CoveragePost
April 2, 2024
Asia Pacific Report Indonesia’s military regional command in Papua has denied claims made by a pro-independence West Papuan group that abducted New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens more than a year ago that the army had staged a bombing attack, The Jakarta Post reports. Responding to a claim by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) ... <a title="Indonesian military deny bombing Papua district in bid to free NZ pilot" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/04/02/indonesian-military-deny-bombing-papua-district-in-bid-to-free-nz-pilot/" aria-label="Read more about Indonesian military deny bombing Papua district in bid to free NZ pilot">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
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
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>
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
February 9, 2023
By Finau Fonua and Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalists A researcher at Human Rights Watch in Jakarta is calling for the immediate release of the six hostages — including a New Zealand pilot — being held by a rebel group in Indonesia’s Papua region. The rebels in Highlands Papua are threatening to execute Susi Air ... <a title="Human rights researcher pleads for West Papuan rebels to free NZ pilot" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/09/human-rights-researcher-pleads-for-west-papuan-rebels-to-free-nz-pilot/" aria-label="Read more about Human rights researcher pleads for West Papuan rebels to free NZ pilot">Read more</a>