CoveragePost
February 22, 2023
RNZ Pacific A West Papuan independence movement leader, Benny Wenda, says the release of New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens held hostage by armed rebels is out of his hands. The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) fighters kidnapped Mehrtens on February 7 after he landed a small commercial passenger plane in Nduga regency. The group ... <a title="Wenda calls on West Papuan rebels to release kidnapped NZ pilot" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/22/wenda-calls-on-west-papuan-rebels-to-release-kidnapped-nz-pilot/" aria-label="Read more about Wenda calls on West Papuan rebels to release kidnapped NZ pilot">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2023
Jubi News in Jayapura An indigenous Papuan negotiation team has traversed rugged highlands forests in the Indonesian-ruled Melanesian province in search of the New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens, who was taken hostage by rebels last week. The crisis over the captive pilot held by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) led by Egianus Kogoya ... <a title="Indigenous Papuan negotiators walk to forest hideout to seek release of pilot" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/18/indigenous-papuan-negotiators-walk-to-forest-hideout-to-seek-release-of-pilot/" aria-label="Read more about Indigenous Papuan negotiators walk to forest hideout to seek release of pilot">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 16, 2023
BACKGROUNDER: By David Robie Papuan independence rebels are playing a desperate game of cat and mouse with Indonesian authorities over their hostage taking last week with a New Zealand pilot caught in the middle. Christchurch-raised Philip Mehrtens, 37, a pilot for the national feeder airline Susi Air owned by a former cabinet minister and with ... <a title="Papuan cat-and-mouse over NZ pilot taken captive by ‘freedom’ rebels" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/16/papuan-cat-and-mouse-over-nz-pilot-taken-captive-by-freedom-rebels/" aria-label="Read more about Papuan cat-and-mouse over NZ pilot taken captive by ‘freedom’ rebels">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 11, 2023
Jubi News An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.4 hit Papua’s capital city Jayapura on Thursday afternoon, killing four people, injuring at least five and forcing 700 to flee, emergency officials said. The shallow earthquake with an epicenter of 10 km deep and located at coordinates 2.60 south and 140.66 east struck at 3.28pm. Officlals ... <a title="4 die, 700 forced to flee as earthquake hits Papuan capital Jayapura" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/11/4-die-700-forced-to-flee-as-earthquake-hits-papuan-capital-jayapura/" aria-label="Read more about 4 die, 700 forced to flee as earthquake hits Papuan capital Jayapura">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 9, 2023
RNZ News Indonesian police and military have launched a joint mission to rescue a New Zealand pilot who was seized by rebels as a hostage in Indonesia’s Papua region on Tuesday, media reports say. The Jakarta Post reports that authorities have set up a joint search and rescue operation to try and locate Susi Air ... <a title="Rescue mission underway for NZ pilot held hostage in Papua, say reports" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/09/rescue-mission-underway-for-nz-pilot-held-hostage-in-papua-say-reports/" aria-label="Read more about Rescue mission underway for NZ pilot held hostage in Papua, say reports">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 9, 2023
Jubi News in Jayapura Indonesian security forces do not know the whereabouts of the New Zealand pilot taken hostage by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) on Tuesday, Captain Philip Mehrtens, a pilot for Susi Air, was taken hostage following the burning of his aircraft in Paro district, Nduga regency, in a rugged part ... <a title="Indonesian security forces ‘have no idea’ where NZ pilot hostage is" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/09/indonesian-security-forces-have-no-idea-where-nz-pilot-hostage-is/" aria-label="Read more about Indonesian security forces ‘have no idea’ where NZ pilot hostage is">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 9, 2023
By Finau Fonua and Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalists A researcher at Human Rights Watch in Jakarta is calling for the immediate release of the six hostages — including a New Zealand pilot — being held by a rebel group in Indonesia’s Papua region. The rebels in Highlands Papua are threatening to execute Susi Air ... <a title="Human rights researcher pleads for West Papuan rebels to free NZ pilot" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/09/human-rights-researcher-pleads-for-west-papuan-rebels-to-free-nz-pilot/" aria-label="Read more about Human rights researcher pleads for West Papuan rebels to free NZ pilot">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 9, 2023
RNZ News An Indonesian human rights researcher has condemned the Papuan rebels who have taken a New Zealand pilot hostage and gone into hiding in a remote mountainous region. Andreas Harsono of Human Rights Watch urged the rebels to release the pilot, named as Captain Philip Mehrtens of the Indonesian airline Susi Air. “It is ... <a title="Indonesian rights researcher slams kidnapping – efforts to free NZ pilot" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/09/indonesian-rights-researcher-slams-kidnapping-efforts-to-free-nz-pilot/" aria-label="Read more about Indonesian rights researcher slams kidnapping – efforts to free NZ pilot">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 7, 2023
By Hilaire Bule, RNZ Pacific Vanuatu correspondent in Port Vila Vanuatu’s prime minister has stressed any future employment within the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat must be from MSG member countries. Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau, who is also chair of the MSG Secretariat, made the statement following the recruitment of two Indonesian consultants to work ... <a title="Kalsakau wants Melanesian staff to work at MSG secretariat" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/07/kalsakau-wants-melanesian-staff-to-work-at-msg-secretariat/" aria-label="Read more about Kalsakau wants Melanesian staff to work at MSG secretariat">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 6, 2023
SPECIAL REPORT: By Yamin Kogoya On Friday 10 February 2023, it will be one month since the Papua Governor Lukas Enembe was “kidnapped” at a local restaurant during his lunch hour by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and security forces. The crisis began in September 2022, when Governor Enembe was named a suspect by the ... <a title="Yamin Kogoya: The fate of Papua’s governor Enembe – where is he now?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/06/yamin-kogoya-the-fate-of-papuas-governor-enembe-where-is-he-now/" aria-label="Read more about Yamin Kogoya: The fate of Papua’s governor Enembe – where is he now?">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 5, 2023
By David Robie When Papuan journalist Victor Mambor visited New Zealand almost nine years ago, he impressed student journalists from the Pacific Media Centre and community activists with his refreshing candour and courage. As the founder of the Jubi news media group, he remained defiant that he would tell the truth no matter what the ... <a title="Papuan journalist award-winner Victor Mambor targeted for his reports" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/05/papuan-journalist-award-winner-victor-mambor-targeted-for-his-reports/" aria-label="Read more about Papuan journalist award-winner Victor Mambor targeted for his reports">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 3, 2023
RNZ Pacific Journalist Victor Mambor, who is the chief editor of the West Papuan newspaper and website Jubi, has received the Oktovianus Pogau Award from the Indonesian-based Pantau Foundation for courage in journalism. The foundation’s Andreas Harsono said Mambor’s decision to return to his father’s homeland and defend the rights of indigenous Papuans through journalism, ... <a title="Papua’s Jubi chief editor awarded Indonesian Pogau prize for courage" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/03/papuas-jubi-chief-editor-awarded-indonesian-pogau-prize-for-courage/" aria-label="Read more about Papua’s Jubi chief editor awarded Indonesian Pogau prize for courage">Read more</a>
