Fiddling and farting around with a few refugees - Australia

Australia is fiddling and farting around with a few refugees when right on its doorstep there is a genocide and nobody is even talking about it. The last remaining ecologically diversified virgin country (that rivals the Amazon), the origin of its own indigenous peoples, and ancient cultures, and there is not even a conversation.

Genocide is defined as the deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular nation or ethnic group.  To this add in infanticide, rape, economic theft, environmental massacre, and deliberate and shameful willful blindness to international rule of law to which Australia is beholden - ON ITS OWN COGNIZANCE.  

I get it, Morrison, the country's Prime Minister is all about protecting Australia's borders - but will bend over for Widodo on an embassy in Israel. 

How about looking just over the horizon.  At its closest, Australia is 5 kms from the Papuan mainland.  Or mainland to mainland, 150kms. That is similar to driving from Sydney to Newcastle. 

If there is a fight to be had with Indonesia, at least do it for something domestically relevant. 

Oh, the economy you say, must protect the economy!!.  Indonesia does not rank in the top ten trade partners (sum of imports and exports) for the whole of 2017. And with exports, Indonesia ranked 12th, with 2.2% of total exports.  

I just want to repeat that:  12th in gross Australian exports and 2.2% of the overall total.  Imports, it ranks 11th with 2.3% of the total.

Of course the irony (as if more is needed), is that Morrison is now talking about limiting immigration by 30,000 per year.  West Papua has a population of more than 4 million.  Who, the way things are going, may decide to "migrate" to Australia. Which is too many for the Australian navy to "turn back the boats" as they are renowned for doing.  

Boats?  They could swim to Australia.  Or a half hour trip in a lakatoi - canoe to you. 

I think Australia does nothing because West Papuans are black, and Australia's media and dominant population is white.  But hey, that's just me.


PS:  This topic has been the subject of a number of articles in this blog, in date order below.  And finishes with a great update from the Guardian.  Which reminds me, please remember to donate to the Guardian whilst you are there.  One of the few remaining independent media outlets in the world.

When to intervene in a genocide 2012

United Nations Shame Shame Shame 2017

Update West Papua 2017

Britain West Papua Colonial Occupation 2018


PPS:  And speaking of the Amazon...