CoveragePost
April 21, 2026
RNZ Pacific Indonesia’s National Commission on Human Rights says it is investigating deaths of a dozen West Papuans in a military operation. The commission, known as Komnas HAM, says the incident took place last Tuesday in Kembru District in Puncak regency of Central Papua Komnas HAM said 12 civilians, including women and children, died as ... <a title="Indonesia’s human rights body to investigate deaths of 12 Papuans in military operation" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/04/21/indonesias-human-rights-body-to-investigate-deaths-of-12-papuans-in-military-operation/" aria-label="Read more about Indonesia’s human rights body to investigate deaths of 12 Papuans in military operation">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 21, 2026
Asia Pacific Report An exiled leader of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has condemned Indonesia’s “cruel and humiliating” arbitrary arrest of 12 West Papuan local farmers in Tambrauw Regency this week and has demanded their release. According to Human Rights Monitor, the arrests took place on March 18, after Indonesia conducted military ... <a title="Wenda condemns ‘cruel’ arbitrary arrests of West Papuans in Tambrauw" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/21/wenda-condemns-cruel-arbitrary-arrests-of-west-papuans-in-tambrauw/" aria-label="Read more about Wenda condemns ‘cruel’ arbitrary arrests of West Papuans in Tambrauw">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 28, 2026
Asia Pacific Report A West Papuan leader has accused the Indonesian government of lying over its operations and “masking” the military role of some civilian aircraft. Disputing an Indonesian government statement about reported that TPNPB fired upon an aircraft in Boven Digoel, killing both the pilot and copilot, United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) ... <a title="Papuan activist leader Wenda accuses Jakarta of ‘lying’ over shot down plane" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/28/papuan-activist-leader-wenda-accuses-jakarta-of-lying-over-shot-down-plane/" aria-label="Read more about Papuan activist leader Wenda accuses Jakarta of ‘lying’ over shot down plane">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 20, 2026
Asia Pacific Report A West Papuan leader has accused the Indonesian government of lying over its operations and “masking” the military role of some civilian aircraft. Disputing an Indonesian government statement about reported that TPNPB fired upon an aircraft in Boven Digoel, killing both the pilot and copilot, United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) ... <a title="Papuan activist Wenda accuses Jakarta of ‘lying’ over shot down plane" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/20/papuan-activist-wenda-accuses-jakarta-of-lying-over-shot-down-plane/" aria-label="Read more about Papuan activist Wenda accuses Jakarta of ‘lying’ over shot down plane">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
December 1, 2025
As activist groups around the world observe December 1 — flag-raising “independence” day for West Papua today marking when the Morning Star flag was flown in 1961 for the first time — Kristo Langker reports from the Highlands about how the Indonesian military is raising the stakes. SPECIAL REPORT: By Kristo Langker in Kiwirok, West ... <a title="West Papuan liberation fighters risk ‘extermination’ by Indonesia’s high-tech forces" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/12/01/west-papuan-liberation-fighters-risk-extermination-by-indonesias-high-tech-forces/" aria-label="Read more about West Papuan liberation fighters risk ‘extermination’ by Indonesia’s high-tech forces">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
October 23, 2025
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) claims more than a dozen civilians have been killed in the Papuan highlands, including three men who were allegedly tortured and a woman who was allegedly raped. However, the Indonesian government claims the accusations “baseless”. ULMWP president Benny Wenda said 15 ... <a title="ULMWP alleges 15 civilians killed in West Papua military operation" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/10/23/ulmwp-alleges-15-civilians-killed-in-west-papua-military-operation/" aria-label="Read more about ULMWP alleges 15 civilians killed in West Papua military operation">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 11, 2025
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist Further reports of civilian casualties are coming out of West Papua, while clashes between Indonesia’s military and the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement continue. One of the most recent military operations took place in the early morning of May 14 in Sugapa District, Intan Jaya in Central ... <a title="More deaths reported out of Sugapa in West Papua clashes with military" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/06/11/more-deaths-reported-out-of-sugapa-in-west-papua-clashes-with-military/" aria-label="Read more about More deaths reported out of Sugapa in West Papua clashes with military">Read more</a>
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
October 23, 2024
By Victor Mambor in Jayapura With Prabowo Subianto, a controversial former general installed as Indonesia’s new president, residents in the disputed Papua region were responding to this reality with anxiety and, for some, cautious optimism. The remote and resource-rich region has long been a flashpoint for conflict, with its people enduring decades of alleged military ... <a title="Prabowo’s presidency sparks fear and faint hope in Indonesia’s contested Papua" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/10/23/prabowos-presidency-sparks-fear-and-faint-hope-in-indonesias-contested-papua/" aria-label="Read more about Prabowo’s presidency sparks fear and faint hope in Indonesia’s contested Papua">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
September 18, 2024
RNZ Pacific Pro-independence fighters in the Indonesian-ruled West Papua region have proposed the terms of release for the New Zealand pilot taken hostage almost 18 months ago. The armed faction of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) kidnapped Phillip Merhtens, a 38-year-old pilot working for the Indonesian internal feeder airline Susi Air, in February ... <a title="West Papuan fighters who kidnapped Kiwi pilot propose terms of release" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/09/18/west-papuan-fighters-who-kidnapped-kiwi-pilot-propose-terms-of-release/" aria-label="Read more about West Papuan fighters who kidnapped Kiwi pilot propose terms of release">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 21, 2024
Asia Pacific Report A brutal killing of three Papuan civilians in Puncak Jaya reveals that occupied West Papua is a ticking time bomb under Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto, claims the leader of an advocacy group. And United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Benny Wenda says the Melanesian region risks becoming “another East Timor”. The ... <a title="Latest Puncak Jaya massacre reveals West Papua ‘is a time bomb’, claims Benny Wenda" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/07/21/latest-puncak-jaya-massacre-reveals-west-papua-is-a-time-bomb-claims-benny-wenda/" aria-label="Read more about Latest Puncak Jaya massacre reveals West Papua ‘is a time bomb’, claims Benny Wenda">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 20, 2024
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist All parties, including West Papuan pro-independence fighters who took Phillip Mehrtens hostage, want the New Zealand pilot released but freeing him is “complicated”. In February 2023, Mehrtens, a husband and father from Christchurch, was working for Indonesian airline, Susi Air, when he landed his small Pilatus plane on a ... <a title="No breakthrough in hostage Kiwi pilot talks held by West Papuan rebels" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/06/20/no-breakthrough-in-hostage-kiwi-pilot-talks-held-by-west-papuan-rebels/" aria-label="Read more about No breakthrough in hostage Kiwi pilot talks held by West Papuan rebels">Read more</a>
