2) Extra police sent to Papua
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1) MSG Chair calls for Forum mission to Papua
Updated at 1:37 pm today
The chairperson of the Melanesian Spearhead Group Manasseh Sogavare is calling on Indonesia to commission a fact finding mission to discuss the situation in West Papua with members of the Pacific Islands Forum.
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.
Alluding to last year’s release of high-profile Papuan freedom fighter Filep Karma, the Solomon Islands prime minister says the decision to release Mr Karma is encouraging and speaks well of the Indonesian president Joko Widodo's policies to bring peace to Papua.
Mr Sogavare however says Jokowi's three-pronged approach of welfare, security and dialogue must be consultative to avoid simply paying lip service to the indigenous people of West Papua.
He says the MSG remains committed to a spirit of positive and constructive dialogue to promote welfare and bring peace and security to West Papua.
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2) Extra police sent to Papua
Updated at 10:48 am today
Reports from Indonesia's Papua province say extra police have been deployed to a part of Puncak Jaya regency where three officers were killed in an attack late last month.
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.
It's not clear whether the suspects have been found yet.
However local residents say that in their sweep operation, police have burnt a number of houses in up to six villages in the area.
Meanwhile, a large number of frightened villagers in the area have fled from security forces into the bush, according to the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.
The ULMWP claims at least two people have been killed in the police response which has also involved killing of livestock and harassment of innocent villagers.
The Papuan political organisation says the situation in Puncak Jaya has developed into a serious armed conflict, and has urged Indonesia's government to stop sending troops there.
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