13 April 2006The arrival of 43 asylum seekers in Australia in January 2006 has again brought the issue of West Papua to international attention. The Australian government is studying proposals for the Royal Australian Navy, Air Force and Coastwatch to coordinate joint patrols with the Indonesian navy, to halt further boats travelling from Merauke and other southern ports to Australian shores.



But restrictions on the sea passage from West Papua to Australia will place renewed burdens on Papua New Guinea, as asylum seekers may be forced to flee across the land border. During the recent debate over Australia-Indonesia relations, there has been little discussion about how Papua New Guinea will be affected. There’s also been limited media coverage about nearly 8000 West Papuan refugees and asylum seekers already living in relocation camps in Papua New Guinea, many of whom have been there for more than twenty years. Nic Maclellan outlines the issues.