It is not the prerogative of the Javanese to determine whether the West Papuans should or shopuld not have independence. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights makes it very clear that it is the community themselves who, alone, make that choice. See http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/1976/5.html

Article 1 states, "All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development".

There is no mention, anywhere in this covenant, nor in the Australian version of the treaty, for this right to be subject to the approval of any existing dominant power.

It should also be pointed out that prior to Federation, the approval of the existing state was not required for the formation of new states in Australia as well. Every community had the right to petition the crown for the grant of new colony status for the "peace, order, and good governance" of that community.

Without this right, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania and New Zealand would all still be run from Sydney as the original entity that has never willingly relinquished power over any territory under it's control. This power of the crown to recognise a "greater good" that should prevail over the self interests of existing government elites was only excluded from the Federal Constitution at the behest of the Brisbane based colonial government of Qld under threat of remaining outside the new Commonwealth.

Consequently, there is absolutely no moral basis for the Australian government to pursue a policy towards West Papuan independence that is contrary to both international legal principles and a key element of the Westminster system

This is a ripe situation that truly warrants Australia to experience her Territorial Power within the region. Don't waste away in Iraq.

Continuous attempt to shrug it off by Australia and say it's an international matter clearly demonstrates "lack of bones".

PNGean fuzzy wuzzy descendants are still around to resurrect the Kokoda drama. There is absolutely no way that the Javanese will walk over us.

The “genocide of their people”? Is there any evidence that Indonesia is actually committing genocide in West Papua? I read an article recently claiming that the abuse reported in West Papua was greatly exaggerated. So, most of us don’t know what goes on in West Papua, and it is, therefore, quite futile for people to try convincing us either way. In this fellow’s case, the claim that “we” wiped out nearly 90% of our indigenous population makes him suspect. The demise of aborigines to the current population can be attributed directly to deliberate “wiping out” in only a very small way. He also wants the UN to take part in the undoing of the present situation. I thought it had UN approval in the first place.

Most Australians will not “stand up to the challenge” as the author (who, like all those of his holier-than-thou type, believe that everybody should agree with him) asks. (a) It is not their “challenge” – they don’t care, and (b) The Australian Government has wisely announced that it will not seek independence for West Papua.

The Government has already made a huge error of judgement by not returning the 42 Papuan illegals. Added to this, Australia has enough problems with tin pot, badly governed “independent” countries in the area now.

Australians need independence for West Papua like they need a hole in the head.

Huh?
<i>Added to this, Australia has enough problems with tin pot, badly governed “independent” countries in the area now.</i>

Those countries can survive with or without Australia's intervention.
Did you watch SBS Lateline last night? Solomon's PM emphatically stated that he ", mate - he simply doesn't care about Australia's AID or whatever means it mabye". The same can be said of Papua New Guinea.

Let John Howard be a real man and demonstrate to us that he has the nerve to stand up against what it matters the most. After all, West Papua is just at the nothern tip of Australia.

Cowards talk big but coil their tails when it matters most.

Perseus forgot to mention the PRE-EXISTING United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1514
see http://fandom.net/InfoKit/Src/unga1514.html

"1. The subjection of peoples to alien subjugation, domination and exploitation constitutes a denial of fundamental human rights, is contrary to the Charter of the United Nations and is an impediment to the promotion of world peace and co-operation.
2. All peoples have the right to self-determination; by virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.
3. Inadequacy of political, economic, social or educational preparedness should never serve as a pretext for delaying independence.
4. All armed action or repressive measures of all kinds directed against dependent peoples shall cease in order to enable them to exercise peacefully and freely their right to complete independence, and the integrity of their national territory shall be respected.
5. Immediate steps shall be taken, in Trust and Non-Self-Governing Territories or all other territories which have not yet attained independence, to transfer all powers to the peoples of those territories, without any conditions or reservations, in accordance with their freely expressed will and desire, without any distinction as to race, creed or colour, in order to enable them to enjoy complete independence and freedom.
6. Any attempt aimed at the partial or total disruption of the national unity and the territorial integrity of a country is incompatible with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
7. All States shall observe faithfully and strictly the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the present Declaration on the basis of equality, non-interference in the internal affairs of all States, and respect for the sovereign rights of all peoples and their territorial integrity."

