Military news - Our Region
Australia is separated from much of the western world by thousands of kilometres. Despite this vast distance, the majority of Australia’s culture, news, and media come from these far-flung lands. This is not to discount the interconnectedness of Australia and the western world but more to highlight that too often we do not pay enough attention to the happenings of our immediate region; a lot more Australians would be able to name the president of France than those able to name the president of Indonesia. The intent of this series of articles is to provide a short and sharp discussion on a few issues each week shaping the news within our immediate region with links to further discussion should you wish to know more.
Story 1 – Rebels in Papua kill Kiwi helicopter pilot
The Free Papua Movement took New Zealand national Glen Malcolm hostage and subsequently killed him. Malcolm was 50 years old and had been working as a pilot for PT Intan Angkasa Air Service, a local Freight forwarding service operating within West Papua.
Malcolm was taken hostage alongside the passengers of his helicopter, including four healthcare workers and two children for a total of six additional hostages[pl1] . All six were released without incident as they were native Papuans. [1]
Another Kiwi pilot, Philip Mehrtens was taken hostage by Papuan rebels 18 months ago. Mehrtens is still in captivity having been captured shortly after landing his plane in a remote region of Nduga.
The conflict in West Papua has been waging for decades at varying intensities. While these events have not marked a dramatic increase in hostilities, they are still events that the Indonesian government wish not be discussed for fear of the questions they pose regarding the country's brutal history within the region. [pl2]
West Papua, like the majority of Indonesia, was previously a Dutch colony. It declared its independence in 1961, however an Indonesian administration was declared in 1963 amidst a U.N. vote whose legitimacy is questioned given only 1000 West Papuan’s participated. Since then, experts estimate that between 100,000 and 500,000 West Papuans have been killed. This number peaked in the 1970s but violence has been on the rise in recent years. [2]
Learn more?
Overview of the Papua Conflict?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papua_conflict#Timeline_of_major_events_post-referendum
More on Indonesian domestic policy
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/indonesian-imperialism-is-alive-and-brutal-in-west-papua/
Why is there a large amount of Australian and Kiwi pilots working in remote corners of Indonesia?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-09/why-do-pilots-choose-to-fly-in-west-papua/104200904
The greatest bit of Australian foreign policy in the modern age?
Story 2 – A few months on from New Caledonia riots, how’s it going[pl4] ?
Since May of 2024, the indigenous population of the French overseas territory of New Caledonia have been protesting against what they see as an attempt by mainland France to dilute the rights of the Kanak people by allowing recent immigrants to the Island to vote in national elections. Recent immigration trends to New Caledonia have resulted in the dilution of the Kanak population, however political power was entrenched via the Nouméa Accord in 1998 which restricted the electorate in elections to pre-1998 residents of the islands and their descendants who have maintained residence on the territory for at least 10 years.
This kept the peace and allowed New Caledonia to build up a large tourism industry and mining sector. This fragile peace was shattered by attempts to modify the French constitution as discussed above, the collapse of the nickel industry,bubbling racial tensions and other social inequalities.
In response, France deployed almost 3000 military and police personnel. In the ensuing confrontations 10 people died including 2 police officers.
Now, almost four months since the outbreak of violence what is the status quo?
Firstly, France “suspended” the proposed changes to their constitution in an attempt to quell the violence, the state of emergency declared on the 16th of May was also lifted and the capital, Nouméa, was declared under the control of the authorities although sporadic violence still occurs.
The suspension of the proposed changes came as a result of a dissolution of the French national assembly in anticipation of an election rather than France completely changing their tune.
On 12 August 2024, the French President gave the go ahead for a fact finding mission conducted by leaders within the Pacific Islands. The delegation to Nouméa will comprise the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Menele to gather information about the “ongoing social and political turmoil” in the French territory.
In the election mentioned, New Caledonia elected a pro-independence Indigenous Kanak candidate to one [pl5] of their two seats in the French parliament for the first time in decades. [3]
In sum, the violence has largely died down however the situation could escalate once more
Learn more?
More on original context of the riots
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_New_Caledonia_unrest
Nickel Industry collapse
https://source.benchmarkminerals.com/article/new-caledonia-unrest-deepens-nickel-industry-crisis
Alleged interference by Azerbaijan (They have interests in Nickel in New Caledonia)?
Current reporting on the issue
ABC did a foreign correspondent episode on 15AUG24 if that something that interests you.
Story 3 - Fiji Prime Minister visits China
Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has conducted a state visit to China from the 12th of August until the 21st of August. The ten day visit is set to focus on regional stability and economic development within Fiji.
Earlier in 2024, Fiji reached an agreement with Beijing to maintain the Policing deal they had signed in 2011 when the country was under military control. The deal allows for an “exchange of intelligence, visits[pl6] , training and the supply of police equipment.” Upon coming into power in 2022 Rabuka scaled back the agreement by removing Chinese police officers from the Fijian police force. This enhanced cooperation has left many in the region uneasy, especially Australia. It is no secret that Australia is not a fan of this arrangement, having not gone so far as to voice this commonly held opinion publicly. [4]
Fiji is stuck between a rock and a hard place with “traditional partners” like Australia and the US pulling them in one direction while the new kid on the block pulls them in another. While Fiji currently maintains a strategy of “friends to all, enemies to none” it will be interesting to see how their relationships around the Pacific progress especially as Rabuka intends to survey the damage done in New Caledonia after his trip to China and has requested that Indonesia grant him permission to visit the West Papua on a fact finding mission.
Want to know more?
Background on China and Fiji Relations
Chinese Police in the Fijian Police?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-28/fiji-orders-chinese-police-to-leave-the-country/103640992
Thanks for reading. We will be back next week. Maybe.
References
[1] NZ helicopter pilot killed in Indonesia’s Papua region named as Glen Malcolm Conning - ABC News. (2024, August 5). ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-05/indonesian-rebels-kill-new-zealand-helicopter-pilot-police/104186704
[2] Webb-Gannon, C., Swift, J., Westaway, M., & Wright, N. (2020, May 15). Fight for freedom: new research to map violence in the forgotten conflict in West Papua. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/fight-for-freedom-new-research-to-map-violence-in-the-forgotten-conflict-in-west-papua-128058
[3] Guardian staff reporter. (2024, July 8). New Caledonia: historic win for pro-independence candidate in French elections. The Guardian; The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jul/08/france-election-new-caledonia-kanak-emmanuel-tjibaou-seat
[4] Yang, W. (2024, August 13). Fiji leader visits China ahead of Pacific Islands Forum. Voice of America; Voice of America (VOA News). https://www.voanews.com/a/fiji-leader-visits-china-ahead-of-pacific-islands-forum-/7740422.html