Thank-you, Dionisio Da Cruz Pereira, for writing an excellent and informative piece. I appreciate you keeping this on the agenda. It is such an important yet neglected issue.

I have a personal stake in this having lived in West Papua for 4 months in 2004. I made many lasting friendships and care deeply about West Papuan people and sovereignty.

All the best with your work.

Why do we continue to look the other way when it comes to gross Indonesian human rights abuses in West Papua? Indonesia's disregard for the people of West Papua, and its track record in abusing human rights, should rightfully bring Australian and international condemnation. Yet consistently, Australian governments have chosen to placate Indonesia and turn a blind eye to the dis-empowerment and ill-treatment of West Papuans. It is ironic (if not perverse) that we join various "coalitions of the willing" to fight for "democracy' in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, yet willingly (and expediently) choose to ignore the plight of our neighbours directly to our north.

:-) Just received an email which summarised why there is a lack of national and international concern for the atrocities against the people of West Papua. It was an email with only two words on it...

"NO OIL"

West Papua has the same dilemma as Australia, the new settlers are there for the long run.
I think Australians could always lead by example if they were that serious about it.
just ask any australian indigenous.

Article certainly reinforces the truism that Indonesia is only democratic on the surface with the army ruling.

That SBY is a former General and almost every Indonesian leader has had military connections should not be forgot.

However one could easily conclude from the article that Indonesian dominance in West Papua creates stability which is good for Australia and PNG.

If Australians dislike Indonesians living in West Papua, they can lead by example by returning Australia to its rightful owners the Aborigines, after which they can go back to their desolate European hamlets.

BTW, a correction, the strike by Freeport miners are not done by "West Papuan workers", but it was led by Indonesian labour union leaders from Java with connections to the military. The aim is to get Freeport to sacrifice its fat profit margin (up to 40% net profit) and leave the bulk of it within Indonesia instead of being repatriated to its American majority shareholders.