2011

PL200 Pacific Island States in World Affairs

Assignment One The Essay Proposal

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Question: Indigenous people of Rapa Nui and West Papua have

recently been harshly treated by Chilean and Indonesian soldiers respectively. How have Pacific Island governments individually and collectively responded to these incidents in international forums? If there were very little responses from the region, what factors stopped them from supporting their Pacific neighbours? Suggest ways to better bring the affairs of those under colonial rule to the international community. 1500 words

Rachna Nath - s11027914 PL 200 Pacific Island States in World Affairs

The Essay Proposal

The Pacifics Indigenous struggle! The fight to Independence by Rapa Nui and West Papua.
TITL !

Main Questions to be addressed by the essay:

1" What is the histor# $ehind the %acific indi&eno's %o%'lation in these conflict (ones and )ith their o%%ressors* 2" Wh# is there a fi&ht to)ards a'tono+# $# the res%ecti,e indi&eno's %o%'lations of aster Island and West Pa%'a* -" .o) ha,e infl'ential %olitical &ro'%in&s in the )ider Pacific re-acted to the sit'ation on aster Island and West Pa%'a* 4" What ha,e Pacific Island Leaders done a$o't the iss'es these territories )ithin the re&ion face* /" Wh# has the res%onse fro+ Leaders in the Pacific $een s'$tle and not 0'ite forthco+in&* 1" What are the %olitical i+%lications if a %olitical &ro'%in& li2e the Pacific Islands Leaders 3or'+4 5elanesian S%earhead 6ro'%4 or an indi,id'al co'ntr# in the re&ion ta2es a stand on the i+%asse $et)een the res%ecti,e co'ntries and their o%%ressors* 7" What sort of effects can indi,id'al %acific island nations face4 in ter+s of $ilateral relationshi% $et)een the co'ntries dee+ed as o%%ressors* Will it i+%act forei&n aid4 trade a&ree+ents and %olitical coo%eration* 7" .o) $etter can the re&ion8s leaders address the sit'ation )itho't $'rnin& $rid&es* 9" .o) can the Pacific re&ion infl'ence international %olic# and ens're the iss'es raised $# fello) so'th %acific co'ntries are addressed in international for'+s* 10" What sort of %olicies sho'ld Pacific Island co'ntries ado%t to co+$at these sorts of %olitical iss'es in the re&ion* Rachna Nath - s11027914 PL 200 Pacific Island States in World Affairs

 Arguments to be e p!ored "ithin the essay:

9'estion 1! What is the history behind the pacific indigenous population in these conflict zones and their oppressors?

The essa# )ill d)ell on the histor# $ehind Ra%a N'i and :hile and West Pa%'a and Indonesia" To address the core iss'es these co'ntries face in ter+s of their a'tono+# stat's4 %olitical and econo+ic concerns4 it is i+%ortant to consider the ori&ins of their relationshi% and )hat de,elo%+ents ha,e ta2en %lace4 and ho) ha,e the iss'es res'lted to )hat the# are toda#" 9'estion 2! Why is there a fight towards autonomy by the respective indigenous populations of Easter Island and West Papua*

The essa# )ill atte+%t to disc'ss )h# these territories in the Pacific ha,e $een for decades tr#in& to &ain a'tono+# fro+ co'ntries that ha,e o,er ti+e occ'%ied their land" While $oth Ra%a N'i and West Pa%'a are see+in&l# fi&htin& for inde%endence4 their str'&&le and sit'ation are in fact 0'ite different" ;oth ha,e ori&ins fro+ se%arate &ro'%in&s in <ceania )ith Ra%a N'i8s ancestral ties to Pol#nesia and West Pa%'a to 5elanesia" The essa# )ill e=%lore )hat effects has the occ'%ation of :hile and Indonesia on their land has had on their c'lt're4 %o%'lation4 en,iron+ent and social stat's" 9'estion -! How have influential groupings in the wider Pacific reacted to the situation? It8s i+%ortant to re,ie) ho) the entire Pacific as indi,id'al co'ntries has re-acted to the sit'ation on $oth aster Island and West Pa%'a" The essa# )ill also disc'ss ho) %olitical and econo+ic $locs li2e the Pacific Islands Leaders 3or'+ and the 5elanesian S%earhead 6ro'% ha,e also res%onded and ,ie)ed the sit'ation as a Pacific co++'nit#" It )ill $e interestin& to e,al'ate )hether there has $een +i=ed reaction4 or none at all" 9'estion 4! What has Pacific Island Leaders done about issues facing both territories?

