CoveragePost
April 26, 2023
RNZ Pacific New Zealand hostage Phillip Mehrtens, who is being held by pro-independence fighters in West Papua, appears well in a newly-released video. It comes as concerns were expressed for the pilot as fighting between Indonesian security forces and his captors, the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), intensified last week. New Zealand Prime Minister ... <a title="‘I’m alive, healthy . . . stop the bombs,’ says kidnapped NZ pilot in new West Papua video" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/04/26/im-alive-healthy-stop-the-bombs-says-kidnapped-nz-pilot-in-new-west-papua-video/" aria-label="Read more about ‘I’m alive, healthy . . . stop the bombs,’ says kidnapped NZ pilot in new West Papua video">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 19, 2023
RNZ Pacific The Indonesian military has officially escalated its operational status in West Papua to “ground combat ready” following a clash with West Papuan National Liberation Army militants over the weekend with multiple casualties reported on both sides. Military (TNI) commander Admiral Yudo Margono made the announcement in Jakarta yesterday after returning from West Papua. ... <a title="Indonesia upgrades NZ pilot operation in West Papua to ‘combat ready’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/04/19/indonesia-upgrades-nz-pilot-operation-in-west-papua-to-combat-ready/" aria-label="Read more about Indonesia upgrades NZ pilot operation in West Papua to ‘combat ready’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 17, 2023
RNZ Pacific West Papuan rebels seeking independence in the Indonesian-ruled Melanesian region claim to have killed nine soldiers after Jakarta did not respond to a request to negotiate the return of hostage New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens. But the military said one soldier died during the attack on Saturday. Indonesian military spokesperson Rear Admiral Julius ... <a title="West Papuan rebels claim 9 soldiers killed in Jakarta bid to free NZ pilot" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/04/17/west-papuan-rebels-claim-9-soldiers-killed-in-jakarta-bid-to-free-nz-pilot/" aria-label="Read more about West Papuan rebels claim 9 soldiers killed in Jakarta bid to free NZ pilot">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 10, 2023
RNZ Pacific The authorities in Indonesia’s Papua region say the search for a New Zealand pilot taken hostage by West Papua Liberation Movement freedom fighters more than two months ago has been extended. Philip Mehrtens, a pilot for Susi Airlines, was taken hostage in the remote Nduga district on February 7. According to Antara News, ... <a title="Search for NZ pilot taken hostage by Papua rebels extended, says Indonesia" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/04/10/search-for-nz-pilot-taken-hostage-by-papua-rebels-extended-says-indonesia/" aria-label="Read more about Search for NZ pilot taken hostage by Papua rebels extended, says Indonesia">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 28, 2023
By Finau Fonua, RNZ Pacific journalist, and Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor Indonesian security forces in Papua last week launched an offensive against the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) command holding New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens hostage, RNZ Pacific can confirm. The operation was launched at 1am local time on Thursday, March 23, in ... <a title="Indonesian security forces attack West Papuan rebels holding NZ pilot" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/28/indonesian-security-forces-attack-west-papuan-rebels-holding-nz-pilot/" aria-label="Read more about Indonesian security forces attack West Papuan rebels holding NZ pilot">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 28, 2023
A joint force of Indonesian military and police are claiming to have shot dead a member of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) in Central Papua Province on Wednesday last week. Jubi TV Papua reports the joint force was conducting aerial surveillance after a motorcycle taxi driver had been shot dead by someone who ... <a title="West Papua Liberation Army fighter shot dead, claims Indonesia" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/28/west-papua-liberation-army-fighter-shot-dead-claims-indonesia/" aria-label="Read more about West Papua Liberation Army fighter shot dead, claims Indonesia">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 21, 2023
Tabloid Jubi in Jayapura The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has called on the international community to “pay serious attention” to the escalated violence happening in West Papua. Head of ULMWP’s legal and human rights bureau, Daniel Randongkir, said that since the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) — a separate movement — ... <a title="Papuan liberation group calls for more ‘serious’ global efforts to end violence" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/21/papuan-liberation-group-calls-for-more-serious-global-efforts-to-end-violence/" aria-label="Read more about Papuan liberation group calls for more ‘serious’ global efforts to end violence">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 10, 2023
Asia Pacific Report The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) has released a new video about New Zealand hostage pilot Philip Mehrtens and a Papuan news organisation, Jubi TV, has featured it on its website. The Susi Air pilot was taken hostage on February 7 after landing in a remote region near Nduga in the ... <a title="Hostage NZ pilot appears in new Papuan rebel video amid ‘don’t work here’ warning" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/10/hostage-nz-pilot-appears-in-new-papuan-rebel-video-amid-dont-work-here-warning/" aria-label="Read more about Hostage NZ pilot appears in new Papuan rebel video amid ‘don’t work here’ warning">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 3, 2023
ANALYSIS: By David Robie Two countries. A common border. Two hostage crises. But the responses of both Asia-Pacific nations have been like chalk and cheese. On February 7, a militant cell of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), the armed wing of the Free Papua Organisation (OPM) — a fragmented organisation that been fighting ... <a title="Two countries, two kidnappings – Port Moresby shows Jakarta how it’s done with 3 PNG hostages freed" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/03/two-countries-two-kidnappings-port-moresby-shows-jakarta-how-its-done-with-3-png-hostages-freed/" aria-label="Read more about Two countries, two kidnappings – Port Moresby shows Jakarta how it’s done with 3 PNG hostages freed">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 3, 2023
Jubi News in Jayapura The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) has denied Indonesian media claims that Egianus Kogoya, the commander of a TPNPB faction, asked for money and weapons to free the New Zealand pilot they are holding hostage. “No, we never asked for money and weapons in exchange for releasing pilot Philip Mark ... <a title="Papuan rebels deny asking for money, weapons to free NZ pilot – ‘that’s just propaganda’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/03/papuan-rebels-deny-asking-for-money-weapons-to-free-nz-pilot-thats-just-propaganda/" aria-label="Read more about Papuan rebels deny asking for money, weapons to free NZ pilot – ‘that’s just propaganda’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 1, 2023
Jubi News in Jayapura The Papuan Church Council has called on the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) unit led by Egianus Kogoya to immediately release the New Zealand hostage pilot Philip Mehrtens. The council’s request was delivered during a press conference attended by Reverend Benny Giai as moderator and member Reverend Socratez Sofyan Yoman ... <a title="Papuan churches plea to rebel leader Egianus Kogoya to free NZ pilot" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/01/papuan-churches-plea-to-rebel-leader-egianus-kogoya-to-free-nz-pilot/" aria-label="Read more about Papuan churches plea to rebel leader Egianus Kogoya to free NZ pilot">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 27, 2023
ANALYSIS: By David Robie Two countries. A common border. Two hostage crises. But the responses of both Asia-Pacific nations have been like chalk and cheese. On February 7, a militant cell of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), the armed wing of the Free Papua Organisation (OPM) — a fragmented organisation that been fighting ... <a title="Two countries, two kidnappings – but Jakarta and Port Moresby responses different with 3 PNG hostages freed" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/27/two-countries-two-kidnappings-but-jakarta-and-port-moresby-responses-different-with-3-png-hostages-freed/" aria-label="Read more about Two countries, two kidnappings – but Jakarta and Port Moresby responses different with 3 PNG hostages freed">Read more</a>
