CoveragePost
September 28, 2023
By Charley Piringi in Honiara The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) has adopted a fresh approach in addressing the longstanding and sensitive West Papuan issue, says Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare. Upon his return yesterday from the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York last week, he clarified to local media about why he ... <a title="Sogavare hails ‘new approach’ on West Papua – Wale calls PM ‘Judas’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/09/28/sogavare-hails-new-approach-on-west-papua-wale-calls-pm-judas/" aria-label="Read more about Sogavare hails ‘new approach’ on West Papua – Wale calls PM ‘Judas’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
September 28, 2023
Asia Pacific Report An Australian advocacy group supporting West Papuan self-determination has appealed to Foreign Minister Penny Wong to press Indonesia to halt all military operations in the region following new allegations of Indonesian atrocities reported in The Guardian newspaper. In a letter to the senator yesterday, the Australia West Papua Association (AWPA) protested against ... <a title="Advocacy group calls on Senator Wong to press Jakarta over latest West Papua atrocities report" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/09/28/advocacy-group-calls-on-senator-wong-to-press-jakarta-over-latest-west-papua-atrocities-report/" aria-label="Read more about Advocacy group calls on Senator Wong to press Jakarta over latest West Papua atrocities report">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
September 15, 2023
Pacific Media Watch A Radio New Zealand Pacific journalist has alleged that an Indonesian official attempted to both bribe and intimidate him following an interview at the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) leaders’ summit in the Vanuatu capital of Port Vila last month. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliates, the Media Association Vanuatu ... <a title="IFJ condemns Indonesia over bribery, harassment attempt on RNZ journalist" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/09/15/ifj-condemns-indonesia-over-bribery-harassment-attempt-on-rnz-journalist/" aria-label="Read more about IFJ condemns Indonesia over bribery, harassment attempt on RNZ journalist">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
September 11, 2023
RNZ Pacific Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has backtracked on his comments that PNG had “no right to comment” on human rights abuses in West Papua and has offered a clarification to “clear misconceptions and apprehension”. Last week, Marape met Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the sidelines of the 43rd ASEAN summit in ... <a title="PNG leader Marape denies Papua human rights comments were his" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/09/11/png-leader-marape-denies-papua-human-rights-comments-were-his/" aria-label="Read more about PNG leader Marape denies Papua human rights comments were his">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
September 5, 2023
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor A Radio New Zealand journalist says an Indonesian government official attempted to bribe and intimidate him at last month’s 22nd Melanesian Spearhead Group leaders’ summit in Port Vila. The Indonesian government has responded yesterday saying it would “surely look” into the claims. RNZ journalist Kelvin Anthony was in Port ... <a title="Indonesia responds after claim official attempted to bribe RNZ Pacific journalist" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/09/05/indonesia-responds-after-claim-official-attempted-to-bribe-rnz-pacific-journalist/" aria-label="Read more about Indonesia responds after claim official attempted to bribe RNZ Pacific journalist">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
September 3, 2023
Pacific Media Watch Vanuatu Daily Post civil society correspondents have written in unison condemning the failure of the Melanesian Spearhead Group to admit West Papua as full members of the organisation at last month’s leaders’ summit in Port Vila. The Australia West Papua Association (AWPA) says that “it’s tragic that the MSG leaders did not ... <a title="Letters on West Papua – ‘united voices for justice will not be silenced’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/09/03/letters-on-west-papua-united-voices-for-justice-will-not-be-silenced/" aria-label="Read more about Letters on West Papua – ‘united voices for justice will not be silenced’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
September 1, 2023
An Australian academic has lit the fuse of diplomatic fury by publicly criticising Indonesia’s brutal response to the Papuan independence movement, a sensitive topic for governments of both countries. Duncan Graham reports from Indonesia on the silent war to the north. ANALYSIS: By Duncan Graham An Australian academic is risking an eruption of diplomatic fury ... <a title="The silent war – Australia and Indonesia mum on Papuan human right abuses" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/09/01/the-silent-war-australia-and-indonesia-mum-on-papuan-human-right-abuses/" aria-label="Read more about The silent war – Australia and Indonesia mum on Papuan human right abuses">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 30, 2023
By Len Garae in Port Vila The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) has failed West Papua, says a Vanuatu government champion of West Papuan self-determination. Minister for Climate Change Adaptation Ralph Regenvanu, a former foreign minister and who is also a pioneer spokesman for freedom for the Melanesian people of West Papua, said this when delivering ... <a title="Sad Regenvanu condemns MSG for ‘failing’ people of West Papua" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/08/30/sad-regenvanu-condemns-msg-for-failing-people-of-west-papua/" aria-label="Read more about Sad Regenvanu condemns MSG for ‘failing’ people of West Papua">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 28, 2023
Asia Pacific Report The United Liberation Movement for West Papua has responded cautiously over the Melanesian Spearhead Group’s surprise denial of full membership at its leaders summit last week, welcoming the communique while calling for urgent action over Indonesia’s grave human rights violations. In a statement released today by President Benny Wenda after the second ... <a title="Wenda calls on MSG for urgent action to back pledge over human rights" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/08/28/wenda-calls-on-msg-for-urgent-action-to-back-pledge-over-human-rights/" aria-label="Read more about Wenda calls on MSG for urgent action to back pledge over human rights">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
August 26, 2023
By David Robie, editor of Asia Pacific Report The Melanesian Spearhead Group has thrown away a golden chance for achieving a historical step towards justice and peace in West Papua by lacking the courage to accept the main Papuan self-determination advocacy movement as full members. Membership had been widely expected across the Pacific region and ... <a title="MSG throws away golden chance to reset peace and justice for West Papua" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/08/26/msg-throws-away-golden-chance-to-reset-peace-and-justice-for-west-papua/" aria-label="Read more about MSG throws away golden chance to reset peace and justice for West Papua">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 24, 2023
By Hilaire Bule in Port Vila Benny Wenda, the interim president of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), has welcomed the Melanesian Spearhead Group’s confirmation that its application for full membership would be discussed at the 22nd MSG Leaders’ Summit in Port Vila — but warned it would be a test. Wenda conveyed ... <a title="‘The world is watching’ – it’s a test for Melanesian leaders over West Papua, says Wenda" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/08/24/the-world-is-watching-its-a-test-for-melanesian-leaders-over-west-papua-says-wenda/" aria-label="Read more about ‘The world is watching’ – it’s a test for Melanesian leaders over West Papua, says Wenda">Read more</a>