Papua in Sight

"verhelderend en verbijsterend" Papua in Sight – Barriers and Beyond is a powerful essay divulging one of the least known and longest unresolved subnational conflicts in the Pacific. Right now, behind Indonesian walls that bar foreign media, (UN) diplomats and humanitarian organizations, the Papuan provinces of Indonesia are marked by massive militarization, increasing bloodshed and more than 100.000 internally displaced persons living in dire circumstances. For over 60 years, the former Dutch colony of Papua, on the western half of the immense tropical island New Guinea, has been the site of repression by Indonesian security forces and resistance by the Indigenous Papuan population. Widespread abuses of human rights, the desire for self-determination and large-scale exploitation of customary land, fuel the unrest. The essay is a clear, well-documented and concise overview of the complex historical and sociopolitical root causes of the conflicts. The author’s personal story of her grandfather’s mountain expedition to the glacial summits of Netherlands New Guinea in 1936, as well as her first-hand experiences during travels and field research for maternal and child health care, are entwined with the alarming narrative. Full-color photographs and useful references enhance the book even further.