Leigh asks about genocide which is a legal term, see the Yale University Law School report http://www.law.yale.edu/documents/pdf/westpapuahrights.pdf
George Bush gets money from Bechtel and Freeport McMoRan in West Papua, guess why the US is now funding the TNI. Guess why West Papua got colonised in the 1960s.

LOL, yet another Australian clown trying to provoke Australia to wage aggressive war against the great peace-loving country of Indonesia.

West Papua is an integral part of Indonesia according to the iron will of Indonesian people. Additionally, this integration is already acknowledged by two UN resolutions and the entire international community. There is simply nothing weakling and third-rate country Australia can do to change this fact. At best, you can scream begging for our attention until your throats are dry, but I don't think Indonesians would even bother noticing your provocations. Even the tiny Solomon Islands enjoy snubbing their collective noses on the powerless Australians lol.

Remember, the mighty Indonesian people will never relinquish even one inch of its land forever. The heroic Indonesian people are always ready to sacrifice ourselves to our last drop of blood to defend our territory. We will enjoy cutting-off the ears and drinking the blood of any invaders you dare to touch their dirty feet on our sacred soil.

On the other hand, there is one fraction of this otherwise lunatic diatrabe that is true: the cruel genocide and land-theft committed by criminal whites against the Aborigines.

There is only one solution to this gross violation of human rights: RETURN AUSTRALIA TO ABORIGINES NOW!!

Lol PTBI,

While Australias treatment of aborigines is not something to be proud of, I am not aware of any indigenous Australians seeking refuge in Indonesia. From Torres Straight it is a small hop by boat to this veritable cornucopia of human rights and social justice, yet we don't hear of any asylum seakers there. Perhaps they are enjoying their refuge in a boven digoel retreat.

The fact is that Indonesia is extremely heterogenous and that if it does not get its act together on autonomy, human rights and social justice rebellions in Ambon, Aceh and Papua will continue again.

My grandmother had a huge painting of Soekarno in her living room. She used to tell us that Indonesia was so blessed with its human and natural resources that it would soon be the richest country in world with the best doctors, engineers and lawyers. Sadly we are still waiting for that day.

@gusi:

Actually there are lots of Aborigines who moved to Indonesia due to their intermarriage with Makkasarese fishermen who regularly visited northern Australia for centuries. These Aborigines were accepted and easily assimiliated into tolerant Indonesian society, unlike the despicable genocide and racial discrimination they receive from the white Australians, descendents of criminals. Indeed there is only one solution to this festering problem of human rights violation:

RETURN AUSTRALIA TO ABORIGINES NOW!

Indonesia already gave much autonomy to Papua, the central govt is subsidising development in that relatively backward province by Rp 10 trillion every year so it can catch-up with other provinces. The govt also gave thousands of scholarships each year for native Papuans to receive higher education.

However, the Indonesian people has zero tolerance for barbaric separatists who want to engage in a campaign of murder and genocide against the transmigrants who make-up 50% of Papuan population. Worse, these uncivilised animals want to challenge the integrity of Indonesia. Indonesian people will defend the integrity of Indonesia until the last drop of blood, they will never clinch a single micrometer from this unshakable position.

PTBI,

Joining your spouse overseas is hardly the same as risking live and limb to escape oppression.

