Australia Vs. Indonesia

Indonesian-Australian relations were once again frosted this week following dual political rifts between the two nations caused by the arrival of 42 Papuan asylum seekers into Australia late last year.

Context
West Papua is a tiny Pacific island nation sharing an eastern border with Papua New Guinea. It was originally colonised by the Dutch but gained a level of autonomy in the 1850s. In 1963, West Papua was seized by the Indonesians who have illegally occupied and brutalised the nation. Despite countless UN resolutions and UN-recongised Independence Agreements (1952, 1961, 1962), Indonesia has refused to cede control. The exact reason for the initial Indonesian administration isn't clear, but the current oppression stems from a thirst for the island's natural resources, including gold, natural gas, oil, silver and copper.

Conflict
Australian-Indonesian relations are confusing at the best of times. In 2002 Australian peacekeepers were instrumental in gaining long-overdue independence for East Timor from Indonesia. Australia's role in enforcing international law and stopping state-sponsored terrorism (government armed militia sporadically murdering and raping villagers) against the tiny nation soured diplomatic relations. Tensions seemed to thaw following terrorist attacks against Australian interests and the outpouring of financial support by Australians to aid in Indo.'s tsunami relief effort (totaling $1bil AUS in private charity and low interest g'ment loans). Nevertheless, the relationship fell under the spot light last week as Australia announced that it would grant temporary protective visas to the Papuan refugees. The Indonesian response was swift. The Indonesian representative to Canberra was promptly recalled and the state-owned press ran a series of condemnatory articles and lude cartoons (the infamous cartoon depicting PM John Howard engaged in 'doggy style' sex with Foreign Minister Alexander Downer). An Australian newspaper cartoonist responded in kind (featuring the Indo. Pres. anally raping a West Papuan and the banner 'no offence'), which the Indo. Pres. opportunistically used as motivation to review Indo.'s co-operation with Australian authorities in preventing channels of illegal immigration into the country. As a friend of mine observed, "The extent of their co-operation probably extends to not shooting Australians."

Unfortunately, despite all the wrangling and ass-fucking West Papuans are no closer to justice.