WRE,

As I thought, you confuse assumptions with opinions. I was amazed by your initial restraint – last time you addressed me individually you called me a terrorist – but you couldn’t hold out, could you. I am now part of a “red necked rabble”. There was not a One Nation candidate in my electorate.

As for me swimming to NZ, I would be trying to defend my country. Wouldn’t you?

My old mate, Ranier,

I irritate you because I dare not to toe your line. There’s no point in ‘debating’ with you, either. So it boils down to this – I should be banned because I do exactly the same as you do (express my opinion). You are the only one with anything constructive to say! I hate everyone and hate everything! I don’t bow down to King Ranier of the Deep North, eh? You have never had a thought of your own yet, old son. You are a typically left wing whinger. I don’t think you should be banned though. That’s the main difference between you and me.

PROUD TO BE INDONESIAN,

If you are a genuine Indonesian living in Indonesia, stick around. You have already noticed the anti-democratic attitude of the lefties on the site and know that you will be in for some stick. They think abusing and constant harping wins the day.

On the other hand, there are a few of us hear who will let you say what you think and perhaps learn something we won’t hear from politicians. Go easy on the fight talk, though

No this is not good stuff Tony Kevin. I object to a lot of things you have written here.

“The arrival on the Australian mainland of 43 asylum-seekers from West Papua….. is significant news for both Australian border security and Australian-Indonesian relations.”

One boat, with no hint of any others to follow as far we know. I don’t think it is that significant.

“The planners of this voyage clearly outsmarted Australian border protection authorities, who will now do their best to make life as unpleasant as possible for the 43 who made it here.”

No. I agree with Leigh that this is a scurrilous claim. Australian border protection authorities will do their best to strike the right balance between enforcing border-protection policy and the deterrence factor and treating them in a decent manner.

“Much of the border authorities’ rage will come from their having been so comprehensively outwitted by West Papuans in an outrigger canoe.”

Australian border protection authorities have not been comprehensively outwitted. How do you expect them to monitor every tiny boat? A whole fleet would have been a different story. If a procession of them now ensues, it will become embarrassing. But one tiny boat, that wouldn’t have looked at all out of place in the Torres Strait…come on, give them a break!

“All the border protection authorities’ interception strategies would have been concentrated on the (safely immigration-excised) Australian islands of the Torres Strait.”

Yes, and understandably so. So why the heavy criticism over one boat that is way out of the norm?

“Australian border security resources will now be stepped up……”

Well of course. What would you expect? I don’t understand; you seem to be levelling full-on criticism of them doing this. What?

“Would Australians tolerate such ruthless border protection techniques against our most vulnerable near neighbours”.

For goodness sake, what is in the slightest bit ruthless about it all?

The West Papuans have every right to look to Australia for protection. There is no doubt the annexation of West Papua is wrong if not legally then certianly morally.

I think the West Papuans have probably been encouraged by two fairly recent events. Firstly the liberation of East Timor. Let's not argue about the details. It's now free and getting on with it's life and if we have to help out...then as a close neioghbour then that's as it should be. But the fact is it's freedom came about because the world focus was bought to bear because of the Australian Governments pressure. That action had bi-partisan support. It is something in which all Australians take great pride.
Secondly there has been in recent years a great weakening in the authoritarian nature of the Javanese establishment. That in turn is impacting on the TNI. It's loosened grip is noticed throughout the region including by the West Papuans.

With regard to their entry to this country it is reasonable we have checks. What is unreasonable is if there is great delay. I don't think I should pre-empt the results of any enquiry. I don't know enough detail. But my sympathies lay with the West Papuans. I would expect our Parliaments to express my sentiments. I'll certianly be expressing them to my local members.

In the longer term while our Government continues with it's policy of friendship with Indonesia, and expresses such, I think it is time for us to also express our resevations about the occupation and the implantion of Javanese into the provence. For that was the impetus which led to the Independence of East Timor.

What we don't need is politicians trying to score points over the issue. As no doubt some will.

Hello Australians..

Pardon my late reply caused by the peculiar two posts a day rule in this forum.

The way some people here have misguided fantasies that Australia is somehow important or infuential in Indonesia is hilarious. The truth is, Australia is just a minor insignificant country that's very low in terms of importance to Indonesia. Australia is not a major trading partner for Indonesia (we mostly trade with Japan, Singapore, and United States). Australia is not a major source for donor funds (which mostly comes from CGI and the Paris Club). Therefore, Australia actually has no influence whatsoever on Indonesia.

Australian armed forces is also just a joke. Their history is a history of defeats. When fighting alone, Australian troops was easily beaten, like in Gallipoli and Malaya. Your so-called "victories" in New Guinea should actually be credited to Americans who won all the major battles first before leaving the starving Japanese remnants to their stooges the Australians, since the American soldiers couldn't be bothered to mop-up. In East Timor, Australian soldiers have to be transported and guided by Indonesian soldiers at their first entrance, since President Habibie had ordered our soldiers to welcome the Australians with open arms.

On the other hand, Indonesian soldiers won by themselves the war of independence against the Dutch (1945-1949), West Papuan confrontation (1962-1963) and have crushed countless violent radical Islamist, communist, separatist, and foreign-provoked rebellions.

If Australian invaders dare come to Indonesia, we 250 million Indonesians will make them pay in blood for each time their dirty feet touch Indonesian soil.

Besides, Australia is just an American stooge. President Yudhoyono is a close friend of President Bush, who viewed Indonesia as strategic ally. A stooge like Australia has no power or capability to invade other countries, especially a more important American ally, Indonesia.

@hamlet:

That is why you shouldn't read too much stuff written by Australian yellow journalists, since now you cannot differentiate myth and reality. The truth is, the FBI found that it is the barbaric uncivilised Papuan separatists who is responsible for the murders of one Indonesian teacher and two Americans. These "asylum-seekers" are the same group with these barbaric thugs. Now wonder Australian govt is moving these barbarians to Christmas Island, so they won't be able to kill civilians like their habit back home.

http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel04/papuan062404.htm

@realist:

Who are you trying to fool? East Timor is the world's poorest country with no worthwhile resources. The small oil reserve you're talking about have been stolen by that "first-world country" Australia. No wonder, considering the criminal origins of this "first-world country". We Indonesians have little respect for such first-class thieves.

The only reason Indonesia took East Timor in 1975 was to crush the communist Fretilin gaining power there (1970s being the height of the Cold War). This invasion was result of lobby on Suharto by PM Whitlam and President Ford, but later, that Australia back-stabbed us in the back. We Indonesians have no respect for such back-stabbing people.

BTW there are very few Javanese transmigrants in Papua, most of them are Buginese, Makassarese, and Ambonese. They today made up 60% of Papua's population. Barbaric Papuan separatism is all about dead and has zero prospect in the future. Most native Papuans today are prosperous and proud Indonesians (two of Indonesia's Olympic silver winners and a third of our national soccer team are Papuans).

Ranier,

Now there's something for you to get your teeth into. What have you got to say to our Indonsian friend?