Proud to be Indonesian, you must joking. So full of all the worst propoganda the Indo's have to offer. You are not a tolerant people in general, and I'm sorry but Indonesia is light years behind Australia, and most other civilised countries in terms of human rights, and have committed countless disgracefully violent acts in the name of their self proclaimed sovereignty over their neighbours. You are as greedy, if not more so than the rest of us, only ever doing that which is neccessary to turn a profit.
At least we give independence a chance with our small neighbours, and support them financially. You cannot say the same.
Like most predominantly Muslim nations, it's high time you looked at your own behaviours, rather than blaming the world for your problems. We know we aren't perfect, and don't pretend to be, unlike yourselves who are apprently infallible (kind of like your religion).

Also, the actions of your' so called justice system suggest that Indonesia supports Islamic militants, and their murderous acts, making you complicit in whatever evil they do. This has been proven by the release, or reduction in sentence of those reponsible for the various bombings which have occurred recently.
The only reason Indonesia is interested in any of these tiny islands is if there is a perceived profit to be had.
Get off your' high horse. You only breed contempt with your self righteous rubbish.
If the West Papuans want independence, why shouldn't they have it? Indonesia seems to think it's entitled to every nearby piece of land with a population too weak to resist them. I'm sure the Indo's would have invaded Australia in a heartbeat, if it weren't for the yanks waving a massive stick around the Pacific rim.

PTBI: "However, the Indonesian people has zero tolerance for barbaric separatists who want to engage in a campaign of murder and genocide against the transmigrants who make-up 50% of Papuan population. Worse, these uncivilised animals want to challenge the integrity of Indonesia. Indonesian people will defend the integrity of Indonesia until the last drop of blood, they will never clinch a single micrometer from this unshakable position."

You really don't like penis-gourd-wearing Highlanders, do you? Don't like them keeping pigs, do you? Your hatred shows who is really the savage here. As for your population figures, shows us all why you wanted West Papua in the first place: rape of resources and lebensraum. I use the German word deliberately.

@Stomont:

LOL, you are firing blindly, mate. First of all, I am not a Muslim, and Indonesia is a secular state based on Pancasila. In fact, Indonesia is the most successful country in the world in crushing Muslims extremists, from annihilating DI-TII rebellion in 1950s till crushing international terrorism today. Indeed, as humans, we Indonesians are not perfect, however we have heart and compassion for others. That is why we remain strong in our belief that nothing can justify the barbaric genocide and theft of land committed by the despicable whites against the defenceless Aboriginal people!

RETURN AUSTRALIA TO ABORIGINES NOW!!

LONG LIVE INDONESIA! LONG LIVE PANCASILA!! DEATH TO ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS!! DEATH TO BARBARIC SEPARATISTS!!

@Viking:

Au contraire, mon ami. We Indonesians love the penis-gourd very much. I also love eating pork, it is my favourite meat! :-)

Don't feed the Indonesian troll! He has been on the same 'give-Australia-back-to-the-aboriginals' chorus for months (possibly years) and presented the same defence of Indonesia'a actions.

Of course, it's all a devilish plan to invade an Australia left empty by the voluntary departure of all Australians (except aboriginals).

The most comic part of PTBI's posts is the rabid racist name calling - 'uncivilised animals' etc. and his mad insistence that the WPNGs are all estatically happy under Indonesian rule - otherwise they wouldnt have 'voted' to be part of Indonesia, would they?

Simple!

Proud to be Indonesian said: "In fact, Indonesia is the most successful country in the world in crushing Muslims extremists, from annihilating DI-TII rebellion in 1950s till crushing international terrorism today."

Apparently Laskar Jihad, Barisan Merah Putih, FPI, Jemaah Islamiyah are not Islamic terrorist organisations in our friend's mind; and people like Abu Bakar Bashir and the TNI officers caught selling arms to Tamil Tigers and others are not involved in promoting terrorism.

Fact is there are outstanding charges awaiting dozens if not hundreds of TNI and BIN officers involved in murders, assassinations, and worse. The Indonesian State is an evil creation of Sukarno and certain US corporations who wanted a Javanese military to colonise the region for easy US access to 'fund the Marshal Plan'. The Javanese people should drop their apathy and stand up for the human rights of those other nations.