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‘Thank God’ says PM Marape in social media post about 3 freed hostages

March 3, 2023

RNZ Pacific A New Zealand professor and his two Papua New Guinean colleagues have been released from captivity, more than a week after being kidnapped by an armed gang. Archaeologist Professor Bryce Barker, who now lives in Australia and works with the University of Southern Queensland (USQ), was held alongside fellow members of his research ... <a title="‘Thank God’ says PM Marape in social media post about 3 freed hostages" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/03/thank-god-says-pm-marape-in-social-media-post-about-3-freed-hostages/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Thank God’ says PM Marape in social media post about 3 freed hostages">Read more</a>

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K100,000 ransom paid for release of PNG hostages clarified as ‘third party’

March 2, 2023

By Rebecca Kuku in Port Moresby The three local female researchers who were kidnapped with Australia-based New Zealand professor Bryce Barker are being kept in a safe house and banned from speaking to news media. According to their families, the women were being kept in an undisclosed location for their safety with their mobile phones ... <a title="K100,000 ransom paid for release of PNG hostages clarified as ‘third party’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/02/k100000-ransom-paid-for-release-of-png-hostages-clarified-as-third-party/" aria-label="Read more about K100,000 ransom paid for release of PNG hostages clarified as ‘third party’">Read more</a>

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Nightmare over for final 3 PNG freed hostages – police hunt their captors

March 1, 2023

By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby The look on the faces of their families said it all, as they cried awaiting anxiously for their loved ones who made their way from the aircraft into the airport terminal at the capital Port Moresby. For the families of the last three Papua New Guinea hostage crisis captives, ... <a title="Nightmare over for final 3 PNG freed hostages – police hunt their captors" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/01/nightmare-over-for-final-3-png-freed-hostages-police-hunt-their-captors/" aria-label="Read more about Nightmare over for final 3 PNG freed hostages – police hunt their captors">Read more</a>

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Marape clarifies kidnappers were paid K100,000 for freeing PNG hostages

February 27, 2023

NBC News Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape has revealed that about K100,000 (about NZ$46,000) was paid to the kidnappers for the release of the three remaining hostages in the Bosavi mountains in the Southern Highlands province at the weekend. The three hostages, an Australian-resident New Zealand professor and his two female colleagues, were ... <a title="Marape clarifies kidnappers were paid K100,000 for freeing PNG hostages" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/27/marape-clarifies-kidnappers-were-paid-k100000-for-freeing-png-hostages/" aria-label="Read more about Marape clarifies kidnappers were paid K100,000 for freeing PNG hostages">Read more</a>

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Two countries, two kidnappings – but Jakarta and Port Moresby responses different with 3 PNG hostages freed

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>

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‘Thank God’ says PM Marape in tweet about 3 freed hostages

February 26, 2023

RNZ News A New Zealand professor and his two Papua New Guinean colleagues have been released from captivity, more than a week after being kidnapped by an armed gang. Archaeologist Professor Bryce Barker, who now lives in Australia and works with the University of Southern Queensland (USQ), was held alongside fellow members of his research ... <a title="‘Thank God’ says PM Marape in tweet about 3 freed hostages" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/26/thank-god-says-pm-marape-in-tweet-about-3-freed-hostages/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Thank God’ says PM Marape in tweet about 3 freed hostages">Read more</a>

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Cyclone Gabrielle: Police report number of uncontactable people down to single figures

February 26, 2023

RNZ Pacific New Zealand police report that the number of people cited as uncontactable following Cyclone Gabrielle has dropped to eight — down from 13 on Friday night. Some of those were people who, “for a variety of reasons, do not engage with authorities”, police said in a statement. However, getting in touch with them ... <a title="Cyclone Gabrielle: Police report number of uncontactable people down to single figures" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/26/cyclone-gabrielle-police-report-number-of-uncontactable-people-down-to-single-figures/" aria-label="Read more about Cyclone Gabrielle: Police report number of uncontactable people down to single figures">Read more</a>

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PNG’s Marape on the Mt Bosavi hostages: ‘Free them all’

February 25, 2023

By Rebecca Kuku in Port Moresby Prime Minister James Marape has urged armed captors to free the remaining four hostages which includes an Australian-based New Zealand professor, following the release of a local woman and three local guides. “These are citizens of our country and a friend of our country. Let’s settle this the Melanesian ... <a title="PNG’s Marape on the Mt Bosavi hostages: ‘Free them all’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/25/pngs-marape-on-the-mt-bosavi-hostages-free-them-all/" aria-label="Read more about PNG’s Marape on the Mt Bosavi hostages: ‘Free them all’">Read more</a>

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Priority with ‘greedy’ kidnappers is to return captives to families, says PNG police chief

February 23, 2023

PNG Post-Courier As day five dawned in Papua New Guinea’s kidnapping drama, the family of one of the four hostages captives — one of three women held in the Bosavi mountains, Southern Highlands province — was relieved she was set free yesterday afternoon. The Post-Courier was reliably informed of the release by the gunmen, with ... <a title="Priority with ‘greedy’ kidnappers is to return captives to families, says PNG police chief" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/23/priority-with-greedy-kidnappers-is-to-return-captives-to-families-says-png-police-chief/" aria-label="Read more about Priority with ‘greedy’ kidnappers is to return captives to families, says PNG police chief">Read more</a>

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PNG gunmen free one of 3 women held captive, reports Post-Courier

February 23, 2023

PNG Post-Courier The Post-Courier has exclusively been advised of the release of one of the women held captive by armed men in the Bosavi mountains, Southern Highlands. Police Commissioner David Manning confirmed with the newspaper that the woman was released yesterday afternoon with authorities working to bring her home. “The release of one of the ... <a title="PNG gunmen free one of 3 women held captive, reports Post-Courier" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/23/png-gunmen-free-one-of-3-women-held-captive-reports-post-courier/" aria-label="Read more about PNG gunmen free one of 3 women held captive, reports Post-Courier">Read more</a>

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Failure to free PNG hostages could cost captors ‘their lives’, warns police chief

February 22, 2023

PNG Post-Courier Papua New Guinean security forces have been authorised to use the full force of the law to secure the four captives being held hostage by an armed gang in Bosavi, Nipa-Kutubu, Southern Highlands province since Sunday. Police Commissioner David Manning said the abductors were being offered “a way out”. Manning described the gang ... <a title="Failure to free PNG hostages could cost captors ‘their lives’, warns police chief" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/22/failure-to-free-png-hostages-could-cost-captors-their-lives-warns-police-chief/" aria-label="Read more about Failure to free PNG hostages could cost captors ‘their lives’, warns police chief">Read more</a>

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PNG police negotiators try to win freedom for hostage researchers

February 22, 2023

PNG Post-Courier An Australian-based anthropology professor and three Papua New Guinean women researchers are being held captive inside the jungles of the Southern Highlands after they were kidnapped at gunpoint in Fogoma’iu village in the Bosavi LLG. Four local guides who were also seized were told to jump into the Hegigio river after being released ... <a title="PNG police negotiators try to win freedom for hostage researchers" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/22/png-police-negotiators-try-to-win-freedom-for-hostage-researchers/" aria-label="Read more about PNG police negotiators try to win freedom for hostage researchers">Read more</a>