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Papua New Guinea

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Two countries, two kidnappings – but Jakarta and Port Moresby responses different with 3 PNG hostages freed

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>

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‘Thank God’ says PM Marape in tweet about 3 freed hostages

February 26, 2023

RNZ News A New Zealand professor and his two Papua New Guinean colleagues have been released from captivity, more than a week after being kidnapped by an armed gang. Archaeologist Professor Bryce Barker, who now lives in Australia and works with the University of Southern Queensland (USQ), was held alongside fellow members of his research ... <a title="‘Thank God’ says PM Marape in tweet about 3 freed hostages" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/26/thank-god-says-pm-marape-in-tweet-about-3-freed-hostages/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Thank God’ says PM Marape in tweet about 3 freed hostages">Read more</a>

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PNG’s Marape on the Mt Bosavi hostages: ‘Free them all’

February 25, 2023

By Rebecca Kuku in Port Moresby Prime Minister James Marape has urged armed captors to free the remaining four hostages which includes an Australian-based New Zealand professor, following the release of a local woman and three local guides. “These are citizens of our country and a friend of our country. Let’s settle this the Melanesian ... <a title="PNG’s Marape on the Mt Bosavi hostages: ‘Free them all’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/25/pngs-marape-on-the-mt-bosavi-hostages-free-them-all/" aria-label="Read more about PNG’s Marape on the Mt Bosavi hostages: ‘Free them all’">Read more</a>

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PNG government must withdraw ‘media control’ policy, says RSF

February 24, 2023

The Paris-based media freedom watchdog said in a statement that “in what may be an example of the road to hell being paved with good intentions, the government has produced a ‘Draft National Media Development Policy’ with the declared aim of turning the media into “a tool for development” including “the promotion of democracy, good ... <a title="PNG government must withdraw ‘media control’ policy, says RSF" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/24/png-government-must-withdraw-media-control-policy-says-rsf/" aria-label="Read more about PNG government must withdraw ‘media control’ policy, says RSF">Read more</a>

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Priority with ‘greedy’ kidnappers is to return captives to families, says PNG police chief

February 23, 2023

PNG Post-Courier As day five dawned in Papua New Guinea’s kidnapping drama, the family of one of the four hostages captives — one of three women held in the Bosavi mountains, Southern Highlands province — was relieved she was set free yesterday afternoon. The Post-Courier was reliably informed of the release by the gunmen, with ... <a title="Priority with ‘greedy’ kidnappers is to return captives to families, says PNG police chief" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/23/priority-with-greedy-kidnappers-is-to-return-captives-to-families-says-png-police-chief/" aria-label="Read more about Priority with ‘greedy’ kidnappers is to return captives to families, says PNG police chief">Read more</a>

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PNG gunmen free one of 3 women held captive, reports Post-Courier

February 23, 2023

PNG Post-Courier The Post-Courier has exclusively been advised of the release of one of the women held captive by armed men in the Bosavi mountains, Southern Highlands. Police Commissioner David Manning confirmed with the newspaper that the woman was released yesterday afternoon with authorities working to bring her home. “The release of one of the ... <a title="PNG gunmen free one of 3 women held captive, reports Post-Courier" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/23/png-gunmen-free-one-of-3-women-held-captive-reports-post-courier/" aria-label="Read more about PNG gunmen free one of 3 women held captive, reports Post-Courier">Read more</a>

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Failure to free PNG hostages could cost captors ‘their lives’, warns police chief

February 22, 2023

PNG Post-Courier Papua New Guinean security forces have been authorised to use the full force of the law to secure the four captives being held hostage by an armed gang in Bosavi, Nipa-Kutubu, Southern Highlands province since Sunday. Police Commissioner David Manning said the abductors were being offered “a way out”. Manning described the gang ... <a title="Failure to free PNG hostages could cost captors ‘their lives’, warns police chief" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/22/failure-to-free-png-hostages-could-cost-captors-their-lives-warns-police-chief/" aria-label="Read more about Failure to free PNG hostages could cost captors ‘their lives’, warns police chief">Read more</a>

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PNG police negotiators try to win freedom for hostage researchers

February 22, 2023

PNG Post-Courier An Australian-based anthropology professor and three Papua New Guinean women researchers are being held captive inside the jungles of the Southern Highlands after they were kidnapped at gunpoint in Fogoma’iu village in the Bosavi LLG. Four local guides who were also seized were told to jump into the Hegigio river after being released ... <a title="PNG police negotiators try to win freedom for hostage researchers" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/22/png-police-negotiators-try-to-win-freedom-for-hostage-researchers/" aria-label="Read more about PNG police negotiators try to win freedom for hostage researchers">Read more</a>

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New PNG media policy will lead to government control of news groups

February 21, 2023

The new media development policy being proposed by the Papua New Guinea Communications Minister, Timothy Masiu, could lead to more government control over the country’s relatively free media. The new policy suggests a series of changes including legislative amendments. But media and stakeholders are not being given enough time to examine the details and study ... <a title="New PNG media policy will lead to government control of news groups" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/21/new-png-media-policy-will-lead-to-government-control-of-news-groups/" aria-label="Read more about New PNG media policy will lead to government control of news groups">Read more</a>

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Puma Energy shuts down PNG nationwide – seeks US$100m to resume fuel supplies

February 20, 2023

PNG Post-Courier Puma Energy has shut down its operations nationwide in Papua New Guinea while Prime Minister James Marape leaves overseas again to Fiji as the nation is left scraping for what is left in the oil tanks of its ailing economy. The country will be on total shut down today. Assuring the country that ... <a title="Puma Energy shuts down PNG nationwide – seeks US$100m to resume fuel supplies" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/20/puma-energy-shuts-down-png-nationwide-seeks-us100m-to-resume-fuel-supplies/" aria-label="Read more about Puma Energy shuts down PNG nationwide – seeks US$100m to resume fuel supplies">Read more</a>

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APMN calls for ‘urgent rethink’ over PNG draft media regulation plan

February 20, 2023

Pacific Media Watch A New Zealand-based media research and publication group has called for an “urgent rethink” on Papua New Guinea’s draft media development policy, saying its proposed regulation plan for the country’s media council and journalists threatened a free press. The Asia Pacific Media Network Inc. (APMN), publishers of the research journal Pacific Journalism ... <a title="APMN calls for ‘urgent rethink’ over PNG draft media regulation plan" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/20/apmn-calls-for-urgent-rethink-over-png-draft-media-regulation-plan/" aria-label="Read more about APMN calls for ‘urgent rethink’ over PNG draft media regulation plan">Read more</a>

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NGO group criticises ‘haste over media policy’ that may hit PNG freedom

February 18, 2023

PNG Post-Courier An anti-corruption NGO in Papua New Guinea has criticised the haste with which the government is conducting consultation on a draft National Media Development Policy that could undermine media freedom. The Community Coalition Against Corruption (CCAC) has called on the Department of Information and Communication Technologies to extend the time and breadth of ... <a title="NGO group criticises ‘haste over media policy’ that may hit PNG freedom" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/18/ngo-group-criticises-haste-over-media-policy-that-may-hit-png-freedom/" aria-label="Read more about NGO group criticises ‘haste over media policy’ that may hit PNG freedom">Read more</a>