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[AFP] Indonesia’s parliament on Thursday approved a new special autonomy law for Papua that boosts central government funding for the troubled region, but the main separatist group there said it was drafted without addressing the Papuan people’s political and human rights. Jakarta granted special autonomy for Papua in 2001 to mollify desires for independence, but Indonesian security forces have been accused of human rights abuses during anti-insurgency operations in the far-eastern region. The new legislation, which follows the expiration of the 2001 special autonomy law and...

AP Indonesian police arrested a pro-independence activist in Papua on suspicion of treason and sedition in connection with anti-Jakarta demonstrations that turned into deadly riots in the region two years ago, authorities said Monday. The arrest of Victor Yeimo, chairman of the National Committee for West Papua (KNPB), a Papuan civilian organization that seeks a referendum on self-determination for Papua, occurred over the weekend amid escalating tensions in the far-eastern region. Indonesia’s president has ordered a crackdown on Papuan armed separatist rebels after they assas...

[AFP] Indonesia designated Papuan separatist rebels as a terrorist group Thursday after they killed an army general, a policeman and four civilians this month, but observers warned the move could inflame tensions and lead to human rights abuses.  Violence by separatist insurgents in the Papua region fit the definition of terrorism under amendments to the country’s anti-terror law that were passed in 2018, said Mohammad Mahfud MD, the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs. “We are treating organizations and people who commit massive violence in Papu...