CoveragePost
June 20, 2024
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist All parties, including West Papuan pro-independence fighters who took Phillip Mehrtens hostage, want the New Zealand pilot released but freeing him is “complicated”. In February 2023, Mehrtens, a husband and father from Christchurch, was working for Indonesian airline, Susi Air, when he landed his small Pilatus plane on a ... <a title="No breakthrough in hostage Kiwi pilot talks held by West Papuan rebels" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/06/20/no-breakthrough-in-hostage-kiwi-pilot-talks-held-by-west-papuan-rebels/" aria-label="Read more about No breakthrough in hostage Kiwi pilot talks held by West Papuan rebels">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 20, 2024
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk New Caledonia’s security forces have arrested eight people believed to be involved in the organisation of pro-independence-related riots that broke out in the French Pacific territory last month. The eight include leaders of the so-called Field Action Coordinating Cell (CCAT), a group that was set up ... <a title="Kanaky New Caledonia unrest: Pro-independence militant leaders arrested" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/06/20/kanaky-new-caledonia-unrest-pro-independence-militant-leaders-arrested/" aria-label="Read more about Kanaky New Caledonia unrest: Pro-independence militant leaders arrested">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 19, 2024
Asia Pacific Report French police and gendarmes force were deployed around the political headquarters of the pro-independence Caledonian Union in Kanaky New Caledonia’s Nouméa suburb of Magenta in a crackdown today. The public prosecutor confirmed that eight protesters had been arrested, including the leader of the CCAT action groups, Christian Téin, as suspects in a ... <a title="French police raid pro-independence Kanak party HQ, arrest eight in crackdown" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/06/19/french-police-raid-pro-independence-kanak-party-hq-arrest-eight-in-crackdown/" aria-label="Read more about French police raid pro-independence Kanak party HQ, arrest eight in crackdown">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 19, 2024
French President Emmanuel Macron, who visited Kanaky New Caledonia last month in a largely failed bid to solve the French Pacific territory’s political deadlock, has called a snap election following the decisive victory of the rightwing bloc among French members of the European Parliament. Don Wiseman reports. By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist A ... <a title="History ‘replaying itself’ in Kanaky but Pacific solidarity growing, says Tau" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/06/19/history-replaying-itself-in-kanaky-but-pacific-solidarity-growing-says-tau/" aria-label="Read more about History ‘replaying itself’ in Kanaky but Pacific solidarity growing, says Tau">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 18, 2024
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist National politicians and pastors are fuelling the tribal fighting in Papua New Guinea by supplying guns and ammunition, says Enga’s Provincial Administrator Sandis Tsaka. Tsaka’s brother was killed a fortnight ago when a tribe on a war raid passed through his clan. “[My brother] was at home with his ... <a title="PNG ‘politicians, pastors’ supply weapons to fuel deadly tribal fights, says Enga leader" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/06/18/png-politicians-pastors-supply-weapons-to-fuel-deadly-tribal-fights-says-enga-leader/" aria-label="Read more about PNG ‘politicians, pastors’ supply weapons to fuel deadly tribal fights, says Enga leader">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 17, 2024
The director of the Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture Dr Aaron Sala says “it’s up to all Pacific nations and their ancestors to stay united”. The remarks come during the closing ceremony of the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC) happening at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. During the ceremony, delegations ... <a title="FestPAC 2024: Delegates wrap up with standing ovation for Kanaky, Vanuatu and West Papua" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/06/17/festpac-2024-delegates-wrap-up-with-standing-ovation-for-kanaky-vanuatu-and-west-papua/" aria-label="Read more about FestPAC 2024: Delegates wrap up with standing ovation for Kanaky, Vanuatu and West Papua">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 17, 2024
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk The national congress of New Caledonia’s pro-independence platform, the FLNKS, was postponed at the weekend due to major differences between its hard-line component and its more moderate parties. The FLNKS is the Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front. It consists of several pro-independence parties, including the Kanak ... <a title="Kanaky New Caledonia unrest: FLNKS congress postponed due to splits" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/06/17/kanaky-new-caledonia-unrest-flnks-congress-postponed-due-to-splits/" aria-label="Read more about Kanaky New Caledonia unrest: FLNKS congress postponed due to splits">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 15, 2024
The new secretary-general of the Pacific Islands Forum, Baron Waqa, is “well equipped” for the role, Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says. Waqa, a former Nauru president is the first Nauruan national to assume the top job at the Forum. He began his tenure last week and was welcomed during a special ceremony on Thursday ... <a title="Baron Waqa ‘more than able’ to lead Pacific Islands Forum, says Rabuka" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/06/15/baron-waqa-more-than-able-to-lead-pacific-islands-forum-says-rabuka/" aria-label="Read more about Baron Waqa ‘more than able’ to lead Pacific Islands Forum, says Rabuka">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 15, 2024
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk French Polynesia has just played host to a 15-nation “Marara” military exercise aimed at increasing “interoperability” between participating armed forces. From May 27 to June 8, the exercise involved about 1000 military from Australia, New Zealand, United States, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Cook Islands, Vanuatu, ... <a title="French Polynesia hosts ‘Marara’ military exercise for Asia-Pacific" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/06/15/french-polynesia-hosts-marara-military-exercise-for-asia-pacific/" aria-label="Read more about French Polynesia hosts ‘Marara’ military exercise for Asia-Pacific">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 13, 2024
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk After the surprise announcement of the French National Assembly’s dissolution last Sunday, French Pacific territories are already busy preparing for the forthcoming snap election with varying expectations. Following the decision by President Emmanuel Macron, the snap general election will be held on June 30 (first round) ... <a title="French Pacific prepares for snap elections with mixed expectations" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/06/13/french-pacific-prepares-for-snap-elections-with-mixed-expectations/" aria-label="Read more about French Pacific prepares for snap elections with mixed expectations">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 12, 2024
By Tiana Haxton, RNZ Pacific journalist in Hawai’i “One body, one people, one ocean, one Pacific” was Samoa’s powerful statement during the parade of nations at the official opening of the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC). It was a sentiment echoed loudly and proudly by all other parading nations. Rapa Nui’s delegation ... <a title="FestPAC 2024: ‘One body, one people, one ocean, one Pacific’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/06/12/festpac-2024-one-body-one-people-one-ocean-one-pacific/" aria-label="Read more about FestPAC 2024: ‘One body, one people, one ocean, one Pacific’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 11, 2024
ANALYSIS: By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk French President Emmanuel Macron’s surprise dissolution of the National Assembly and call for snap general elections on June 30 and July 7 has implications for New Caledonia. Grave civil unrest and rioting broke out on May 13 in reaction to a controversial constitutional amendment, directly ... <a title="Kanaky New Caledonia unrest: What happens to limbo law change with French snap election?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/06/11/kanaky-new-caledonia-unrest-what-happens-to-limbo-law-change-with-french-snap-election/" aria-label="Read more about Kanaky New Caledonia unrest: What happens to limbo law change with French snap election?">Read more</a>
