CoveragePost
June 26, 2025
Asia Pacific Report A West Papuan independence movement leader has warned the Melanesian Spearhead Group after its 23rd leaders summit in Suva, Fiji, to not give in to a “neocolonial trade in betrayal and abandonment” over West Papua. While endorsing and acknowledging the “unconditional support” of Melanesian people to the West Papuan cause for decolonisation, ... <a title="‘Don’t surrender’ to Indonesian pressure over West Papua, Bomanak warns MSG" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/06/26/dont-surrender-to-indonesian-pressure-over-west-papua-bomanak-warns-msg/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Don’t surrender’ to Indonesian pressure over West Papua, Bomanak warns MSG">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
December 1, 2024
On Papuan Independence Day, the focus is on discussing protests against Indonesia’s transmigration programme, environmental destruction, militarisation, and the struggle for self-determination. Te Aniwaniwa Paterson reports. By Te Aniwaniwa Paterson of Te Ao Māori News On 1 December 1961, West Papua’s national flag, known as the Morning Star, was raised for the first time as ... <a title="West Papua: Once was Papuan Independence Day, now facing ‘ecocide’, transmigration" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/12/01/west-papua-once-was-papuan-independence-day-now-facing-ecocide-transmigration/" aria-label="Read more about West Papua: Once was Papuan Independence Day, now facing ‘ecocide’, transmigration">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 26, 2024
Asia Pacific Report A West Papuan independence group has condemned French “modern-day colonialism in action” in Kanaky New Caledonia and urged indigenous leaders to “fight on”. In a statement to the Kanak pro-independence leadership, exiled United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) president Benny Wenda said the proposed electoral changes being debated in the French ... <a title="West Papua independence group slams French ‘modern-day colonialism’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/05/26/west-papua-independence-group-slams-french-modern-day-colonialism/" aria-label="Read more about West Papua independence group slams French ‘modern-day colonialism’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
October 17, 2023
SPECIAL REPORT: By Yamin Kogoya The referendum on the indigenous Voice in Australia last Saturday was an historic event. Australians were asked to vote on whether to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia in the Constitution through an indigenous Voice. The voters were asked to vote “yes” or ... <a title="‘No’ to Australia’s indigenous voice – a devastating wake-up call for resistance to colonialism" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/10/17/no-to-australias-indigenous-voice-a-devastating-wake-up-call-for-resistance-to-colonialism/" aria-label="Read more about ‘No’ to Australia’s indigenous voice – a devastating wake-up call for resistance to colonialism">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
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
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 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
October 27, 2022
By Susana Suisuiki, RNZ Pacific journalist A ni-Vanuatu and Melanesian advocate in New Zealand says the country’s Pacific ministry has overlooked Melanesian communities in its language strategy. In an opinion piece in E-Tagata, Leina Isno said from the consultation to the launch the 10-year Pacific Languages Strategy was a “major cultural blunder’. The government’s Pacific ... <a title="Melanesian advocate criticises Pacific languages strategy ‘blunder’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/10/27/melanesian-advocate-criticises-pacific-languages-strategy-blunder/" aria-label="Read more about Melanesian advocate criticises Pacific languages strategy ‘blunder’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
October 25, 2022
By Susana Suisuiki, RNZ Pacific journalist About 23,000 Melanesians live in Aotearoa and yesterday they had their first very own festival showcasing their diverse cultures. Fijians make up the bulk of the population but there are also ni-Vanuatu, Solomon Islanders, Papua New Guineans, West Papuans and Kanaks from New Caledonia. The founder and director of ... <a title="‘Forgotten’ Melanesians host their first cultural festival in Aotearoa" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/10/25/forgotten-melanesians-host-their-first-cultural-festival-in-aotearoa/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Forgotten’ Melanesians host their first cultural festival in Aotearoa">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
September 18, 2022
SPECIAL REPORT: By Laurens Ikinia Governor Lukas Enembe of Indonesia’s Melanesian province of Papua has been banned from travelling abroad by the state Directorate General of Immigration, Ministry of Law and Human Rights, preventing him undergoing vital medical treatment in the Philippines. Governor Enembe, 55, was due to go to Manila this month. However, his ... <a title="Jakarta bans Papuan governor Enembe from vital medical treatment trip" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/09/18/jakarta-bans-papuan-governor-enembe-from-vital-medical-treatment-trip/" aria-label="Read more about Jakarta bans Papuan governor Enembe from vital medical treatment trip">Read more</a>
