CoveragePost
October 23, 2025
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) claims more than a dozen civilians have been killed in the Papuan highlands, including three men who were allegedly tortured and a woman who was allegedly raped. However, the Indonesian government claims the accusations “baseless”. ULMWP president Benny Wenda said 15 ... <a title="ULMWP alleges 15 civilians killed in West Papua military operation" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/10/23/ulmwp-alleges-15-civilians-killed-in-west-papua-military-operation/" aria-label="Read more about ULMWP alleges 15 civilians killed in West Papua military operation">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
December 3, 2024
Asia Pacific Report An exiled West Papuan leader has called for unity among his people in the face of a renewed “colonial grip” of Indonesia’s new president. President Prabowo Subianto, who took office last month, “is a deep concern for all West Papuans”, said Benny Wenda of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP). ... <a title="Wenda calls for West Papuan unity in the face of Jakarta’s renewed ‘colonial grip’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/12/03/wenda-calls-for-west-papuan-unity-in-the-face-of-jakartas-renewed-colonial-grip/" aria-label="Read more about Wenda calls for West Papuan unity in the face of Jakarta’s renewed ‘colonial grip’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 16, 2024
Asia Pacific Report A West Papuan advocacy group for self-determination for the colonised Melanesians has appealed to the United Kingdom government to cancel its planned reception for new Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. “Prabowo is a blood-stained war criminal who is complicit in genocide in East Timor and West Papua,” claimed an exiled leader of the United ... <a title="Plea to bar Prabowo from UK as Indonesian security forces crack down on Papuan rally" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/11/16/plea-to-bar-prabowo-from-uk-as-indonesian-security-forces-crack-down-on-papuan-rally/" aria-label="Read more about Plea to bar Prabowo from UK as Indonesian security forces crack down on Papuan rally">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 2, 2023
SPECIAL REPORT: By Yamin Kogoya The name Vanuatu has taken on a sacred significance in Papuan liberation consciousness. The Free Papua Movement (OPM) elders ignited this consciousness after the declaration of West Papua’s independence on 1 July 1971. The declaration was an act of revolution to reclaim Papuan sovereignty, stolen by Indonesia. General Seth Rumkorem ... <a title="Vanuatu – West Papua – MSG: An epic saga of messianic hope, betrayal, tragedy and resurrection" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/07/02/vanuatu-west-papua-msg-an-epic-saga-of-messianic-hope-betrayal-tragedy-and-resurrection/" aria-label="Read more about Vanuatu – West Papua – MSG: An epic saga of messianic hope, betrayal, tragedy and resurrection">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 21, 2021
Asia Pacific Report newsdesk A pro-independence movement in West Papua has appealed to several Western countries — including New Zealand — to provide urgent humanitarian help by supplying covid vaccines directly to the Papuans to cope with the “double crisis” in the Indonesian-ruled region. Benny Wenda, interim president of the Provisional Government of West Papua, ... <a title="Wenda appeals to NZ, West to supply covid vaccines direct to Papuans" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/07/21/wenda-appeals-to-nz-west-to-supply-covid-vaccines-direct-to-papuans/" aria-label="Read more about Wenda appeals to NZ, West to supply covid vaccines direct to Papuans">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 22, 2021
ANALYSIS: By Yamin Kogoya in Brisbane When I ring home to West Papua, my village people often ask me about the rumours that they have heard, of an upcoming Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) meeting. They ask, “When is the MSG meeting?” and if West Papua will be accepted as a full member. I tell them ... <a title="West Papua unhappy over never-ending MSG membership tragedies" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/06/22/west-papua-unhappy-over-never-ending-msg-membership-tragedies/" aria-label="Read more about West Papua unhappy over never-ending MSG membership tragedies">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 22, 2021
By Benny Mawel in Jayapura The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has held national mourning ceremonies at the weekend for the death of Vanuatu independence campaigner Father Allen Nafuki and prayed for the Papuan people to be accepted as full members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). The closing ceremonies were held in ... <a title="West Papua closes national mourning for Pastor Nafuki – prays for MSG" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/06/22/west-papua-closes-national-mourning-for-pastor-nafuki-prays-for-msg/" aria-label="Read more about West Papua closes national mourning for Pastor Nafuki – prays for MSG">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 12, 2021
Asia Pacific Report newsdesk An exiled West Papuan leader has demanded the immediate release of arrested campaigner Victor Yeimo, saying that his detention was a “sign to the world” that the Indonesian government was using its terrorist designation as a smokescreen to further repress Papuans. Indonesian police arrested Yeimo, one of the most prominent leaders ... <a title="Free Victor Yeimo now, says exiled Papuan leader Benny Wenda" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/05/12/free-victor-yeimo-now-says-exiled-papuan-leader-benny-wenda/" aria-label="Read more about Free Victor Yeimo now, says exiled Papuan leader Benny Wenda">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 22, 2021
By Jasmine Chia in Bangkok It is an unlikely combination: the white stars of the West Papuan and Myanmar flags, side by side. “West Papua Stands with Myanmar,” the sign said, posted by Indonesian human rights lawyer Veronica Koman. In another poignant picture, a small group of West Papuans stand at Simora Bay at the ... <a title="How the Milk Tea Alliance has teamed up with the ‘West Papua Spring’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/03/22/how-the-milk-tea-alliance-has-teamed-up-with-the-west-papua-spring/" aria-label="Read more about How the Milk Tea Alliance has teamed up with the ‘West Papua Spring’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 11, 2020
By Agung Sandy Lesmana and Ria Rizki Nirmala Sari in Jayapura The Free Papua Organisation (OPM) has offered a ceasefire in the independence struggle against Indonesian rule in the Melanesian region in an effort to contain the global Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. The option of a ceasefire, however, must also be agreed to by the Indonesian ... <a title="OPM proposes West Papua ceasefire to help contain spread of Covid-19" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/04/11/opm-proposes-west-papua-ceasefire-to-help-contain-spread-of-covid-19/" aria-label="Read more about OPM proposes West Papua ceasefire to help contain spread of Covid-19">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 26, 2020
Andy Ayamiseba died a few days ago. While the West Papuan was loved, admired and supported in Vanuatu, he fought tirelessly to win a home he could return to. He died before the dream was achieved. Originally published by the Pacific Institute of Public Policy (PIPP), this 2013 profile of Andy Ayamiseba’s life of activism ... <a title="Obituary: Andy Ayamiseba – long road home to an ‘independent’ West Papua" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/02/26/obituary-andy-ayamiseba-long-road-home-to-an-independent-west-papua/" aria-label="Read more about Obituary: Andy Ayamiseba – long road home to an ‘independent’ West Papua">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 16, 2019
Pacific Media Watch Newsdesk By Makereta Komai in Funafuti, Tuvalu Tonga’s Prime Minister, ‘Akilisi Pohiva, has delivered a stinging attack against regionalism and the Pacific Islands Forum’s stance of leaving no one behind, for failing to amicably resolve the issue of West Papua. Pohiva admitted the issue has divided the 18 members of the Forum ... <a title="Tongan PM blasts Pacific regionalism ‘myth’ and silence over West Papua" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2019/08/16/tongan-pm-blasts-pacific-regionalism-myth-and-silence-over-west-papua/" aria-label="Read more about Tongan PM blasts Pacific regionalism ‘myth’ and silence over West Papua">Read more</a>
