Indonesia’s Papua: Home to forgotten struggle

Indonesia’s Papua region is home to one of the world’s most forgotten conflicts, pitting pro-independence groups against the Indonesian government. 

Papuans, who are the among the poorest in Indonesia, feel marginalised despite government efforts to develop the region and an autonomy package that brings in large funds.

The region was made part of Indonesia in the 1960s after the state reached an agreement with the US, the Netherlands and the UN. But this agreement is challenged by Papuan independence activists, and clashes regularly erupt between government troops and a small armed movement.

Al Jazeera got exclusive access reporting from a region rarely accessed by foreign media.

Al Jazeera’s Step Vaessen reports from Jayapura, Papua’s provincial capital.