Rachna Nath - s11027914 PL 200 Pacific Island States in World Affairs

While it8s one thin& to raise concern o,er the sit'ation4 to act'all# translate that into action is an entirel# different notion" The essa# )ill atte+%t to thrash o't )hat the re&ion8s leaders ha,e act'all# done4 in ter+s of findin& sol'tions to their iss'es4 )hether an# tal2s ha,e $een held )ith the co'ntries that ha,e occ'%ation o,er their de$ated ri&htl# clai+ed land and ho) ha,e the PIL %ersonall# assisted the indi&eno's %o%'lation" 9'estion /! Why has the response from Leaders in the Pacific been subtle and not quite forthcoming? There ha,e $een a lot of criticis+s )ith the +anner in )hich the Pacific Island Leaders ha,e handled the sit'ation on $oth Ra%a N'i and West Pa%'a4 or on the contrar#4 not at all" Non &o,ern+ental or&ani(ations and h'+an ri&hts &ro'%s ha,e co+e o't stron& conde+nin& the re&ion8s leaders for $ein& s'$tle in the addressin& their %ro$le+s4 and not ta2in& %ositi,e action to hel% the conflictin& %arties reach a consens's" The essa# )ill atte+%t to disc'ss )h# the leaders ha,e $een restrained and not forthco+in& on iss'es re&ardin& $oth Ra%a N'i and West Pa%'a" 9'estion 1! What are the political implications if a political grouping li e the Pacific Islands Leaders !orum" #elanesian $pearhead %roup" or an individual country in the region ta es a stand on the impasse between the respective countries and their oppressors? With a %oliticall# infl'enced i+%asse li2e the sit'ation on $oth Ra%a N'i and West Pa%'a4 there8s no do'$t an# stand ta2en on the iss'e $# either the Pacific Island Leaders 3or'+ or the 5elanesian S%earhead 6ro'%4 )ill res'lt in %olitical i+%lications on either side of the coin" 3or the 5S6 to ta2e a stance on the iss'e co'ld also +ean ;ilateral trade i+%acts $et)een indi,id'al co'ntries )ith those co'ntries dee+ed as o%%ressors4 for" "&" )hat sort of i+%act )o'ld it ha,e on relations $et)een Pa%'a Ne) 6'inea and Indonesia if it too2 a stand on the sit'ation of West Pa%'a* <r4 )hat a$o't the i+%acts on the relationshi% $et)een Ne) >ealand and the entire So'th A+erican ;loc4 if Ne) >ealand too2 a stance on aster Island* These iss'es )ill $e e=%lored in the essa#4 to &i,e a $etter %ers%ecti,e to )hat the %olitical )ran&le is reall# all a$o't"

9'estion 7! What sort of effects can individual pacific island nations face" in terms of bilateral relationship between the countries deemed as oppressors? Will it impact foreign aid" trade agreements and political cooperation? The %olitical i+%lications )ill o$,io'sl# tric2le do)n to dee%er iss'es of forei&n aid4 trade a&ree+ents and %olitical coo%eration" Loo2in& at the $i&&er %ict're4 a s'$tle reaction fro+ the Pacific leaders is co+%rehensi$le4 as it co+es do)n to )hat affects Rachna Nath - s11027914 PL 200 Pacific Island States in World Affairs

the co'ntr#8s %'rse-strin&s" Will forei&n aid to Pa%'a Ne) 6'inea fro+ Indonesia $e 'nder threat if PN6 ta2es %ositi,e ste%s a&ainst the sit'ation in West Pa%'a* Will ha,e it ha,e $earin& on its relationshi% )ith the Association of So'th ast Asian Nations ?AS AN@* .o) )ill it affect 3iAi and Indonesia8s relationshi%4 and 'lti+atel# the entire So'th ast Asian ;loc2* These are iss'es that the essa# )ill atte+%t to disc'ss in entiret#" 9'estion 7! How better can the region&s leaders address the situation without burning bridges? .o) can the iss'e $e resol,ed a+ica$l#4 or sol'tions $e deri,ed )hich %ro,ide relief to the $oth Ra%a N'i and West Pa%'a4 $'t doesn8t lea,e the relationshi% )ith :hile and Indonesia4 $et)een the Pacific Island Leaders on a so'r note" At the end of the da#4 international relations +atter )hen it co+es to trade a&ree+ents and forei&n aid4 and it8s all a$o't %olitics so $'rnin& $rid&es )ith Indonesia4 co'ld i+%act relations )ith the )ider So'th ast Asian $loc or :hile4 )ith Latin A+erica" The essa# )ill atte+%t to e=%lore )hat ,ia$le +eans e=ist for the re&ion to address these %ressin& iss'es4 ta2in& a ne'tral stance )hile $ein& trans%arent4 acco'nta$le and res%onsi$le to $oth Ra%a N'i and West Pa%'a"

