CoveragePost
April 13, 2024
RNZ Pacific More videos appear to have been released by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) showing New Zealand hostage Phillip Mehrtens. The New Zealander was taken hostage more than a year ago on February 7 in Paro in the highlands of the Indonesian-ruled region of West Papua while providing vital air links and ... <a title="More videos of Kiwi hostage in Papua – warning over Indonesian air strikes" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/04/13/more-videos-of-kiwi-hostage-in-papua-warning-over-indonesian-air-strikes/" aria-label="Read more about More videos of Kiwi hostage in Papua – warning over Indonesian air strikes">Read more</a>
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
February 26, 2024
Asia Pacific Report An Australian-based West Papua advocacy group has condemned the arrest and “humiliation” of two teenagers by Indonesian security forces last week. The head of Cartenz 2024 Peace Operations, Kombes Faizal Ramadhani, said in a statement on Friday that the 15-year-olds had been arrested after a clash with the West Papua National Liberation ... <a title="West Papua advocacy group condemns arrest, ‘humiliation’ of two teenagers" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/02/26/west-papua-advocacy-group-condemns-arrest-humiliation-of-two-teenagers/" aria-label="Read more about West Papua advocacy group condemns arrest, ‘humiliation’ of two teenagers">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
October 6, 2023
Asia Pacific Report The state of civic space in Indonesia has been rated as “obstructed” in the latest CIVICUS Monitor report. The civic space watchdog said that ongoing concerns include the arrest, harassment and criminalisation of human rights defenders and journalists as well as physical and digital attacks, the use of defamation laws to silence ... <a title="Crackdown on activists, free expression in Papua as Indonesia eyes UN Human Rights role" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/10/06/crackdown-on-activists-free-expression-in-papua-as-indonesia-eyes-un-human-rights-role/" aria-label="Read more about Crackdown on activists, free expression in Papua as Indonesia eyes UN Human Rights role">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
September 18, 2023
Asia Pacific Report An Australian human rights advocacy group for West Papuans has condemned the killing of 5 youths found dead in Dekai, capital of Yahukimo Regency, and have challenged Canberra to reconsider government ties with Indonesian security forces. Criticising the latest deaths, Australia West Papua Association (AWPA) spokesperson Joe Collins said: “While West Papuans ... <a title="Australian advocacy group condemns killing of 5 West Papuans – challenges Canberra" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/09/18/australian-advocacy-group-condemns-killing-of-5-west-papuans-challenges-canberra/" aria-label="Read more about Australian advocacy group condemns killing of 5 West Papuans – challenges Canberra">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
September 1, 2023
An Australian academic has lit the fuse of diplomatic fury by publicly criticising Indonesia’s brutal response to the Papuan independence movement, a sensitive topic for governments of both countries. Duncan Graham reports from Indonesia on the silent war to the north. ANALYSIS: By Duncan Graham An Australian academic is risking an eruption of diplomatic fury ... <a title="The silent war – Australia and Indonesia mum on Papuan human right abuses" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/09/01/the-silent-war-australia-and-indonesia-mum-on-papuan-human-right-abuses/" aria-label="Read more about The silent war – Australia and Indonesia mum on Papuan human right abuses">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
July 9, 2023
By Singgih Wiryono in Jakarta Indonesia’s former National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) chairperson Ahmad Taufan Damanik says it is difficult to expect Komnas HAM to play a role in freeing the New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens held hostage in West Papua. According to Damanik, who was chair 2017-2022, this is because the current Komnas ... <a title="Jakarta’s rights commission criticised for ‘failure’ over NZ pilot hostage case" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/07/09/jakartas-rights-commission-criticised-for-failure-over-nz-pilot-hostage-case/" aria-label="Read more about Jakarta’s rights commission criticised for ‘failure’ over NZ pilot hostage case">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>
