2) Letter in todays SMH
3) Killings and torture are rising in West Papua, experts say. They have a message for Albanese
4) Violence in West Papua on par with some worst times of conflict
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1) Indonesia’s Papuans pin their hope on new pope
Prevost visited Papua in 2003 as the head of the Order of St. Augustine
By UCA News reporter Published: May 13, 2025 12:16 PM GMT
People in Indonesia’s Christian-majority, strife-torn Papua expressed hope that newly elected Pope Leo XIV, who visited the region twenty years ago, will pay attention to their ongoing plight and challenges.
The optimism sparked after Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected the successor of late Pope Francis in the Vatican on May 8, becoming the first pope from the United States.
Following the election, several photos from his visit to Papua in 2003 have been widely shared on social media sites, triggering enthusiastic reactions from Papuan netizens.
One photo shows Father Prevost posing for a photo with several nuns, another shows he is eating a Papuan dish called papeda and talking to native Papuans.
Prevost visited Papua as the head of the Order of St. Augustine (OSA) to join the 50th anniversary of the order’s arrival in the region. Over the past decades, the order has been involved in various social services including running seminaries and schools.
Opportunity to end conflict
About 85 percent of Papua’s estimated 4.3 million people are Christians including 70 percent Protestants.
The easternmost region has been a hotbed of conflict between insurgent groups fighting for independence and Indonesian military since the 1960s when Indonesia tacitly annexed Papua after it declared independence after the end of Dutch colonial rule.
A consequent referendum on independence was widely considered rigged in favor of Indonesia.
Decades of conflict left thousands of people dead, injured and displaced, making Papua one of the poorest regions despite being rich in mineral resources, including one of the world’s largest gold mines, according to rights groups.
On online and offline, Papuans expressed optimism that the new pope’s experience and understanding of Papua will allow him to pay attention to their problems.
Activists, church circles, and academics have often called for dialogue between Jakarta and Papua as an effort to end the conflict.
During Pope Francis' visit to Jakarta in September last year, Papuans expressed their concern by carrying out the 'Way of the Cross' rally.
Bishop-elect Bernardus Bofitwos Baru of Timika, who will be ordained on May 15, says the new pope is aware of challenges Papuans face every day because he knows the ground situation from Augustinian members
“Pope Leo XIV has the opportunity to help reduce the conflict in Papua with his position as the highest leader of the Catholic Church,” Baru told UCA News.
He said that the new pope’s emphasis on ending war and the need for dialogue is encouraging for Papuans.
"Because the pope already knows the situation, he is expected to invite the government, invite all parties in Indonesia to sit down and talk about the Papua problem, and resolve it through dialogue," he said.
Catholic priest Stevanus Alo said that although Prevost's visit to Papua in 2003 was only for a few days, he believes that he has not forgotten "the atmosphere of people's lives and also the context in Papua."
The principal of Villanova Catholic High School Manokwari hopes that Pope Leo XIV will return to Papua and talk about peace so that "violence with all kinds of weapons can be overcome and reduced."
Another priest Father Abuna Markus Mala said the pope's first statement affirmed that the Church could be “a bridge for peace and dialogue in Papua.”
"Hopefully with this new pope, the dream for Jakarta-Papua dialogue to resolve the Papua problem will soon be realized," he said.
Social activist and Catholic Soleman Itlay says he hopes the new pope will bring an end to negligence on Papuan Church by the Church hierarchy that ignore their suffering.
"We are waiting for God's miracle to appear on Our land. Your Holiness deserves to be chosen by God to build dialogue and world peace with compassion," he said.
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2) Letter in todays SMH
Forgotten people
The proverbial elephant in the room has been overlooked again. Peter Hartcher ignores an issue that could cause major friction in our relationship with Indonesia – West Papua (“Albanese set to land in a changed and changing Indonesia”, May 13). I’m sure the bilateral talks will include the usual topics of trade, defence, China, Russian planes possibly being based in Biak and, of course, terrorism. I doubt human rights will be on the agenda, despite ongoing allegations of violations committed by Indonesian security forces. We understand the need for good relations with Indonesia, but these should not be at the expense of the West Papuan people, one of our closest neighbours. Joe Collins, Mosman
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3) Killings and torture are rising in West Papua, experts say. They have a message for Albanese
Human Rights Monitor says at least 13 people have been killed in West Papua in the past six months as tensions between Indigenous people and Indonesian troops increase.
Violence between Indonesian troops and Indigenous West Papuans in the Papua province has increased in recent months, and the number of people killed, abused, or tortured has climbed, according to human rights researchers.
