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>
CoveragePost
February 25, 2023
By Felix Chaudhary in Suva “We are proud Fijians and Melanesians today” — Fiji Council of Social Services executive director Vani Catanasiga said this in the wake of news that Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has confirmed his support for West Papua’s bid for full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group. “We are overjoyed and ... <a title="West Papua: ‘We’re proud Fijians today’ over Rabuka support" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/25/west-papua-were-proud-fijians-today-over-rabuka-support/" aria-label="Read more about West Papua: ‘We’re proud Fijians today’ over Rabuka support">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 25, 2023
ANALYSIS: By Alexander Gillespie, University of Waikato One year to the day since Russian tanks ran over the Ukraine border — and over the UN Charter and international law in the process — the world is less certain and more dangerous than ever. For New Zealand, the war has also presented a unique foreign policy ... <a title="Ukraine a year on – how the invasion changed NZ foreign policy" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/25/ukraine-a-year-on-how-the-invasion-changed-nz-foreign-policy/" aria-label="Read more about Ukraine a year on – how the invasion changed NZ foreign policy">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
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>
CoveragePost
February 24, 2023
By Kelvin Anthony, RNZ Pacific digital and social media journalist, and Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is the first Fijian leader in 16 years to hold a one-on-one meeting with the president of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), while also confirming his government will support the independence ... <a title="Rabuka backs call for West Papuan independence group to fully join MSG" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/24/rabuka-backs-call-for-west-papuan-independence-group-to-fully-join-msg/" aria-label="Read more about Rabuka backs call for West Papuan independence group to fully join MSG">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 24, 2023
RNZ Pacific Indonesian security forces were about to launch a rescue operation for a pilot held hostage in Papua before New Zealand intervened, reports ABC News. The ABC quoted Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security, Mahfud Mahmodin, as saying his forces knew the exact location of New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens, who was ... <a title="NZ government ‘intervened’ to stop operation to save pilot, says Jakarta" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/24/nz-government-intervened-to-stop-operation-to-save-pilot-says-jakarta/" aria-label="Read more about NZ government ‘intervened’ to stop operation to save pilot, says Jakarta">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 23, 2023
Dr Essam Youssef visits the ambulance in Gaza sponsored by Freedom Flotilla Campaigns. The ambulance is used by the Benevolent Society for People with Disabilities. Video: Miles of Smiles SPECIAL REPORT: By Roger Fowler A delegation of the Miles of Smiles 41st solidarity aid convoy recently entered Gaza to deliver more than US$200,000 of much-needed ... <a title="Solidarity medical aid convoy breaches blockade and says: ‘Gaza isn’t alone’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/23/solidarity-medical-aid-convoy-breaches-blockade-and-says-gaza-isnt-alone/" aria-label="Read more about Solidarity medical aid convoy breaches blockade and says: ‘Gaza isn’t alone’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
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>
CoveragePost
February 23, 2023
By Felix Chaudhary in Suva Recognising Indonesia’s sovereignty is one thing. However, failing to allow West Papuans a seat at regional discussion tables like the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and Melanesian Spearhead Group to address human rights atrocities, torture and killing at the hands of Indonesian security forces is not the Pacific way. United Liberation ... <a title="Wenda hopes to get plight of West Papuan people to PIF ‘beyond rhetoric’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/23/wenda-hopes-to-get-plight-of-west-papuan-people-to-pif-beyond-rhetoric/" aria-label="Read more about Wenda hopes to get plight of West Papuan people to PIF ‘beyond rhetoric’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
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>
CoveragePost
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>
CoveragePost
February 22, 2023
RNZ Pacific A West Papuan independence movement leader, Benny Wenda, says the release of New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens held hostage by armed rebels is out of his hands. The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) fighters kidnapped Mehrtens on February 7 after he landed a small commercial passenger plane in Nduga regency. The group ... <a title="Wenda calls on West Papuan rebels to release kidnapped NZ pilot" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/22/wenda-calls-on-west-papuan-rebels-to-release-kidnapped-nz-pilot/" aria-label="Read more about Wenda calls on West Papuan rebels to release kidnapped NZ pilot">Read more</a>
