CoveragePost
March 9, 2023
Pacific Media Watch Fiji police have apologised for “miscommunication” that led to an incident before the Reclaim the Night march last night that almost led to it being called off, Fijivillage News reports. Police Chief Operations Officer Acting Assistant Commissioner Livai Driu apologised, saying they had been following the conditions of the permit issued. However, ... <a title="Fiji police apologise for West Papua politics ‘mix-up’ before Reclaim the Night march" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/09/fiji-police-apologise-for-west-papua-politics-mix-up-before-reclaim-the-night-march/" aria-label="Read more about Fiji police apologise for West Papua politics ‘mix-up’ before Reclaim the Night march">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 5, 2023
Asia Pacific Report The United Liberation Movement for West Papua has condemned an Indonesian government protest over Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s declared support for ULMWP full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) as “grotesque hypocrisy”. In a statement, ULMWP interim president Benny Wenda said the Jakarta government had repeatedly stated support for the ... <a title="Wenda slams Jakarta’s ‘hypocrisy’ over support for Palestine, but denying West Papua" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/05/wenda-slams-jakartas-hypocrisy-over-support-for-palestine-but-denying-west-papua/" aria-label="Read more about Wenda slams Jakarta’s ‘hypocrisy’ over support for Palestine, but denying West Papua">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 3, 2023
By Gorethy Kenneth in Port Moresby The Papua New Guinean government has been bluntly and frankly reminded to leave mainstream media alone as a long awaited consultative workshop on the recently introduced National Media Development Policy took place in Port Moresby. Media stakeholders stood in unity with the PNG Media Council yesterday to express their ... <a title="Free media ‘underpins justice’ message to PNG government by united media" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/03/free-media-underpins-justice-message-to-png-government-by-united-media/" aria-label="Read more about Free media ‘underpins justice’ message to PNG government by united media">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 3, 2023
Asia Pacific Report Indonesia has protested to the Fiji government after Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka met with a Papuan independence leader in a morale boost for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, reports Benar News. Prime Minister Rabuka, who was elected in December, also said he would support Papuan membership in the UN-recognised organisation ... <a title="Indonesia protests over Fiji’s Rabuka backing Papuan independence leader" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/03/indonesia-protests-over-fijis-rabuka-backing-papuan-independence-leader/" aria-label="Read more about Indonesia protests over Fiji’s Rabuka backing Papuan independence leader">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
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 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
COMMENTARY: By Barbara Dreaver, Pacific correspondent of 1News The appointment of Baron Waqa, former President of Nauru, to head the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) next year was a jaw-droppingly poor decision and an insult to everything the regional body is meant to represent. What were the Forum leaders thinking? Here’s the thing, they were probably ... <a title="Barbara Dreaver: Pacific leaders’ poor choice for top Forum job an insult" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/01/barbara-dreaver-pacific-leaders-poor-choice-for-top-forum-job-an-insult/" aria-label="Read more about Barbara Dreaver: Pacific leaders’ poor choice for top Forum job an insult">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 1, 2023
Asia Pacific Report Distinguished Professor Steven Ratuva has added yet another first to his long list of accomplishments, becoming the University of Canterbury’s first Te Amorangi, or pro-vice-chancellor Pacific. The university’s Tumu Whakarae vice-chancellor Professor Cheryl de la Rey has confirmed the appointment of Dr Ratuva, director of the Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies, ... <a title="Canterbury appoints Ratuva as first Te Amorangi in Pacific leadership team" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/01/canterbury-appoints-ratuva-as-first-te-amorangi-in-pacific-leadership-team/" aria-label="Read more about Canterbury appoints Ratuva as first Te Amorangi in Pacific leadership team">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 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>