There is a possibility of a new public discussion, should people with forum experience help make the SMH/Age article a well rounded discussion?

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/life-is-an-everyday-tragedy-for-papuans-20100813-122rs.html

A very difficult situation.

Indonesia is a big country and Papua is the furthest away, least important bit. It is understandable why Indonesia doesnt pay Papua its due attention. The question is would the people be any better off with independence or perhaps, as would have seemed logical all along, they join with Papua New Guinea? They may be better off staying as part of Indonesia?

The fault lies with the Americans and their filthy deals done with past Indonesian dictators. Australia as one of the seppoes main allies and the nearest first world country has a duty to rectify the past mistakes and recompense the locals for their tribulations and help them to develop and progress in their own way and in their own time free from control from ANY unwanted outside forces.

Mikk,
I really would agree that they would have been better off being part of the Papua Nation from the start. But now with the problems that Papua has would you curse them with that? If Indo could just find a modicum of human rights then they would be better off where they are.

As for not paying it due attention, i think they get a lot of attention problem is it's all bad. West Papua has great mineral wealth as well as forestry assets, i don't think for a minute that the indonesian government underestimate the value of these assets.

Thought this thread would run into many posts.
But it is the generation gap.
I was a very young activist when America forced the Dutch out.
One colonial power swapped for another.
Out Labor Prime ministers, two of them,got down on their knees for America and let it continue.
We watched the murders of our Media people and pretended it did not happen, called that country's leader was it papa?
It should be one country, we talk of colonialism as wrong, it is and blind our selves to this country's pain.
For what? the idea peace can be bought by giving away other peoples country's?

to ask the indonesian govt to grant independence to Irian Jaya would be on par of asking the australian govt to grant independence to the Pilbara region.
To all those NGO's I say don't point the finger at others when you're doing the same.

The largest single tax payer in Indonesia, is the Freeport copper/gold mine in West Papua.
The Papuans are distinctly a different ethnicity to the Indonesians.
Once Freeport is exhausted, and the timber is all cut down, then we will carp on about democracy and human rights.
For our efforts at helping them, they'll all want to come and live here.