Context Matters: The Unfinished Struggle Of The West Papuan People
An honest examination of the conflict in West Papua requires an understanding of the contextual claims asserted by both it and Indonesia.
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July 11, 2026
The Asia-Pacific region.
Fifty Years of Deadly: What half a century of NAIDOC has actually built
A review of the achievements of Indigenous people over the past 50 years in Australia.
July 7, 2026
Indonesia, West Papua and the World’s Largest Deforestation Project
The destruction of West Papua's farmland and forests represents an ecological and cultural disaster, compounding the atrocious human rights record on the island.
June 10, 2026
The Dance of Bliss and the Silence of West Papua
On cosmic harmony, extraction, and the seventy-three dead.
May 3, 2026
Colonial Dualism: Archetypes to Realities in Australia and the Pacific
Robinson Crusoe and The Coral Island reflect the diplomatic imbalance between Australia and the Pacific, the consequence on colonialism.
September 22, 2025
Echoes of 1914: U.S.-China Tensions and the Spectre of Conflict Over Taiwan
Increasing tensions in the South China Sea mimicking those in 1914, could be mitigated by dialogue and negotiation.
July 25, 2025
Andrew Robb: From LNP Trade Minister to Consultant for a CCP-Aligned Billionaire
Dutton's assertion that the lease of Darwin Port by the Chinese is a security risk conflict with his actions as Minister for Immigration and Border Protection.
April 8, 2025
Arc of instability / Asia-Pacific / Commonwealth Government / Environment / Government / Political theory
AUKUS and Sovereign Risk: A Threat to Australia?
Morrison's legacy may cost Australia far more than just money.
March 1, 2025
Accountability / Culture / Environment / Government / Human Rights / International Law / Justice / Mining / West Papua
The Impact of the Grasberg Mine: A Deep Dive into West Papua’s Struggles
The Grasberg Mine in West Papua is damaging the environment and compromises the health and cultural heritage of the local Indigenous people.
February 25, 2025
Australian Aborigines / Culture / First Nations/Indigenous / Reconciliation / Shared humanity / Torres Strait
Australia Day: Construction Of The Collective Memory
Australia's collective memory neglects Indigenous experience. Acknowledging and addressing the impacts of colonialism honors all people.
January 18, 2025
Asia-Pacific / Assimilation / Commonwealth Government / Corruption / Discrimination/Racism / First Nations/Indigenous / Genocide / Government / Human Rights / Indonesia / Racism / Refugees / United Nations / West Papua
Treaties, lies and the Morning Star Flag
“The West Papuans have become the victims of Australia’s regional foreign policy arrangements that prop up the anti-refugee policies of Operation Sovereign Borders.” Ian Rintoul, Refugee Action Coalition. Fifty-two years…
December 1, 2013
Australian Aborigines / Commonwealth Government / Corruption / Discrimination/Racism / First Nations/Indigenous / Government / Indonesia / Racism / Refugees
Australia’s Racism Problem Just Won’t Go Away
This post has been proferred by Imogen, a reader of Blak and Black. As South Korean-born Dami Im’s X-Factor win in Australia is celebrated with a number one single it’s a shame…
November 29, 2013
They Bear Witness, by Dadang Christanto. Exhibit at the Art Gallery of NSW.
Never a number
On the ground floor of the Art Gallery of NSW I saw one of the most moving pieces of sculpture I can remember visiting. It did not surpass the sublime…
May 20, 2013
Asia-Pacific / Australian Federal Police / Commonwealth Government / Culture / Discrimination/Racism / First Nations/Indigenous / Genocide / Government / Human Rights / Indonesia / International Law / Law Enforcement / Racism / Rule of Law / Shared humanity / United Nations / West Papua
West Papua – time we were #idlenomore
“We recognize international law …” Every country that is a member of the United Nations recognizes international law, Bob, at least as far as it serves their purposes. It seems…
March 6, 2013
Asia-Pacific / Australian Federal Police / Commonwealth Government / Corruption / Discrimination/Racism / Domestic Law / Fred Martens / Government / Justice / Law / Law Enforcement / PNG / Racism / Rule of Law / Sexism
Statistics, lies and the #AFP
Thus Friend comforted me. I took great comfort from his counsel, and it seemed to me, indeed that he knew at least more than Reason did. But before he had…
January 30, 2013
Asia-Pacific / Australian Aborigines / Disability / Discrimination / Discrimination/Racism / First Nations/Indigenous / Human Rights / Indonesia / Pacific Neighbours / PNG / Queensland / Racial Discrimination Act / Racism / Religion / Respect / Shared humanity / Solomon Islands / United Nations / Vanuatu / West Papua / Xenophobia
Promises and passages – it’s all an illusion
The racism that permeates Australia has not altered since the days of the blackbirders.
December 8, 2012
Accountability / Asia-Pacific / Australian Aborigines / Australian Federal Police / Commonwealth Government / Corporate profit / Corporate responsibility / Corruption / Discrimination / Discrimination/Racism / First Nations/Indigenous / Government / Human Rights / Law Enforcement / Racism / Respect / Shared humanity / West Papua
The Medusa – the price we all pay for political corruption
Let us venture to advance another truth, a truth useful to the Minister himself. There exists among the officers of the Marine, an intractable esprit de corps, a pretended point…
December 6, 2012
Asia-Pacific / Australian Federal Police / Commonwealth Government / Discrimination/Racism / First Nations/Indigenous / Genocide / Government / Human Rights / Indonesia / Law Enforcement / Racism / Shared humanity / West Papua
West Papua: Remembering 51 years of oppression
Dusk is falling across Melbourne and West Papua, but not over the dreams of the Papuan people. Today, remembering 51 years of oppression having been denied the right to self-determination,…
December 1, 2012
Asia-Pacific / Corruption / Globalisation / Human Rights / Indonesia / International Law / Julian Moti / Neo-Colonialism / Pacific Neighbours / Rule of Law / Shared humanity / United Nations / West Papua
A process of truth and judgement
Judgement is our oldest belief, our most habitual holding-true or holding un-true, an assertion or denial, a certainty that something is thus not otherwise, a belief that here we really…
October 9, 2012
Asia-Pacific / Democracy / Equality / Human Rights / Neo-Colonialism / Rule of Law / United Nations / West Papua
Dialogue and spin: genocide on Australia’s doorstep, the West Papuan story
Athenians: For ourselves, we shall not trouble you with specious pretences — either of how we have a right to our empire because we overthrew the Mede [Persians], or are…
October 6, 2012