Free the West Papuan refugees !
This century, relations between Australia and Indonesia have been closer than for decades. Australia appeared to be generous in its support for the Indonesian victims of the tsunami. And this was warmly appreciated in Indonesia. This facilitated co-operation on all sorts of issues including trade ,fighting terror, dealing with refugees. .Australia warmly praised Indonesia's efforts to develop democracy. Relations were becoming warm and cozy
It took twenty six refugees from West Timor to spoil the party. Indonesia was strongly offended. Howard, Vanstone and other ministers have made strong statements proclaiming West Papua as part of Indonesia and the futility of Independence. Vanstone even proclaimed supporters of the West Papuan movement to be "racist". But all this is not good enough. Jakarta withdrew its ambassador until it has received an apology.
So why is Jakarta so strongly offended. Well they consider the West Papuan independence struggle to be an attack on Indonesia. By accepting West Papuan refugees, Australia is party to the attack on its sovereignty. They are understandably fearful that the refugees will use Australia as a platform to expose Indonesian atrocities to a world audience. Indeed this is what they might well do. Indonesia noted Australian rhetoric supporting their occupation. But with the refugees accepted, and agencies supporting West Papua based in this country and tolerated (not actively opposed) Indonesia perceives Howard's actions run contrary to the rhetoric.
The Howard Government behaved in its normal way in relation to the refugees. They were detained their refugee credentials examined and were accepted when they were found to be "real" refugees. This offended Indonesia.
The Howard government is now panicking. The situation must not occur again. But if they were returned to the real prospect of murder or torture, Howard would be extremely embarrassed in Australia. His compromise formula is military boats to prevent them from coming here and the Pacific solution if the do. If you are running for your life from West Papua, there certainly won�t be any sympathy from Howard and his cronies. You will suffer state repression and barbaric detention.
Kim Beazley was dead right. It is now Indonesia who is now determining who should migrate to this country.
The workers movement should support the independence of West Papua and give military support to the Free Papua Movement (OPM).
Howard differentiate East Timor and West Papua on the grounds that West Papua was also a Dutch colony and was incorporated due to a referendum in which the people voted tp be part of Indonesia. East Timor was a Portuguese colony which was incorporated by invasion, Thus, they rationalise their support for Timorese independence and not Papuan
This is, of course an analysis of political expedience. The referendum which gave incorporation into Indonesia a fig-leaf of legitimacy was a farce! Only a minority of the population were consulted. The people have been fighting for their liberation ever since.
In Australia sections of the left (notably the Communist Party) supported incorporation because they believed in a strong Indonesia. Gough Whitlam for example believed in strong states so third world countries could develop properly. Others believed strong states could defy imperialism. Both were wrong. Shotgun unity of nations is a sure recipe for civil war.
Communists want international unity. But international unity is only viable when both nations totally agree. This requires a real referendum and not the shot-gun affair which legitimised Indonesian invasion.
It is the resp0nsibility of the left and workers movement in this country to stand up for the West Papuans and their right to form a separate nation. Their must be no capitulation to Howard and the Indonesian ruling class.