CoveragePost
June 6, 2023
Asia Pacific Report The self-styled provisional government of the United Liberation Movement of West Papua“with the people” of the Melanesian region have declared political support for full West Papuan membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). In a statement issued in the Vanuatu capital of Port Vila after a meeting of thew ULMWP executive in ... <a title="West Papuan ‘provisional’ government backs full membership of MSG" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/06/west-papuan-provisional-government-backs-full-membership-of-msg/" aria-label="Read more about West Papuan ‘provisional’ government backs full membership of MSG">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>
CoveragePost
April 14, 2023
Asia Pacific Report A West Papuan leader has accused Indonesia of imposing a “martial law” on the Melanesian region in response to the kidnapping of a New Zealand pilot by rebels fighting Jakarta’s contested rule. “It is clear that Indonesia is using the kidnap of New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens as a pretext to strengthen ... <a title="Wenda accuses Indonesia of imposing ‘martial law’ abuses on West Papua" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/04/14/wenda-accuses-indonesia-of-imposing-martial-law-abuses-on-west-papua/" aria-label="Read more about Wenda accuses Indonesia of imposing ‘martial law’ abuses on West Papua">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 30, 2023
Asia Pacific Report Twenty West Papuans who were fundraising for the victims of tropical cyclones in Vanuatu were today arrested by Indonesian police in Jayapura, the Papuan provincial capital, reports a West Papuan advocacy group. “This was a peaceful, compassionate action, with Papuans taking to the streets to raise money for those affected by this ... <a title="Indonesia ‘makes humanitarianism illegal’ for West Papuans – 20 arrests" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/30/indonesia-makes-humanitarianism-illegal-for-west-papuans-20-arrests/" aria-label="Read more about Indonesia ‘makes humanitarianism illegal’ for West Papuans – 20 arrests">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 5, 2023
Asia Pacific Report The United Liberation Movement for West Papua has condemned an Indonesian government protest over Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s declared support for ULMWP full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) as “grotesque hypocrisy”. In a statement, ULMWP interim president Benny Wenda said the Jakarta government had repeatedly stated support for the ... <a title="Wenda slams Jakarta’s ‘hypocrisy’ over support for Palestine, but denying West Papua" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/05/wenda-slams-jakartas-hypocrisy-over-support-for-palestine-but-denying-west-papua/" aria-label="Read more about Wenda slams Jakarta’s ‘hypocrisy’ over support for Palestine, but denying West Papua">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 3, 2023
Asia Pacific Report Indonesia has protested to the Fiji government after Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka met with a Papuan independence leader in a morale boost for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, reports Benar News. Prime Minister Rabuka, who was elected in December, also said he would support Papuan membership in the UN-recognised organisation ... <a title="Indonesia protests over Fiji’s Rabuka backing Papuan independence leader" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/03/indonesia-protests-over-fijis-rabuka-backing-papuan-independence-leader/" aria-label="Read more about Indonesia protests over Fiji’s Rabuka backing Papuan independence leader">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
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 25, 2023
By Felix Chaudhary in Suva “We are proud Fijians and Melanesians today” — Fiji Council of Social Services executive director Vani Catanasiga said this in the wake of news that Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has confirmed his support for West Papua’s bid for full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group. “We are overjoyed and ... <a title="West Papua: ‘We’re proud Fijians today’ over Rabuka support" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/25/west-papua-were-proud-fijians-today-over-rabuka-support/" aria-label="Read more about West Papua: ‘We’re proud Fijians today’ over Rabuka support">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 24, 2023
By Kelvin Anthony, RNZ Pacific digital and social media journalist, and Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is the first Fijian leader in 16 years to hold a one-on-one meeting with the president of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), while also confirming his government will support the independence ... <a title="Rabuka backs call for West Papuan independence group to fully join MSG" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/24/rabuka-backs-call-for-west-papuan-independence-group-to-fully-join-msg/" aria-label="Read more about Rabuka backs call for West Papuan independence group to fully join MSG">Read more</a>
