Telecommunications outages in Indonesia's Papua region have blocked the flow of information about ongoing conflict in its central highlands.
It's also added to significant pressures on basic freedoms of expression at a time when Papuans seek to voice views on Jakarta's plans for the region's special autonomy provisions.
Amid an internet shutdown RNZ Pacific has received updates on the situation through intermittent phone contact.
When the internet to much of Papua was cut a month ago after a reported cable cable disruption, a spokesperson for PT Telkom Indonesia apologised for the disruption, saying the company was working to restore services.
But a Papuan academic in Jayapura, Esther Haluk, says the situation hasn't been rectified, and that what little communications are still standing are being monitored closely.
The coffins of three West Papuan men killed by Indonesia's military on 16 February 2021 in Sugapa, Intan Jaya regency. Photo: Supplied
