Tag Archives: PAPUA

Papua Controversy

I have been sent a link by an Indonesian acquaintance about being accused, on CNN Indonesia, by a senior former Indonesian general of being involved in, or behind, recent unrest in West Papua. https://www.cnnindonesia.com/nasional/20171215172134-12-262710/akademisi-australia-diduga-terlibat-gejolak-papua This allegation is quite untrue. In that same statement, the former general also vastly exaggerated my role in Timor-Leste in 1999. […]

The ties that bind are also the ties that blind

The two trips by Prime Minister Tony Abbott to Indonesia have started to give a distinctive shape to a shift in Australian foreign policy. In keeping with Abbott’s assertive political style, Australia is on the diplomatic front foot, promoting his pro-Asia policy agenda. But the forcefulness of the way in which this agenda is being […]

West Papuan activists test waters around Australian asylum rules

West Papuan activists are testing Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s statements in relation to his asylum-seeker boat turnback policy, that he has “total respect for Indonesia’s sovereignty, total respect for Indonesia’s territorial integrity”. So far, they are having little luck. As Abbott was preparing to leave for Bali, three West Papuan activists scaled the wall of […]