CoveragePost
November 19, 2024
By Duncan Graham An alleged plot involving firearms and threatening the life of New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens when held hostage in Papua this year is being investigated by the Australian Federal Police. The case involves “advancing a political cause by the separation of West Papua from Indonesia . . . with the intention of ... <a title="Kiwi pilot kidnapping in West Papua leads to police raids in Australia" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/11/19/kiwi-pilot-kidnapping-in-west-papua-leads-to-police-raids-in-australia/" aria-label="Read more about Kiwi pilot kidnapping in West Papua leads to police raids in Australia">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 6, 2024
RNZ Pacific The New Zealand government is again calling on the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) to release the kidnapped pilot Phillip Mehrtens. Tomorrow will mark one year since the 38-year-old New Zealander was taken hostage in Papua by independence fighters in the Nduga Regency province. Mehrtens was taken hostage a year ago on ... <a title="NZ govt seeks release of Kiwi hostage pilot Phillip Mehrtens in West Papua" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/02/06/nz-govt-seeks-release-of-kiwi-hostage-pilot-phillip-mehrtens-in-west-papua/" aria-label="Read more about NZ govt seeks release of Kiwi hostage pilot Phillip Mehrtens in West Papua">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
September 6, 2023
Jubi News The Human Rights Lawyers Association (PAHAM) Papua has demanded a “thorough and impartial” investigation into the death of Michelle Kurisi, a civilian involved in gathering information about a New Zealand pilot held hostage by West Papuan pro-independence fighters. She was tragically killed on August 28 in Kolawa District, Lanny Jaya Regency, in the ... <a title="Papuan lawyers call for impartial probe into woman killed over NZ hostage" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/09/06/papuan-lawyers-call-for-impartial-probe-into-woman-killed-over-nz-hostage/" aria-label="Read more about Papuan lawyers call for impartial probe into woman killed over NZ hostage">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 9, 2023
RNZ Pacific Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has called again for the immediate release of New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens, who has now been held hostage by pro-independence fighters in West Papua for six months. Speaking in Auckland, Hipkins said Mehrtens — a pilot for the Indonesian airline Susi Air which provide air links to remote ... <a title="Hipkins urges release of NZ hostage six months after Papua kidnapping" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/08/09/hipkins-urges-release-of-nz-hostage-six-months-after-papua-kidnapping/" aria-label="Read more about Hipkins urges release of NZ hostage six months after Papua kidnapping">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 15, 2023
ANALYSIS: By Damien Kingsbury, Deakin University New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has now been held hostage in West Papua for four months. Stalled attempts to negotiate his release, and an unsuccessful Indonesian military rescue attempt, suggest a confused picture behind the scenes. Members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) kidnapped Mehrtens on February ... <a title="I was involved in stalled talks to free kidnapped NZ pilot in West Papua. What happens now?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/15/i-was-involved-in-stalled-talks-to-free-kidnapped-nz-pilot-in-west-papua-what-happens-now/" aria-label="Read more about I was involved in stalled talks to free kidnapped NZ pilot in West Papua. What happens now?">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 5, 2023
Asia Pacific Report The president of a West Papuan advocacy group has appealed to the militants holding New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens hostage to free him unconditionally and unharmed, describing him as an “innocent pawn”. United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) president Benny Wenda said he held “deepest concern” for the life of Mehrtens, ... <a title="Wenda calls on Papuan rebels to free NZ pilot ‘unconditionally’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/05/wenda-calls-on-papuan-rebels-to-free-nz-pilot-unconditionally/" aria-label="Read more about Wenda calls on Papuan rebels to free NZ pilot ‘unconditionally’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 3, 2023
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author-poet and advocate for West Papuan independence has condemned a reported threat against the life of a New Zealand hostage pilot, Philip Mehrtens, held by Papuan liberation fighters and appealed to them to “keep Philip safe”. Jim Aubrey, a human rights activist who has campaigned globally on freedom struggles in ... <a title="Author-poet condemns Papuan rebel threat to shoot NZ hostage pilot if denied talks" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/03/author-poet-condemns-papuan-rebel-threat-to-shoot-nz-hostage-pilot-if-denied-talks/" aria-label="Read more about Author-poet condemns Papuan rebel threat to shoot NZ hostage pilot if denied talks">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 28, 2023
Asia Pacific Report Free Papua Organisation (OPM) leader Jeffrey Bomanak has appealed for Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape to become a “neutral intermediary” to negotiate between the Indonesian government and the West Papuan rebels holding a New Zealand pilot hostage for his release. He has called in a statement today for the safe ... <a title="OPM call for PNG’s James Marape as negotiator for NZ pilot’s safe passage" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/05/28/opm-call-for-pngs-james-marape-as-negotiator-for-nz-pilots-safe-passage/" aria-label="Read more about OPM call for PNG’s James Marape as negotiator for NZ pilot’s safe passage">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 24, 2023
Asia Pacific Report An Australian advocacy group has called for West Papua to be reinscribed on the United Nations list of “non self-governing territories”, citing the “sham” vote in 1969 and the worsening human rights violations in the Indonesian-ruled Melanesian region. The UN Special Committee on Decolonisation began its 2023 Pacific Regional Seminar in Bali, ... <a title="Protesters call for West Papua to be included on UN ‘decolonisation’ list" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/05/24/protesters-call-for-west-papua-to-be-included-on-un-decolonisation-list/" aria-label="Read more about Protesters call for West Papua to be included on UN ‘decolonisation’ list">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 17, 2023
Asia Pacific Report Free Papua Organisation (OPM) leader Jeffrey Bomanak has appealed to US President Joe Biden for a “proactive role” in ending Indonesia’s “unlawful military occupation and annexation” of West Papua. He claims this illegal occupation led to the subsequent US “foreign policy failure” in protecting six decades of crimes against humanity. Bomanak made ... <a title="OPM leader calls on Biden to take proactive role in ending West Papuan ‘holocaust’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/05/17/opm-leader-calls-on-biden-to-take-proactive-role-in-ending-west-papuan-holocaust/" aria-label="Read more about OPM leader calls on Biden to take proactive role in ending West Papuan ‘holocaust’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 15, 2023
Asia Pacific Report A New Zealand advocacy group has appealed to the government to heed the call of West Papuan church leaders for Indonesia to withdraw security forces and impose a “humanitarian pause” while negotiating for the release of captive pilot Philip Merhtens. Mehrtens, a 37-year-old New Zealander working for the Indonesian local airline Susi ... <a title="Open letter plea for NZ to back West Papua peaceful hostage plan" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/05/15/open-letter-plea-for-nz-to-back-west-papua-peaceful-hostage-plan/" aria-label="Read more about Open letter plea for NZ to back West Papua peaceful hostage plan">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 28, 2023
Jubi News in Jayapura Captured pilot Philip Mehrtens has called on the Indonesian government to stop military operations in the Nduga highlands in a bid to rescue him while his West Papuan rebel captors have condemned New Zealand for alleged “collusion” with Jakarta. According to Mehrtens, last weekend the Indonesian military (TNI) dropped bombs on ... <a title="West Papuan rebels condemn NZ for ‘collusion’ with Indonesia, risks to hostage pilot safety" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/04/28/west-papuan-rebels-condemn-nz-for-collusion-with-indonesia-risks-to-hostage-pilot-safety/" aria-label="Read more about West Papuan rebels condemn NZ for ‘collusion’ with Indonesia, risks to hostage pilot safety">Read more</a>