9'estion 9! How can the Pacific region influence international policy and ensure the issues raised by fellow south pacific countries are addressed in international forums? While ta2in& a stand on the sit'ation +a# $e seen as the first ste%4 $rin&in& the iss'es to the fore-front on the international a&enda sho)s a le,el of co++it+ent and res%onsi$ilit# to)ards the indi&eno's %o%'lations of Ra%a N'i and West Pa%'a" There has $een criticis+ a&ainst the Ban'at' for not %'ttin& the West Pa%'a iss'e on the 3or'+8s a&enda in their ca%acit# as chair of the 3or'+ last #ear" This has recentl# e=tended to the 5S64 for failin& to effecti,el# address the iss'e4 es%eciall# )ith West Pa%'a8s ancestral ties to 5elanesia" The essa# )ill atte+%t to s'&&est sol'tionsC)a#s of ho) the Pacific re&ion4 as a co++'nit# can infl'ence international %olicies in ter+s of the Dnited Nations4 or re&ional a&ree+ent in )a# of a declaration fro+ the Pacific 3or'+4 to $rin& o't the iss'e on the international a&enda"

9'estion 10! What sort of policies should Pacific Island countries adopt to combat these sorts of political issues in the region? 3inall#4 the essa# )ill concl'de to )ith4 )hat effecti,e and holistic %olicies co'ld $e ado%ted $# the Pacific re&ion to address the iss'es of $oth Ra%a N'i and West Pa%'a4 and in the f't're an# other %ossi$le scenario that +a# $e 'nforeseen" It )ill 'se Rachna Nath - s11027914 PL 200 Pacific Island States in World Affairs

e=a+%les of ho) si+ilar iss'es ha,e $een tac2led $# other re&ions of the co'ntr#4 and ho) s'ccessf'll# the# )ere resol,ed or at least addressed thro'&h +eanin&f'l %artici%ation4 e+%o)er+ent and li$eration of those considered to $e de%ri,ed of their ri&hts"

#ssay $ayout%&rganisation
Sub- Titles Look Back into History !apa "ui and #est Papua The $ight to%ards Independence The Pacifics !eaction Political i&plications for Island "ations Bringing the issue on the International stage Effecti'e policies the Pacific can adopt(

Rachna Nath - s11027914 PL 200 Pacific Island States in World Affairs

'ib!iography%References
6i,en that this to%ical iss'e is c'rrent and not 0'ite %rehistoric4 +ost reso'rces that $een &athered fro+ the ne)s +edia4 that is4 fro+ ne)s%a%er articles4 %ress releases4 c'rrent affairs +a&a(ine e=tracts to ens're that '% to date infor+ation has $een 'sed in the essa#" Reference )ill $e +ade to acade+ic articles )ritten $# scholars or %olitical co++entators )ho ha,e a &ood a'thorit# on Pacific Island %olitics and the sit'ation on aster Island and West Pa%'a" ;elo) are a fe) reso'rces that )ill $e referenced" Initial "e%spaper )rticles*Press !eleases Ea :osta4 3rancisco ?2011@ In'ustice in (apa )ui by *hilean armed forces will not be tolerated by decent human beings+ En'iron&ental ,ustice )d'ocacy- 114 5arch 20114 online! htt%!CC)))"ind#$a#"or&Cne)site+sC2011C0-C11C171747-1"%h% F24th 5arch4 2011G Lat'4 Hose%hine ?2010@ I+anuatu stands alone on West Papua human rights violations J4 Pacific Scoo%4 1th A'&'st 20104 online! htt%!CC%acific"scoo%"co"n(C2010C07C%if-,an'at'stands-alone-on-)est-%a%'a-h'+an-ri&hts-,iolationsC F2/th 5arch4 2011G Pacific :onference of :h'rches ?2010@4 I*hilean troops open fire in Easter IslandJ4 07th Eece+$er4 20104 online! htt%!CC)))"%cc"or&"fACNe)s"as%=*ne)sidK10- F20th 5arch4 2011G Radio Ne) >ealand ?2011@4 +anuatu ,pposition on #$% membership- Solo+on Star4 29th 5arch4 20114 online! htt%!CC)))"solo+onstarne)s"co+Cne)sC$'sinessC104/7,an'at'-o%%osition-on-+s&-+e+$ershi% F29th 5arch4 2011G Rachna Nath - s11027914 PL 200 Pacific Island States in World Affairs

Sacred Sites4 Places of Peace and Po)er4 .Easter Island-" htt%!CCsacredsites"co+Ca+ericasCchileCeasterLisland"ht+l F24th 5arch4 2011G

online4

Dnited States +$ass# ?2011@4 I!aleomavaega urges /iplomacy and Human (ights $tandards regarding (apa )ui *onflict4J online htt%!CC)))"ho'se"&o,ClistC%ressCas00Lfaleo+a,ae&aCra%an'i,iolence"ht+l F20th 5arch4 2011G Warren4 5ichael ?2011@ IPolice Evict Indigenous Easter Island Protesters J A;: Ne)s4 74 3e$r'ar#4 20114 online4 htt%!CCa$cne)s"&o"co+C.ealthC)ireStor#*idK127/7171 F2/th 5arch4 2011G

Rachna Nath - s11027914 PL 200 Pacific Island States in World Affairs