CoveragePost
February 23, 2023
By Felix Chaudhary in Suva Recognising Indonesia’s sovereignty is one thing. However, failing to allow West Papuans a seat at regional discussion tables like the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and Melanesian Spearhead Group to address human rights atrocities, torture and killing at the hands of Indonesian security forces is not the Pacific way. United Liberation ... <a title="Wenda hopes to get plight of West Papuan people to PIF ‘beyond rhetoric’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/23/wenda-hopes-to-get-plight-of-west-papuan-people-to-pif-beyond-rhetoric/" aria-label="Read more about Wenda hopes to get plight of West Papuan people to PIF ‘beyond rhetoric’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 22, 2023
RNZ Pacific A West Papuan independence movement leader, Benny Wenda, says the release of New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens held hostage by armed rebels is out of his hands. The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) fighters kidnapped Mehrtens on February 7 after he landed a small commercial passenger plane in Nduga regency. The group ... <a title="Wenda calls on West Papuan rebels to release kidnapped NZ pilot" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/22/wenda-calls-on-west-papuan-rebels-to-release-kidnapped-nz-pilot/" aria-label="Read more about Wenda calls on West Papuan rebels to release kidnapped NZ pilot">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
December 25, 2022
CHRISTMAS MESSAGE: By Benny Wenda As 2022 draws to a close, I would like to thank everyone who has supported the West Papuan struggle this year. To our worldwide solidarity groups, including those within Indonesia, to Alex Sobel and the International Parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP), the International Lawyers for West Papua, to our friends ... <a title="Benny Wenda: A West Papuan Christmas message" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/12/25/benny-wenda-a-west-papuan-christmas-message/" aria-label="Read more about Benny Wenda: A West Papuan Christmas message">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
October 16, 2022
OBITUARY: By Yamin Kogoya The sudden death of activist Leonie Tanggahma has shaken Papuan communities. Her loss last week has shocked West Papuans who regarded her as one of those who had stood strong for decades advocating independence for the Indonesian-ruled region. She had lived for decades in the Netherlands among hundreds of exiled Papuans ... <a title="Papuans mourn sudden loss of ‘one of their brightest stars’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/10/16/papuans-mourn-sudden-loss-of-one-of-their-brightest-stars/" aria-label="Read more about Papuans mourn sudden loss of ‘one of their brightest stars’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 31, 2022
Asia Pacific Report newsdesk The United Liberation Movement of West Papua has condemned the brutal killing and mutilation of four indigenous West Papuans last week, saying it was a “a reminder of Indonesian colonialism”, as authorities announced the arrest of six special forces suspects. News agency reports said Indonesian security forces had arrested the six ... <a title="Killing of four West Papuans ‘brutal reminder of reality’ under Jakarta rule, says Wenda" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/08/31/killing-of-four-west-papuans-brutal-reminder-of-reality-under-jakarta-rule-says-wenda/" aria-label="Read more about Killing of four West Papuans ‘brutal reminder of reality’ under Jakarta rule, says Wenda">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 26, 2022
RNZ Pacific New Caledonia’s pro-independence FLNKS (Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), which wants independence from Indonesia. The Kanak-Papuan deal was signed by Roch Wamytan, President of New Caledonia’s Congress, and the visiting ULMWP leader Benny Wenda. Wamytan told La ... <a title="Pro-independence Kanaks sign pact with West Papuan movement" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/07/26/pro-independence-kanaks-sign-pact-with-west-papuan-movement/" aria-label="Read more about Pro-independence Kanaks sign pact with West Papuan movement">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 7, 2022
RNZ Pacific The president of the United Liberation Movement of West Papua, Benny Wenda, has arrived to a warm welcome in Port Vila from London where he is based. Representatives of the Vanuatu West Papua Independence Committee, who are organising his trip, made sure the media was present only during a welcome ceremony at the ... <a title="Vanuatu offers warm welcome to Papuan independence campaigner" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/07/07/vanuatu-offers-warm-welcome-to-papuan-independence-campaigner/" aria-label="Read more about Vanuatu offers warm welcome to Papuan independence campaigner">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 5, 2022
COMMENTARY: By Benny Wenda We celebrated the 51st anniversary of the independence declaration of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) at Markas Victoria on July 1, 1971. The declaration, signed by Seth Rumkoren and Jacob Prai — who sadly passed away last month — was a direct rejection of Indonesian colonialism. It sent a powerful message ... <a title="OPM day – celebrating the 1971 Papuan ‘independence proklamasi’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/07/05/opm-day-celebrating-the-1971-papuan-independence-proklamasi/" aria-label="Read more about OPM day – celebrating the 1971 Papuan ‘independence proklamasi’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 23, 2022
Asia Pacific Report newsdesk The Pacific Elders’ Voice has expressed deep concern about reports of deteriorating human rights in West Papua and has appealed to Indonesia to allow the proposed UN high commissioner’s visit there before the Bali G20 meeting in November. A statement from the PEV says the reports suggest an “increased number of ... <a title="Pacific Elders call on Indonesia to allow UN visit to Papua before Bali" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/04/23/pacific-elders-call-on-indonesia-to-allow-un-visit-to-papua-before-bali/" aria-label="Read more about Pacific Elders call on Indonesia to allow UN visit to Papua before Bali">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 7, 2022
Asia Pacific Report newsdesk A West Papuan leader has praised the “bravery and spirit” of Ukrainians defending their country against the Russian invasion while condemning the hypocrisy of a self-styled “peaceful” Indonesia that attacks “innocent civilians” in Papua. Responding to the global condemnation of the brutal war on Ukraine, now into its second week, United ... <a title="Wenda backs urgent UN call for action over Papuan child killings, disappearances" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/03/07/wenda-backs-urgent-un-call-for-action-over-papuan-child-killings-disappearances/" aria-label="Read more about Wenda backs urgent UN call for action over Papuan child killings, disappearances">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 12, 2022
Asia Pacific Report newsdesk The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) plans to open a government branch office in the neighbouring Papua New Guinean capital of Port Moresby along with diplomacy offices to be based in Europe and the United Kingdom. In a New Year message from interim president Benny Wenda, he has confirmed ... <a title="West Papuans to open branch office in Port Moresby, Wenda confirms" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/01/12/west-papuans-to-open-branch-office-in-port-moresby-wenda-confirms/" aria-label="Read more about West Papuans to open branch office in Port Moresby, Wenda confirms">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
December 21, 2021
By Kizzy Kalsakau and Jason Abel in Port Vila The interim President of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) provisional government, Benny Wenda, has condemned Indonesia for the arrest and torture of eight students, and appeals to Melanesian countries to support their plea. The eight West Papuan students were arrested by Indonesian police ... <a title="Wenda slams Jakarta over Papuan student arrests, seeks support" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/12/21/wenda-slams-jakarta-over-papuan-student-arrests-seeks-support/" aria-label="Read more about Wenda slams Jakarta over Papuan student arrests, seeks support">Read more</a>
