Article

2005-08-21 Southeast Asia

Indonesia : Interview - President must stop Papua abuses

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Posted by anonymous5089 2005-08-21 07:01|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Still trying to figure out why Indonesia got a chunk of Papua. Ethnic ties only?

Posted by John Fromm Gorilla 2005-08-21 09:52|| 2005-08-21 09:52|| Front Page Top

#2 No ethnic ties at all, John. Papua/ New Guinea people are Melanesians, no kin at all to Indonesians. By the way, its West Papua, not East.
And the whole transfer of West Papua into New Guinea is extremely murky. As a Dutch colony, the argument was to combine it with other Dutch colonies into the new indonesia. There was a totally fraudulent referendum. And in the background (I have been told- would like to learn more on this) was the Freeport- McMoran mining company, sitting on four mountain ranges stuffed full of gold and copper, and very keen for a compliant national government to give the green light.
Any Rantburgers got any more details on this story? The transfer, I mean. The story since then has been a low level war of independence, far below the radar, bows and arrows against automatic weapons.

Posted by Grunter 2005-08-21 10:39|| 2005-08-21 10:39|| Front Page Top

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