CoveragePost
January 5, 2026
Kidnap, murder, torture, brutality, subversion, treachery, and barbarism, writes Adrian Blackburn reflecting on US President Donald Trump’s New Year present to the world. COMMENTARY: By Adrian Blackburn Blatantly, boastfully, bullyingly, shamelessly, Trump overnight threw open to the world’s eyes the cruel reality of US foreign policy. He has brought out from the shadows the ugly ... <a title="Trump’s gift-wrapped Maduro package has done the world a favour – revealing what a lie US foreign policy really is" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/05/trumps-gift-wrapped-maduro-package-has-done-the-world-a-favour-revealing-what-a-lie-us-foreign-policy-really-is/" aria-label="Read more about Trump’s gift-wrapped Maduro package has done the world a favour – revealing what a lie US foreign policy really is">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 1, 2024
By Jairo Bolledo in Manila The Philippine Supreme Court has granted temporary protection to an environmental activist abducted in Pangasinan earlier this year. In its resolution dated September 9 — but only made public this week — the court granted Francisco “Eco” Dangla III’s petition for temporary protection, and prohibited the respondents, including high-ranking soldiers ... <a title="Philippine Supreme Court orders ‘temporary protection’ for abducted environmental activist" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/11/01/philippine-supreme-court-orders-temporary-protection-for-abducted-environmental-activist/" aria-label="Read more about Philippine Supreme Court orders ‘temporary protection’ for abducted environmental activist">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 3, 2023
By Christina Persico, RNZ Pacific bulletin editor Papua New Guinea’s police commissioner David Manning says a man allegedly involved in the kidnapping of 17 girls earlier this year has been arrested. Commissioner Manning said the man was wanted in connection with a series of criminal activities within the Mt Bosavi area bordering Hela, Southern Highlands, ... <a title="PNG police report capture of alleged kidnapper of 17 girls in Mt Bosavi area" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/08/03/png-police-report-capture-of-alleged-kidnapper-of-17-girls-in-mt-bosavi-area/" aria-label="Read more about PNG police report capture of alleged kidnapper of 17 girls in Mt Bosavi area">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 29, 2023
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist, and Scott Waide, RNZ Pacific PNG correspondent A woman who was part of a group kidnapped in Papua New Guinea in February has spoken out after the kidnapping and reported rape of 17 schoolgirls in the same area of Southern Highlands earlier this month. Cathy Alex, the New ... <a title="‘We chose death over being raped’ – PNG kidnap survivor speaks out" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/29/we-chose-death-over-being-raped-png-kidnap-survivor-speaks-out/" aria-label="Read more about ‘We chose death over being raped’ – PNG kidnap survivor speaks out">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 24, 2023
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Papua New Guinea police will be able to use lethal force to deal with crimes that come under “domestic terrorism” through the amendments to the Criminal Code Act. Police Commissioner David Manning said this as the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) continue to work for stronger law enforcement ... <a title="PNG law change empowers police to use lethal force in kidnapping, domestic terrorism" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/24/png-law-change-empowers-police-to-use-lethal-force-in-kidnapping-domestic-terrorism/" aria-label="Read more about PNG law change empowers police to use lethal force in kidnapping, domestic terrorism">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 15, 2023
ANALYSIS: By Damien Kingsbury, Deakin University New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has now been held hostage in West Papua for four months. Stalled attempts to negotiate his release, and an unsuccessful Indonesian military rescue attempt, suggest a confused picture behind the scenes. Members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) kidnapped Mehrtens on February ... <a title="I was involved in stalled talks to free kidnapped NZ pilot in West Papua. What happens now?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/15/i-was-involved-in-stalled-talks-to-free-kidnapped-nz-pilot-in-west-papua-what-happens-now/" aria-label="Read more about I was involved in stalled talks to free kidnapped NZ pilot in West Papua. What happens now?">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 12, 2023
By Majeleen Yanei in Port Moresby Seventeen Papua New Guinean schoolgirls who were kidnapped, raped and held hostage by armed men in Bosavi, Hela, last Wednesday were released yesterday. The National’s source said they were released following a payment of 3300 kina (NZ$1500) and nine pigs as ransom to the gunmen. “The females were released ... <a title="PNG gunmen ‘kidnapped, raped’ 17 schoolgirls before freeing them" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/12/png-gunmen-kidnapped-raped-17-schoolgirls-before-freeing-them/" aria-label="Read more about PNG gunmen ‘kidnapped, raped’ 17 schoolgirls before freeing them">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 12, 2023
Reports from Papua New Guinea say that 17 girls from a remote village have been held captive by a large group of armed men. The National reported this, according to an eyewitness, and the story has been corroborated by a government worker from Komo Hulia. The eyewitness said the men had been demanding $40,000 kina ... <a title="Armed gunmen kidnap 17 girls from remote PNG village – freed for ransom" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/12/armed-gunmen-kidnap-17-girls-from-remote-png-village-freed-for-ransom/" aria-label="Read more about Armed gunmen kidnap 17 girls from remote PNG village – freed for ransom">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 21, 2023
Tabloid Jubi in Jayapura The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has called on the international community to “pay serious attention” to the escalated violence happening in West Papua. Head of ULMWP’s legal and human rights bureau, Daniel Randongkir, said that since the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) — a separate movement — ... <a title="Papuan liberation group calls for more ‘serious’ global efforts to end violence" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/21/papuan-liberation-group-calls-for-more-serious-global-efforts-to-end-violence/" aria-label="Read more about Papuan liberation group calls for more ‘serious’ global efforts to end violence">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 19, 2023
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Papua New Guinea’s Internal Security Minister Peter Tsiamalili Jr says the Royal PNG Constabulary is “stretched” with only 5000 men and women serving the country of more than 9 million people. “Now more than ever we need leadership, we are stretched as a force, we all know that — ... <a title="‘Sleepless nights’ admits PNG’s security minister over stretched police" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/19/sleepless-nights-admits-pngs-security-minister-over-stretched-police/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Sleepless nights’ admits PNG’s security minister over stretched police">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>
