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Diplomacy

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West Papua’s customary region leaders back full MSG membership

June 17, 2023

Asia Pacific Report Seven regional executives representing all the customary regions of West Papua have declared their support for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) gaining full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group. The executives are of the ULMWP ‘provisional government’ in the Indonesian-ruled Melanesian region. The ULMWP declared this political support in ... <a title="West Papua’s customary region leaders back full MSG membership" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/17/west-papuas-customary-region-leaders-back-full-msg-membership/" aria-label="Read more about West Papua’s customary region leaders back full MSG membership">Read more</a>

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I was involved in stalled talks to free kidnapped NZ pilot in West Papua. What happens now?

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>

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Hipkins grants Fiji $11m in climate crisis aid as Rabuka renews NZ links

June 8, 2023

By RNZ reporters and Rachael Nath of RNZ Pacific Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka was welcomed to the New Zealand Parliament yesterday while on his first official trip to Aotearoa since being elected as PM in December. New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins announced just over NZ$11.1 million in climate change support for Fiji. Hipkins ... <a title="Hipkins grants Fiji $11m in climate crisis aid as Rabuka renews NZ links" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/08/hipkins-grants-fiji-11m-in-climate-crisis-aid-as-rabuka-renews-nz-links/" aria-label="Read more about Hipkins grants Fiji $11m in climate crisis aid as Rabuka renews NZ links">Read more</a>

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West Papuan ‘provisional’ government backs full membership of MSG

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>

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‘Two-way highway’ – PNG-US defence pact signed in spite of protests

May 23, 2023

By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist, and Scott Waide, RNZ Pacific PNG correspondent, in Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape says the increased United States security involvement in Papua New Guinea is driven primarily by the need to build up the Papua New Guinea Defence Force and not US-China geopolitics. Last night, ... <a title="‘Two-way highway’ – PNG-US defence pact signed in spite of protests" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/05/23/two-way-highway-png-us-defence-pact-signed-in-spite-of-protests/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Two-way highway’ – PNG-US defence pact signed in spite of protests">Read more</a>

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Top UN Pacific official told to leave Fiji amid ‘harassment’ allegations

May 20, 2023

By Kelvin Anthony, RNZ Pacific lead digital and social media journalist Allegations of sexual harassment have emerged in the case of a senior United Nations manager at the Fiji multi-county office who has been put on “administrative leave” after complaints of “unsatisfactory behaviour”. On Thursday, the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office to Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, ... <a title="Top UN Pacific official told to leave Fiji amid ‘harassment’ allegations" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/05/20/top-un-pacific-official-told-to-leave-fiji-amid-harassment-allegations/" aria-label="Read more about Top UN Pacific official told to leave Fiji amid ‘harassment’ allegations">Read more</a>

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Biden apologises to PNG, Blinken being sent for Pacific dialogue

May 19, 2023

By Lawrence Fong and Gorethy Kenneth in Port Moresby United States President Joe Biden yesterday apologised to Prime Minister James Marape and the people of Papua New Guinea for abandoning his planned trip to Port Moresby, and instead is sending Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. Details of Blinken’s travel to PNG are still being finalised ... <a title="Biden apologises to PNG, Blinken being sent for Pacific dialogue" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/05/19/biden-apologises-to-png-blinken-being-sent-for-pacific-dialogue/" aria-label="Read more about Biden apologises to PNG, Blinken being sent for Pacific dialogue">Read more</a>

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Australia announces pathway to citizenship for New Zealanders

April 23, 2023

By Giles Dexter, RNZ News political reporter The Australian government has announced a direct pathway to citizenship for New Zealanders, ending a tension between the two countries that has lasted for more than 20 years. Since 2001, New Zealanders in Australia have been able to reside there on a Special Category Visa. While it has ... <a title="Australia announces pathway to citizenship for New Zealanders" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/04/23/australia-announces-pathway-to-citizenship-for-new-zealanders/" aria-label="Read more about Australia announces pathway to citizenship for New Zealanders">Read more</a>

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Micronesia’s president Panuelo claims spying and bribery by China

March 12, 2023

By Barbara Dreaver, 1News Pacific correspondent The President of the Federated States of Micronesia has made a series of disturbing claims against China, including alleging spying, threats to his personal safety and bribery. President David Panuelo made the claims to his Congress, governors and the leadership of the country’s state legislatures in a letter which ... <a title="Micronesia’s president Panuelo claims spying and bribery by China" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/12/micronesias-president-panuelo-claims-spying-and-bribery-by-china/" aria-label="Read more about Micronesia’s president Panuelo claims spying and bribery by China">Read more</a>

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Two countries, two kidnappings – Port Moresby shows Jakarta how it’s done with 3 PNG hostages freed

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>

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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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Why a NZ pilot is a pawn in the West Papua conflict that the world ignores

February 13, 2023

ANALYSIS: By Camellia Webb-Gannon, University of Wollongong “Phil Mehrtens is the nicest guy, he genuinely is — no one ever had anything bad to say about him,” says a colleague of the New Zealand pilot taken hostage last week by members of the West Papuan National Liberation Army (TPN-PB) in the mountainous Nduga Regency. How ... <a title="Why a NZ pilot is a pawn in the West Papua conflict that the world ignores" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/13/why-a-nz-pilot-is-a-pawn-in-the-west-papua-conflict-that-the-world-ignores/" aria-label="Read more about Why a NZ pilot is a pawn in the West Papua conflict that the world ignores">Read more</a>