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>
CoveragePost
August 23, 2023
By Kelvin Anthony, RNZ Pacific journalist in Port Vila The leader of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Benny Wenda, has expressed confidence that the leaders’ meeting in Vanuatu will grant the ULMWP full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group. Wenda is in Port Vila for the 22nd MSG Leaders’ Summit, the first ... <a title="Benny Wenda says dream of MSG full membership ‘will happen’ in Port Vila" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/08/23/benny-wenda-says-dream-of-msg-full-membership-will-happen-in-port-vila/" aria-label="Read more about Benny Wenda says dream of MSG full membership ‘will happen’ in Port Vila">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 23, 2023
By Kelvin Anthony, RNZ Pacific journalist in Port Vila The Melanesian Spearhead Group Secretariat’s Director-General, Leonard Louma, says the Pacific region continues to be the centre of geopolitical interests by global superpowers. The 22nd MSG Leaders’ Summit is taking place in Port Vila this week– the first full in-person meeting since the covid pandemic. The ... <a title="Senior MSG official calls for Melanesia to remain neutral in geopolitical battle" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/08/23/senior-msg-official-calls-for-melanesia-to-remain-neutral-in-geopolitical-battle/" aria-label="Read more about Senior MSG official calls for Melanesia to remain neutral in geopolitical battle">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 14, 2023
RNZ Pacific A West Papua pro-independence leader says Indonesia is ramping up its repression of peaceful activists while people mobilise in favour of the province gaining full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). Benny Wenda said 10 activists were arrested earlier this week while handing out leaflets advertising a peaceful rally to support his ... <a title="Wenda slams ‘grave abuses’ against Papuan activists at MSG demos" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/07/14/wenda-slams-grave-abuses-against-papuan-activists-at-msg-demos/" aria-label="Read more about Wenda slams ‘grave abuses’ against Papuan activists at MSG demos">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 9, 2023
By Singgih Wiryono in Jakarta Indonesia’s former National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) chairperson Ahmad Taufan Damanik says it is difficult to expect Komnas HAM to play a role in freeing the New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens held hostage in West Papua. According to Damanik, who was chair 2017-2022, this is because the current Komnas ... <a title="Jakarta’s rights commission criticised for ‘failure’ over NZ pilot hostage case" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/07/09/jakartas-rights-commission-criticised-for-failure-over-nz-pilot-hostage-case/" aria-label="Read more about Jakarta’s rights commission criticised for ‘failure’ over NZ pilot hostage case">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 6, 2023
Asia Pacific Report An Australian human rights author and poet has accused successive federal governments of “deliberately aiding and abetting” the 1969 annexation of West Papua by Indonesia and enabling the “stifling” of the Melanesian people’s right to self-determination. In reaffirming his appeal last May for a royal commission into Australia’s policies over West Papua, ... <a title="Author condemns Canberra ‘collusion’ with Jakarta on West Papua atrocities" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/07/06/author-condemns-canberra-collusion-with-jakarta-on-west-papua-atrocities/" aria-label="Read more about Author condemns Canberra ‘collusion’ with Jakarta on West Papua atrocities">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 2, 2023
SPECIAL REPORT: By Yamin Kogoya The name Vanuatu has taken on a sacred significance in Papuan liberation consciousness. The Free Papua Movement (OPM) elders ignited this consciousness after the declaration of West Papua’s independence on 1 July 1971. The declaration was an act of revolution to reclaim Papuan sovereignty, stolen by Indonesia. General Seth Rumkorem ... <a title="Vanuatu – West Papua – MSG: An epic saga of messianic hope, betrayal, tragedy and resurrection" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/07/02/vanuatu-west-papua-msg-an-epic-saga-of-messianic-hope-betrayal-tragedy-and-resurrection/" aria-label="Read more about Vanuatu – West Papua – MSG: An epic saga of messianic hope, betrayal, tragedy and resurrection">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 22, 2023
Asia Pacific Report The pro-independence United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has welcomed Vanuatu Deputy Prime Minister Jotham Napat’s comments on West Papua during this week’s diplomatic visit to Indonesia. In a joint press conference with Indonesian Vice-President Ma’ruf Amin, Napat restated his commitment to the “Melanesian way”. Movement president Benny Wenda has issued ... <a title="ULMWP welcomes Vanuatu leader’s ‘Melanesian way’ vow in Jakarta" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/22/ulmwp-welcomes-vanuatu-leaders-melanesian-way-vow-in-jakarta/" aria-label="Read more about ULMWP welcomes Vanuatu leader’s ‘Melanesian way’ vow in Jakarta">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 17, 2023
Asia Pacific Report Seven regional executives representing all the customary regions of West Papua have declared their support for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) gaining full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group. The executives are of the ULMWP ‘provisional government’ in the Indonesian-ruled Melanesian region. The ULMWP declared this political support in ... <a title="West Papua’s customary region leaders back full MSG membership" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/17/west-papuas-customary-region-leaders-back-full-msg-membership/" aria-label="Read more about West Papua’s customary region leaders back full MSG membership">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
June 10, 2023
Jubi News The trial of three Papuan “free speech” students accused of treason has resumed at the Jayapura District Court this week. The defendants — Yoseph Ernesto Matuan, Devio Tekege, and Ambrosius Fransiskus Elopere — have been charged with treason for organising a free speech rally where they were accused of raising the banned Morning ... <a title="Papuan students accused of ‘treason’ over raising Morning Star flags" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/06/10/papuan-students-accused-of-treason-over-raising-morning-star-flags/" aria-label="Read more about Papuan students accused of ‘treason’ over raising Morning Star flags">Read more</a>
