CoveragePost
September 27, 2023
By Nic Maclellan In a major electoral upset, Kanak independence politician Robert Xowie has won one of Kanaky New Caledonia’s two seats in the French Senate in Paris. His second-round electoral victory over Loyalist leader Sonia Backès came on September 24, the 170th anniversary of France’s annexation of its Pacific dependency. Xowie is the Mayor ... <a title="FLNKS mayor wins run-off poll to take unprecedented French Senate seat" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/09/27/flnks-mayor-wins-run-off-poll-to-take-unprecedented-french-senate-seat/" aria-label="Read more about FLNKS mayor wins run-off poll to take unprecedented French Senate seat">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 31, 2023
By Kelvin Anthony, RNZ Pacific lead digital and social media journalist The leaders of five Melanesian nations have agreed to write to French President Emmanuel Macron “expressing their strong opposition” to the results of the third New Caledonia referendum. In December 2021, more than 96 percent of people voted against full sovereignty, but the pro-independence ... <a title="MSG leaders back Kanak challenge to Macron over ‘not valid’ referendum" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/08/31/msg-leaders-back-kanak-challenge-to-macron-over-not-valid-referendum/" aria-label="Read more about MSG leaders back Kanak challenge to Macron over ‘not valid’ referendum">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 24, 2023
By Hilaire Bule in Port Vila Benny Wenda, the interim president of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), has welcomed the Melanesian Spearhead Group’s confirmation that its application for full membership would be discussed at the 22nd MSG Leaders’ Summit in Port Vila — but warned it would be a test. Wenda conveyed ... <a title="‘The world is watching’ – it’s a test for Melanesian leaders over West Papua, says Wenda" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/08/24/the-world-is-watching-its-a-test-for-melanesian-leaders-over-west-papua-says-wenda/" aria-label="Read more about ‘The world is watching’ – it’s a test for Melanesian leaders over West Papua, says Wenda">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 23, 2023
By Kelvin Anthony, RNZ Pacific journalist in Port Vila The Melanesian Spearhead Group Secretariat’s Director-General, Leonard Louma, says the Pacific region continues to be the centre of geopolitical interests by global superpowers. The 22nd MSG Leaders’ Summit is taking place in Port Vila this week– the first full in-person meeting since the covid pandemic. The ... <a title="Senior MSG official calls for Melanesia to remain neutral in geopolitical battle" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/08/23/senior-msg-official-calls-for-melanesia-to-remain-neutral-in-geopolitical-battle/" aria-label="Read more about Senior MSG official calls for Melanesia to remain neutral in geopolitical battle">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 19, 2023
By Kelvin Anthony, RNZ Pacific lead digital and social media journalist The Pacific region’s focus will shift briefly to Port Vila next week when Vanuatu hosts the heads of governments from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and the leader of the FLNKS (Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front) of New Caledonia for the 22nd ... <a title="West Papua high on agenda as MSG leaders set to convene in Port Vila" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/08/19/west-papua-high-on-agenda-as-msg-leaders-set-to-convene-in-port-vila/" aria-label="Read more about West Papua high on agenda as MSG leaders set to convene in Port Vila">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 31, 2023
Asia Pacific Report Indonesia has stepped up its campaign of repression against West Papuans peacefully rallying for full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), says a Papuan advocacy leader. Benny Wenda, interim president of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), said a “massive military and police presence” greeted Papuans who had taken ... <a title="Wenda accuses Jakarta of crackdown in response to Papuan MSG rallies" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/07/31/wenda-accuses-jakarta-of-crackdown-in-response-to-papuan-msg-rallies/" aria-label="Read more about Wenda accuses Jakarta of crackdown in response to Papuan MSG rallies">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 24, 2023
By Finau Fonua, RNZ Pacific journalist France’s grip on its overseas territories in the Pacific may be waning, with pro-independence delegates now claiming to have the support of the majority of their indigenous people in their territories. The delegates from New Caledonia and French Polynesia spoke during talks at the UN’s Special Committee on Decolonisation ... <a title="‘We carry the voice of the colonised people’, delegates tell UN" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/24/we-carry-the-voice-of-the-colonised-people-delegates-tell-un/" aria-label="Read more about ‘We carry the voice of the colonised people’, delegates tell UN">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
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>
CoveragePost
June 6, 2023
By Walter Zweifel, RNZ Pacific reporter New Caledonia’s pro-independence parties are prepared to negotiate changes to the provincial electoral rolls, according to French Overseas Minister Gerald Darmanin. On his second visit to Noumea in less than four months, the minister announced the apparent change in the stance of the pro-independence FLNKS movement, which until now ... <a title="French minister says FLNKS ‘willing to discuss’ election roll changes" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/06/french-minister-says-flnks-willing-to-discuss-election-roll-changes/" aria-label="Read more about French minister says FLNKS ‘willing to discuss’ election roll changes">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 30, 2023
By Walter Zweifel, RNZ Pacific reporter New Caledonia’s pro-independence FLNKS (Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front) says the advice of the International Court of Justice is being sought over the contested 2021 referendum on independence from France. The movement — represented by Roch Wamytan, who is President of New Caledonia’s Congress — told a UN ... <a title="Kanaky New Caledonia’s FLNKS wants ICJ advice on contested vote" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/05/30/kanaky-new-caledonias-flnks-wants-icj-advice-on-contested-vote/" aria-label="Read more about Kanaky New Caledonia’s FLNKS wants ICJ advice on contested vote">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 11, 2023
Pacific Media Watch Journalist, author and media academic David Robie has launched an independent news and current affairs website to complement his long-established Asia Pacific Report. While Asia Pacific Report will continue to cover regional affairs, the new website — dubbed Café Pacific, the same name as his blog which is being absorbed into the ... <a title="Journalist David Robie launches new open access Café Pacific website" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/05/11/journalist-david-robie-launches-new-open-access-cafe-pacific-website/" aria-label="Read more about Journalist David Robie launches new open access Café Pacific website">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 10, 2023
By Walter Zweifel, RNZ Pacific reporter France has been warned against attempts to abandon the New Caledonian decolonisation process pursued for more than two decades. A veteran independence campaigner, Victor Tutugoro, made the warning on the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Noumea Accord, which has been the roadmap guiding the gradual and irreversible ... <a title="‘Decolonisation must continue’, says Kanak independence campaigner" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/05/10/decolonisation-must-continue-says-kanak-independence-campaigner/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Decolonisation must continue’, says Kanak independence campaigner">Read more</a>
