CoveragePost
July 14, 2023
RNZ Pacific A West Papua pro-independence leader says Indonesia is ramping up its repression of peaceful activists while people mobilise in favour of the province gaining full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). Benny Wenda said 10 activists were arrested earlier this week while handing out leaflets advertising a peaceful rally to support his ... <a title="Wenda slams ‘grave abuses’ against Papuan activists at MSG demos" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/07/14/wenda-slams-grave-abuses-against-papuan-activists-at-msg-demos/" aria-label="Read more about Wenda slams ‘grave abuses’ against Papuan activists at MSG demos">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 2, 2023
SPECIAL REPORT: By Yamin Kogoya The name Vanuatu has taken on a sacred significance in Papuan liberation consciousness. The Free Papua Movement (OPM) elders ignited this consciousness after the declaration of West Papua’s independence on 1 July 1971. The declaration was an act of revolution to reclaim Papuan sovereignty, stolen by Indonesia. General Seth Rumkorem ... <a title="Vanuatu – West Papua – MSG: An epic saga of messianic hope, betrayal, tragedy and resurrection" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/07/02/vanuatu-west-papua-msg-an-epic-saga-of-messianic-hope-betrayal-tragedy-and-resurrection/" aria-label="Read more about Vanuatu – West Papua – MSG: An epic saga of messianic hope, betrayal, tragedy and resurrection">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 22, 2023
Asia Pacific Report The pro-independence United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has welcomed Vanuatu Deputy Prime Minister Jotham Napat’s comments on West Papua during this week’s diplomatic visit to Indonesia. In a joint press conference with Indonesian Vice-President Ma’ruf Amin, Napat restated his commitment to the “Melanesian way”. Movement president Benny Wenda has issued ... <a title="ULMWP welcomes Vanuatu leader’s ‘Melanesian way’ vow in Jakarta" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/22/ulmwp-welcomes-vanuatu-leaders-melanesian-way-vow-in-jakarta/" aria-label="Read more about ULMWP welcomes Vanuatu leader’s ‘Melanesian way’ vow in Jakarta">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 17, 2023
Asia Pacific Report Seven regional executives representing all the customary regions of West Papua have declared their support for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) gaining full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group. The executives are of the ULMWP ‘provisional government’ in the Indonesian-ruled Melanesian region. The ULMWP declared this political support in ... <a title="West Papua’s customary region leaders back full MSG membership" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/17/west-papuas-customary-region-leaders-back-full-msg-membership/" aria-label="Read more about West Papua’s customary region leaders back full MSG membership">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 9, 2023
Indonesia has sent 30 tonnes of relief supplies to aid the Vanuatu government’s recovery efforts post three major natural disasters earlier this year. The humanitarian aid has been delivered on a My Indo Airline B737-800 cargo aircraft that departed from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and landed at Vanuatu’s Bauerfield International Airport today. A representative of the ... <a title="Indonesia sends disaster aid supplies to Vanuatu – warning over West Papua" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/05/09/indonesia-sends-disaster-aid-supplies-to-vanuatu-warning-over-west-papua/" aria-label="Read more about Indonesia sends disaster aid supplies to Vanuatu – warning over West Papua">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 30, 2023
Asia Pacific Report Twenty West Papuans who were fundraising for the victims of tropical cyclones in Vanuatu were today arrested by Indonesian police in Jayapura, the Papuan provincial capital, reports a West Papuan advocacy group. “This was a peaceful, compassionate action, with Papuans taking to the streets to raise money for those affected by this ... <a title="Indonesia ‘makes humanitarianism illegal’ for West Papuans – 20 arrests" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/30/indonesia-makes-humanitarianism-illegal-for-west-papuans-20-arrests/" aria-label="Read more about Indonesia ‘makes humanitarianism illegal’ for West Papuans – 20 arrests">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
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
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 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 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 7, 2023
By Hilaire Bule, RNZ Pacific Vanuatu correspondent in Port Vila Vanuatu’s prime minister has stressed any future employment within the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat must be from MSG member countries. Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau, who is also chair of the MSG Secretariat, made the statement following the recruitment of two Indonesian consultants to work ... <a title="Kalsakau wants Melanesian staff to work at MSG secretariat" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/07/kalsakau-wants-melanesian-staff-to-work-at-msg-secretariat/" aria-label="Read more about Kalsakau wants Melanesian staff to work at MSG secretariat">Read more</a>
