CoveragePost
April 10, 2023
RNZ Pacific The authorities in Indonesia’s Papua region say the search for a New Zealand pilot taken hostage by West Papua Liberation Movement freedom fighters more than two months ago has been extended. Philip Mehrtens, a pilot for Susi Airlines, was taken hostage in the remote Nduga district on February 7. According to Antara News, ... <a title="Search for NZ pilot taken hostage by Papua rebels extended, says Indonesia" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/04/10/search-for-nz-pilot-taken-hostage-by-papua-rebels-extended-says-indonesia/" aria-label="Read more about Search for NZ pilot taken hostage by Papua rebels extended, says Indonesia">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 1, 2023
Jubi News in Jayapura Indonesia’s Papua police chief Inspector-General Mathius D Fakhiri has called for action to ensure that “security disturbances” in the Puncak Jaya highlands do not widen in the face of escalating attacks by pro-independence militants. “For Puncak, we will take immediate action,” he said. According to General Fakhiri, attacks by the West ... <a title="Indonesian police move to stem rise in Papuan freedom fighter attacks" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/04/01/indonesian-police-move-to-stem-rise-in-papuan-freedom-fighter-attacks/" aria-label="Read more about Indonesian police move to stem rise in Papuan freedom fighter attacks">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 10, 2023
Asia Pacific Report The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) has released a new video about New Zealand hostage pilot Philip Mehrtens and a Papuan news organisation, Jubi TV, has featured it on its website. The Susi Air pilot was taken hostage on February 7 after landing in a remote region near Nduga in the ... <a title="Hostage NZ pilot appears in new Papuan rebel video amid ‘don’t work here’ warning" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/10/hostage-nz-pilot-appears-in-new-papuan-rebel-video-amid-dont-work-here-warning/" aria-label="Read more about Hostage NZ pilot appears in new Papuan rebel video amid ‘don’t work here’ warning">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 9, 2023
PNG Post-Courier A recent cash payment by the state for the release of three hostages held captive by armed gunmen in Papua New Guinea’s Southern Highlands province has set a “dangerous precedent”, says the opposition. Deputy opposition leader Douglas Tomuriesa said in a statement that the Marape government had set a bad precedent in allowing ... <a title="Plea to PNG prime minister to tell truth about ransom paid to ‘terrorists’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/09/plea-to-png-prime-minister-to-tell-truth-about-ransom-paid-to-terrorists/" aria-label="Read more about Plea to PNG prime minister to tell truth about ransom paid to ‘terrorists’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
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>
CoveragePost
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>
CoveragePost
March 3, 2023
Jubi News in Jayapura The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) has denied Indonesian media claims that Egianus Kogoya, the commander of a TPNPB faction, asked for money and weapons to free the New Zealand pilot they are holding hostage. “No, we never asked for money and weapons in exchange for releasing pilot Philip Mark ... <a title="Papuan rebels deny asking for money, weapons to free NZ pilot – ‘that’s just propaganda’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/03/papuan-rebels-deny-asking-for-money-weapons-to-free-nz-pilot-thats-just-propaganda/" aria-label="Read more about Papuan rebels deny asking for money, weapons to free NZ pilot – ‘that’s just propaganda’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
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>
CoveragePost
March 1, 2023
Jubi News in Jayapura The Papuan Church Council has called on the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) unit led by Egianus Kogoya to immediately release the New Zealand hostage pilot Philip Mehrtens. The council’s request was delivered during a press conference attended by Reverend Benny Giai as moderator and member Reverend Socratez Sofyan Yoman ... <a title="Papuan churches plea to rebel leader Egianus Kogoya to free NZ pilot" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/01/papuan-churches-plea-to-rebel-leader-egianus-kogoya-to-free-nz-pilot/" aria-label="Read more about Papuan churches plea to rebel leader Egianus Kogoya to free NZ pilot">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
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>
CoveragePost
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>
CoveragePost
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>
