an endless conflict with West Papuans the victims," the organisation said.
"The Australian Government prefers to ignore the situation in West Papua. However, a simple action Canberra could do is to support and urge the Pacific Islands Forum leaders in again pressing Jakarta to allow the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit West Papua to investigate the human rights situation in the territory. That is what they West Papuans are asking for," Mr Collins said.
The 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (PIFLM) will be held from 30 August to 04 September 2026 in Palau under the theme - Building Economies: Life. Action. Unity.
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