Pacific / West Papua

Indonesia blocks diplomats from West Papua - media report

14:43 pm on 9 October 2019

Indonesia has reportedly blocked foreign diplomats from visiting West Papua, following violent riots there.

Photo: Supplied

New Zealand, British and Canadian officials have had requests denied in the last month, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has also been blocked, despite Indonesia in January agreeing in principle to a visit.

The newspaper reported Australian and US diplomats have not asked to access Papua because it might upset Jakarta.

Clashes in the Papuan town of Wamena last month killed 33 people, prompting more than 15,000 to flee.

Unrest broke out in Wamena on 23 September. Photo: Supplied