Independent Analysis and Reportage
Political scientist, and former Pentagon analyst, Dr Paul Buchanan, and Selwyn Manning analyse the question: What does the Geopolitical balancing that is taking place in the West and South-West Pacific mean for the region and the globe?
Asia Pacific Report The self-styled provisional government of the United Liberation Movement of West Papua“with the people” of the Melanesian region have declared political support for full West Papuan membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). In a statement issued in the Vanuatu capital of Port Vila after a meeting of thew ULMWP executive in ... <a title="West Papuan ‘provisional’ government backs full membership of MSG" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/06/west-papuan-provisional-government-backs-full-membership-of-msg/" aria-label="Read more about West Papuan ‘provisional’ government backs full membership of MSG">Read more</a>
By Walter Zweifel, RNZ Pacific reporter New Caledonia’s pro-independence parties are prepared to negotiate changes to the provincial electoral rolls, according to French Overseas Minister Gerald Darmanin. On his second visit to Noumea in less than four months, the minister announced the apparent change in the stance of the pro-independence FLNKS movement, which until now ... <a title="French minister says FLNKS ‘willing to discuss’ election roll changes" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/06/french-minister-says-flnks-willing-to-discuss-election-roll-changes/" aria-label="Read more about French minister says FLNKS ‘willing to discuss’ election roll changes">Read more</a>
Asia Pacific Report The president of a West Papuan advocacy group has appealed to the militants holding New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens hostage to free him unconditionally and unharmed, describing him as an “innocent pawn”. United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) president Benny Wenda said he held “deepest concern” for the life of Mehrtens, ... <a title="Wenda calls on Papuan rebels to free NZ pilot ‘unconditionally’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/05/wenda-calls-on-papuan-rebels-to-free-nz-pilot-unconditionally/" aria-label="Read more about Wenda calls on Papuan rebels to free NZ pilot ‘unconditionally’">Read more</a>
RNZ Pacific Transparency International Papua New Guinea has welcomed the conviction of lawyer Paul Paraka as the police confirm they are widening the investigation into the fraud case. The NGO admits the depths of Paraka’s activities, revealed by the case, are very worrying. Paraka, who had operated his own eponymous law firm, was convicted of ... <a title="Transparency PNG calls for further charges over ‘worrying’ Paraka case" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/03/transparency-png-calls-for-further-charges-over-worrying-paraka-case/" aria-label="Read more about Transparency PNG calls for further charges over ‘worrying’ Paraka case">Read more</a>
There are parallels between Indonesia’s Aceh where an Australian surfer faced a flogging, and West Papua where a New Zealand pilot may be facing death. Both provinces have fought brutal guerrilla wars for independence. One has been settled through foreign peacekeepers. The other still rages as outsiders fear intervention. By Duncan Graham in Malang, East Java ... <a title="Duncan Graham: Compromise worked in Aceh – why not West Papua? " class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/02/duncan-graham-compromise-worked-in-aceh-why-not-west-papua/" aria-label="Read more about Duncan Graham: Compromise worked in Aceh – why not West Papua? ">Read more</a>
By Vijay Narayan in Suva Fiji’s 2000 coup leader George Speight, who has been serving time in prison for more than 20 years, has applied for a presidential pardon so he can be released. When questioned by Fijivillage News, Attorney-General and Chair of the Mercy Commission, Siromi Turaga confirmed that Speight had made an application ... <a title="2000 Fiji coup leader George Speight applies for presidential pardon" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/05/31/2000-fiji-coup-leader-george-speight-applies-for-presidential-pardon/" aria-label="Read more about 2000 Fiji coup leader George Speight applies for presidential pardon">Read more</a>
ANALYSIS: By Richard Shaw, Massey University When New Zealand’s opposition National Party’s transport spokesperson, Simeon Brown, questioned the logic of bilingual traffic signs, he seemed to echo his leader Christopher Luxon’s earlier misgivings about the now prevalent use of te reo Māori in government departments. Genuine concern or political signalling in an election year? After ... <a title="Slow down Simeon Brown – NZ bilingual traffic signs aren’t an accident waiting to happen" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/05/30/slow-down-simeon-brown-nz-bilingual-traffic-signs-arent-an-accident-waiting-to-happen/" aria-label="Read more about Slow down Simeon Brown – NZ bilingual traffic signs aren’t an accident waiting to happen">Read more</a>
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Tokelau’s largest atoll, Nukunonu, is now out of lockdown after experiencing its first community cases of covid-19. In a statement, the government said Fakaofo Atoll has had two cases at the border and Nukunonu now has six positive community cases — all within the same household. This includes the ... <a title="Tokelau covid: Two new cases announced as lockdown ends" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/05/30/tokelau-covid-two-new-cases-announced-as-lockdown-ends/" aria-label="Read more about Tokelau covid: Two new cases announced as lockdown ends">Read more</a>
Asia Pacific Report Free Papua Organisation (OPM) leader Jeffrey Bomanak has appealed for Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape to become a “neutral intermediary” to negotiate between the Indonesian government and the West Papuan rebels holding a New Zealand pilot hostage for his release. He has called in a statement today for the safe ... <a title="OPM call for PNG’s James Marape as negotiator for NZ pilot’s safe passage" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/05/28/opm-call-for-pngs-james-marape-as-negotiator-for-nz-pilots-safe-passage/" aria-label="Read more about OPM call for PNG’s James Marape as negotiator for NZ pilot’s safe passage">Read more</a>
The National, Port Moresby Papua New Guinea yesterday intialled a defence cooperation agreement with the United States amid day-long protests against the signing by university students and opposition MPs. The agreement was signed by PNG Defence Minister Win Daki and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. A statement by the US State Department said the ... <a title="Blinken, Daki sign controversial US-PNG defence pact after day of protests" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/05/23/blinken-daki-sign-controversial-us-png-defence-pact-after-day-of-protests/" aria-label="Read more about Blinken, Daki sign controversial US-PNG defence pact after day of protests">Read more</a>
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist, and Scott Waide, RNZ Pacific PNG correspondent, in Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape says the increased United States security involvement in Papua New Guinea is driven primarily by the need to build up the Papua New Guinea Defence Force and not US-China geopolitics. Last night, ... <a title="‘Two-way highway’ – PNG-US defence pact signed in spite of protests" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/05/23/two-way-highway-png-us-defence-pact-signed-in-spite-of-protests/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Two-way highway’ – PNG-US defence pact signed in spite of protests">Read more</a>