CoveragePost
June 25, 2025
Asia Pacific Report A Fiji-based advocacy group has condemned the participation of Indonesia in the Melanesian Spearhead Group which is meeting in Suva this week, saying it is a “profound disgrace” that the Indonesian Embassy continues to “operate freely” within the the MSG Secretariat. “This presence blatantly undermines the core principles of justice and solidarity ... <a title="Fiji advocacy group slams Indonesian role in MSG as a ‘disgrace’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/06/25/fiji-advocacy-group-slams-indonesian-role-in-msg-as-a-disgrace/" aria-label="Read more about Fiji advocacy group slams Indonesian role in MSG as a ‘disgrace’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 6, 2025
SPECIAL REPORT: By Paul Gregoire United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) provisional government interim president Benny Wenda has warned that since Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto took office in October, he has been proven right in having remarked, after the politician’s last February election, that his coming marks the return of “the ghost of Suharto” ... <a title="‘Ghost of Suharto’ marks Prabowo’s new phase in West Papua occupation" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/01/06/ghost-of-suharto-marks-prabowos-new-phase-in-west-papua-occupation/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Ghost of Suharto’ marks Prabowo’s new phase in West Papua occupation">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
September 17, 2024
COMMENTARY: By Laurens Ikinia in Jakarta The Land of Papua is widely known as a land full of milk and honey. It is a name widely known in Indonesia that refers to the western half of the island of New Guinea. Its natural wealth and beauty are special treasures entrusted by the Creator to the ... <a title="Papuan aspirations at stake in divided Melanesian Spearhead Group politics" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/09/17/papuan-aspirations-at-stake-in-divided-melanesian-spearhead-group-politics/" aria-label="Read more about Papuan aspirations at stake in divided Melanesian Spearhead Group politics">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 14, 2024
By Lice Movono and Stephen Dziedzic of ABC Pacific Beat Fiji’s Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, says he will “apologise” to fellow Melanesian leaders later this month after failing to secure agreement from Indonesia to visit its restive West Papua province. At last year’s Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders meeting in Cook Islands, the Melanesian Spearhead ... <a title="Fiji’s Rabuka ‘will apologise’ to Melanesian leaders over failure to visit West Papua" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/08/14/fijis-rabuka-will-apologise-to-melanesian-leaders-over-failure-to-visit-west-papua/" aria-label="Read more about Fiji’s Rabuka ‘will apologise’ to Melanesian leaders over failure to visit West Papua">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 22, 2024
Vanuatu Daily Post All eight Members of Parliament from Vanuatu’s Tafea Province have made a bold and powerful call to French President Emmanuel Macron to “stop the violence and killing” being committed against the Kanak people of New Caledonia. The MPs include Trade Minister Bob Loughman, a former prime minister; Internal Affairs Minister Johnny Koanapo; ... <a title="‘Stop the violence, killing against Kanaks’ plea by Vanuatu MPs" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/06/22/stop-the-violence-killing-against-kanaks-plea-by-vanuatu-mps/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Stop the violence, killing against Kanaks’ plea by Vanuatu MPs">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 25, 2024
The Indonesian government has confirmed it is investigating a viral video showing security forces in Papua torturing a civilian. The video — which can be seen here – shows an indigenous Papuan man with his hands tied behind his back in an open fuel drum filled with water being kicked, punched and sliced with a ... <a title="‘Committed to human rights’, claims Indonesia over West Papua torture" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/03/25/committed-to-human-rights-claims-indonesia-over-west-papua-torture/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Committed to human rights’, claims Indonesia over West Papua torture">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 11, 2024
ANALYSIS: By Ali Mirin Papua New Guinea and Indonesia have formally ratified a defence agreement a decade after its initial signing. PNG’s Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko and the Indonesian ambassador to the Pacific nation, Andriana Supandy, convened a press briefing in Port Moresby on February 29 to declare the ratification. The agreement enables an enhancement ... <a title="Question for PNG foreign minister Tkatchenko – what does the defence pact mean for West Papua?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/03/11/question-for-png-foreign-minister-tkatchenko-what-does-the-defence-pact-mean-for-west-papua/" aria-label="Read more about Question for PNG foreign minister Tkatchenko – what does the defence pact mean for West Papua?">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
October 17, 2023
By Tiana Haxton, RNZ News journalist Melanesians all across Aotearoa are coming together in Auckland this weekend to celebrate their unique cultural heritage. This is the second time the annual Melanesian Festival Aotearoa is being held and it is an opportunity for community members from Fiji, Kanaky New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and ... <a title="Melanesians gathering for ‘unique’ NZ cultural event to celebrate identity" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/10/17/melanesians-gathering-for-unique-nz-cultural-event-to-celebrate-identity/" aria-label="Read more about Melanesians gathering for ‘unique’ NZ cultural event to celebrate identity">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 27, 2023
Asia Pacific Report A West Papuan leader has condemned the Melanesian Spearhead Group for abandoning the West Papuan cause in favour of a “corrupt alliance” with Indonesia. Jeffrey P Bomanak, chairman of the Free Papua Organisation (OPM), declared last week’s MSG Leaders’ Summit ruling on West Papua a “betrayal” of the Papuan people and called ... <a title="OPM accuses Melanesian group of taking Jakarta’s ‘blood money’ at expense of West Papuan justice" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/08/27/opm-accuses-melanesian-group-of-taking-jakartas-blood-money-at-expense-of-west-papuan-justice/" aria-label="Read more about OPM accuses Melanesian group of taking Jakarta’s ‘blood money’ at expense of West Papuan justice">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 24, 2023
By Hilaire Bule in Port Vila Benny Wenda, the interim president of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), has welcomed the Melanesian Spearhead Group’s confirmation that its application for full membership would be discussed at the 22nd MSG Leaders’ Summit in Port Vila — but warned it would be a test. Wenda conveyed ... <a title="‘The world is watching’ – it’s a test for Melanesian leaders over West Papua, says Wenda" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/08/24/the-world-is-watching-its-a-test-for-melanesian-leaders-over-west-papua-says-wenda/" aria-label="Read more about ‘The world is watching’ – it’s a test for Melanesian leaders over West Papua, says Wenda">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 24, 2023
By Doddy Morris in Port Vila The 22nd Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leaders’ Summit was declared open at the National Convention Centre in Port Vila yesterday with host Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau hailing opportunities to “galvanise our efforts as a United Melanesia”. Prime Minister Kalsakau welcomed all the delegations and said how happy and privileged ... <a title="MSG a ‘building block’ for stronger Pacific cooperation, says Kalsakau" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/08/24/msg-a-building-block-for-stronger-pacific-cooperation-says-kalsakau/" aria-label="Read more about MSG a ‘building block’ for stronger Pacific cooperation, says Kalsakau">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 23, 2023
By Kelvin Anthony, RNZ Pacific journalist in Port Vila The Melanesian Spearhead Group Secretariat’s Director-General, Leonard Louma, says the Pacific region continues to be the centre of geopolitical interests by global superpowers. The 22nd MSG Leaders’ Summit is taking place in Port Vila this week– the first full in-person meeting since the covid pandemic. The ... <a title="Senior MSG official calls for Melanesia to remain neutral in geopolitical battle" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/08/23/senior-msg-official-calls-for-melanesia-to-remain-neutral-in-geopolitical-battle/" aria-label="Read more about Senior MSG official calls for Melanesia to remain neutral in geopolitical battle">Read more</a>
