CoveragePost
July 6, 2023
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist Papua New Guinea’s amended Criminal Code Act will give police the power to deal with what they are calling “domestic terrorists”. The impetus for the new legislation has been the rash of kidnappings carried out in a remote part of the Southern Highlands. In Bosavi, gangs of youths ... <a title="Tough new PNG police powers won’t work, says Transparency chief" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/07/06/tough-new-png-police-powers-wont-work-says-transparency-chief/" aria-label="Read more about Tough new PNG police powers won’t work, says Transparency chief">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 29, 2023
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist, and Scott Waide, RNZ Pacific PNG correspondent A woman who was part of a group kidnapped in Papua New Guinea in February has spoken out after the kidnapping and reported rape of 17 schoolgirls in the same area of Southern Highlands earlier this month. Cathy Alex, the New ... <a title="‘We chose death over being raped’ – PNG kidnap survivor speaks out" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/29/we-chose-death-over-being-raped-png-kidnap-survivor-speaks-out/" aria-label="Read more about ‘We chose death over being raped’ – PNG kidnap survivor speaks out">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 24, 2023
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Papua New Guinea police will be able to use lethal force to deal with crimes that come under “domestic terrorism” through the amendments to the Criminal Code Act. Police Commissioner David Manning said this as the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) continue to work for stronger law enforcement ... <a title="PNG law change empowers police to use lethal force in kidnapping, domestic terrorism" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/24/png-law-change-empowers-police-to-use-lethal-force-in-kidnapping-domestic-terrorism/" aria-label="Read more about PNG law change empowers police to use lethal force in kidnapping, domestic terrorism">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 12, 2023
By Majeleen Yanei in Port Moresby Seventeen Papua New Guinean schoolgirls who were kidnapped, raped and held hostage by armed men in Bosavi, Hela, last Wednesday were released yesterday. The National’s source said they were released following a payment of 3300 kina (NZ$1500) and nine pigs as ransom to the gunmen. “The females were released ... <a title="PNG gunmen ‘kidnapped, raped’ 17 schoolgirls before freeing them" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/12/png-gunmen-kidnapped-raped-17-schoolgirls-before-freeing-them/" aria-label="Read more about PNG gunmen ‘kidnapped, raped’ 17 schoolgirls before freeing them">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 9, 2023
PNG Post-Courier A recent cash payment by the state for the release of three hostages held captive by armed gunmen in Papua New Guinea’s Southern Highlands province has set a “dangerous precedent”, says the opposition. Deputy opposition leader Douglas Tomuriesa said in a statement that the Marape government had set a bad precedent in allowing ... <a title="Plea to PNG prime minister to tell truth about ransom paid to ‘terrorists’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/09/plea-to-png-prime-minister-to-tell-truth-about-ransom-paid-to-terrorists/" aria-label="Read more about Plea to PNG prime minister to tell truth about ransom paid to ‘terrorists’">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
RNZ Pacific A New Zealand professor and his two Papua New Guinean colleagues have been released from captivity, more than a week after being kidnapped by an armed gang. Archaeologist Professor Bryce Barker, who now lives in Australia and works with the University of Southern Queensland (USQ), was held alongside fellow members of his research ... <a title="‘Thank God’ says PM Marape in social media post about 3 freed hostages" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/03/thank-god-says-pm-marape-in-social-media-post-about-3-freed-hostages/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Thank God’ says PM Marape in social media post about 3 freed hostages">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 2, 2023
By Rebecca Kuku in Port Moresby The three local female researchers who were kidnapped with Australia-based New Zealand professor Bryce Barker are being kept in a safe house and banned from speaking to news media. According to their families, the women were being kept in an undisclosed location for their safety with their mobile phones ... <a title="K100,000 ransom paid for release of PNG hostages clarified as ‘third party’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/02/k100000-ransom-paid-for-release-of-png-hostages-clarified-as-third-party/" aria-label="Read more about K100,000 ransom paid for release of PNG hostages clarified as ‘third party’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 1, 2023
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby The look on the faces of their families said it all, as they cried awaiting anxiously for their loved ones who made their way from the aircraft into the airport terminal at the capital Port Moresby. For the families of the last three Papua New Guinea hostage crisis captives, ... <a title="Nightmare over for final 3 PNG freed hostages – police hunt their captors" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/01/nightmare-over-for-final-3-png-freed-hostages-police-hunt-their-captors/" aria-label="Read more about Nightmare over for final 3 PNG freed hostages – police hunt their captors">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 27, 2023
NBC News Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape has revealed that about K100,000 (about NZ$46,000) was paid to the kidnappers for the release of the three remaining hostages in the Bosavi mountains in the Southern Highlands province at the weekend. The three hostages, an Australian-resident New Zealand professor and his two female colleagues, were ... <a title="Marape clarifies kidnappers were paid K100,000 for freeing PNG hostages" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/27/marape-clarifies-kidnappers-were-paid-k100000-for-freeing-png-hostages/" aria-label="Read more about Marape clarifies kidnappers were paid K100,000 for freeing PNG hostages">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>
CoveragePost
February 26, 2023
RNZ News A New Zealand professor and his two Papua New Guinean colleagues have been released from captivity, more than a week after being kidnapped by an armed gang. Archaeologist Professor Bryce Barker, who now lives in Australia and works with the University of Southern Queensland (USQ), was held alongside fellow members of his research ... <a title="‘Thank God’ says PM Marape in tweet about 3 freed hostages" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/26/thank-god-says-pm-marape-in-tweet-about-3-freed-hostages/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Thank God’ says PM Marape in tweet about 3 freed hostages">Read more</a>