West Papua has been under Indonesian control for over 60 years and has not been internationally recognised as a country.
The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) claims that Indonesia killed a West Papuan man, firing at him from a helicopter while he was riding his motorbike, and severely injuring another man last Tuesday in Puncak Regency.
It says Indonesia claimed to be conducting an airstrike on a West Papuan military target but hit civilians instead, alleging the injured man doesn't want to go to hospital for fear of retribution.
International human rights organisation Human Rights Monitor says in the past six months, at least 13 people have been killed in West Papua, while more than 200 others have been victims of arbitrary detention, intimidation, ill-treatment, cultural rights deprivation, and freedom of assembly denial.
It says that in the six months before that, nine people were killed. The monitor also says there has been "an unusually high number of torture cases" — at least 32 in the last six months.
Indonesia's Australian embassy has been contacted for comment but has not yet responded to the claims. The Indonesian military has consistently denied past allegations of human rights abuses in West Papua.
Foreign journalists aren't allowed into the disputed region, which Indonesia says is for their own safety.
But activists say a lack of attention and international coverage of the region allows Indonesia to act with further impunity.
Lewis Prai Wellip has the role of ambassador for West Papua, where he grew up, and is based in Melbourne.
He says the refusal of other countries to challenge Indonesia on West Papua, as well as the lack of visibility on alleged human rights abuses, "gives a green light to the oppressor to do whatever they want".
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described Indonesia as "Australia's most important relationship" and listed a trip to the northern neighbour among his first priorities once sworn in for his second term as prime minister.
Albanese is set to fly to Indonesia on Wednesday to meet with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. He has previously praised the two countries' strong defence and security relationship.
Prai Wellip says that Albanese should confront Indonesia over human rights abuses in the disputed territory.
"In Australia, we talk about the rule of law and believe in [the] human rights of everyone. Meeting with Indonesia, Anthony Albanese really needs to emphasise the rule of law and he needs to stress Indonesia's need to respect West Papuan people's rights.
"We cannot go about making business with Indonesia when they're trampling on the rights of people and the respect of people."
Indonesian-based Human Rights Watch researcher Andreas Harsono says Australia has enough political capital to influence Indonesia on this issue.
Anthony Albanese can ask President Prabowo to listen to his own general, who said that a security approach is not enough to solve the problems in West Papua. Papuans also want the central government to listen and take a political approach."
Harsono said Papua's strategic location in the Indo-Pacific region makes peace on the island a crucial issue for Australia.
"It is so important geographically as a pathway to northern Asia," he said.
Earlier this year, in the region, though Indonesia denied the request was made. The incident sparked deep concern among Australia's government and Opposition over the possibility of Russia storing weapons less than 1,400 kilometres from Australia.
Why is there increasing violence in West Papua?
Prai Wellip says increasing violence is partly due to the mineral deposits in the area.
"Indonesia's ongoing military operations in the highlands of West Papua displace civilians so that the military and government can have massive gold reserves," he said.
Harsono has been researching the situation in West Papua for more than three decades.
He says he has been sent an increasing number of distressing images showing clashes between Indigenous people being bombed and Indonesian soldiers being killed by snipers.
He says there have been more Indonesian troops sent to Papua in the past 12 months, which could be driving the violence.
"Even mainstream Indonesian think tanks acknowledge that human rights are being abused consistently in Papua, and not dealt with by the Indonesian military or police," he said.
Prai Wellip says that Indonesian troops, particularly if they are new, often do not understand West Papuan culture.
"If they see someone with an afro or in traditional minimal dress, they think they're part of the resistance army and they've been treating them how they please. People are reacting."
Amnesty International's secretary general, Agnes Callamard, expressed concerns regarding the entrenched impunity in Indonesia, particularly in West Papua, during a visit to Indonesia in March this year.
Amnesty International says military and police actors routinely escape prosecution for extrajudicial killings, torture, and suppression of civil space, as law enforcement institutions fail to ensure accountability for human rights violations.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been contacted for comment.
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4) Violence in West Papua on par with some worst times of conflict
From Checkpoint, 5:41 pm on 13 May 2025
Violence in West Papua on par with some worst times of conflict
Checkpoint
A human rights researcher said the escalation of violence in West Papua is on par with some of the most intense times of conflict over the past six decades. It comes as the United Liberation Movement for West Papua claims Indonesia killed at least one civilian while severely injuring another last Tuesday in Puncak Regency. Caleb Fotheringham has more.
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