Oceania Books

Over 2,700 delegates gathered in West Papua's capital of Jayapura in June 2000 for the Papuan Congress. The theme of the Papuan Congress called for a major historiographical revision: `COME ON, LET'S STRAIGHTEN THE HISTORY OF WEST PAPUA.' The Anatomy of Betrayal is the first significant historical work about the transfer of West Papua from the Netherlands to Indonesia. By the estimation of Papuan nationalists this was this key period that was in need of revision. Dr. Saltford's timely book questions if the people of West Papua were ever given a genuine opportunity to exercise their right to self-determination.

On 15 August 1962 representatives of the Netherlands and the Republic of Indonesia signed an accord at United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York. This accord, which has become known as the New York Agreement, `explicitly acknowledged and guaranteed the right of self-determination for West Papua' by Saltford's analysis. The UN, the Netherlands, and Indonesia were obligated by the New York Agreement to protect the political rights and freedoms of the Papuans and to hold a referendum in accordance with international practice. However, Cold War politics and the interests of `big power,' Saltford argues, meant that Papuan self-determination was never considered to be a serious option once the New York Agreement was signed.

The United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA) administered West Papua from 1 October 1962 to 1 May 1963. Saltford has documented how the UNTEA banned Papuan nationalist marches during this period. Indonesian military troops also began a campaign of violence against Papuan nationalists while UN administrators were still ostensibly in control of the territory.

According to the preamble of the UN Charter, one of the aims of this international body is`to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained.' The Anatomy of Betrayal details how the UN ignored the obligations of the New York Agreement. In West Papua the UN violated its' own mandate, by Saltford's analysis.

Indonesian rule of West Papua began on 1 May 1963, before any act of self-determination had taken place. Military operations against Papuan nationalists intensified once Indonesian administration officially began.

In 1969 `The Act of Free Choice' was conducted by Indonesian authorities, Saltford argues, in order to give the false outward appearance that Papuans supported the transfer of authority to Indonesia. This fulfilled the terms of the 1962 New York Agreement which stipulated that Indonesia, under UN supervision, would conduct an act of self-determination `in accordance with international practice.' What contemporary Papuans call `The Act of No Choice' was an unanimous vote by 1,022 carefully selected `representatives.' Saltford details the UN role in monitoring and endorsing this controversial consultation. `The vote was a complete sham' according to a senior UN official quoted by Saltford.

The Anatomy of Betrayal is an important reference work for historians of the Cold War, scholars of post-colonial Southeast Asia, and policy makers who seek to understand the roots of Papuan nationalism. Saltford's documentation is thorough, and at times daunting. An Indonesian language translation of this study-eagerly awaited by Papuan intellectuals-is already in the works. Saltford's exhaustive study of UN sources about the Indonesian acquisition of West Papua is one of the very first academic books about the post-colonial history of West Papua. This book has broken significant ground and sets the stage for future research on related topics with the vast wealth of rich and varied source materials that remain unstudied.

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S. Eben Kirksey completed his Ph.D. in the History of Consciousness Program of the University of California at Santa Cruz. Currently he is writing a book titled "Freedom in Entangled Worlds: Lived Experiences of Possibility in West Papua."

Reprinted from the IIAS Newsletter

The Pacific islands are characterised by relatively small populations, widely dispersed. And with large differences in income and skills. Yet many are urbanising. Driven in part by the diffusion of technology throughout the world. And also by expanding populations. The book is an attempt to give a systematic overview, across a vast area, of these changes.

Of the areas studied, Papua New Guinea gets the most attention. The largest in area, with very rugged terrain in New Guinea, and an archipelago of associated islands. In population, it far outweighs Fiji, Samoa etc. Many sources of instability are cited for PNG. One is simply the high levels of unemployment and underemployment in the towns. Especially Port Moresby. Migrations from villages has led to an underclass that is unskilled, with little prospects of betterment. This has led to endemic violent crime by gangs of "rascals" and to instability of the PNG government itself. The spectre of a failed state looms. Worsened by ethnic differences with the people in Bougainvillea.

The book's survey of Micronesia gives scarcely better hopes for that region.

A depressing analysis. Especially if you are Australian. Because as the pre-eminent power in the region, Australia might have to intervene if PNG or others become failed states.

Lynne Withey succeeds in providing a balanced and well-researched account of the famous explorations of Captain James Cook in the South Pacific. She discusses the impact of Cook's journeys on both the 18th century Europeans and the native peoples of the South Pacific. Although it has been popular to cast the "Age of Discovery" as a violent and invasive period for indigenous people, Withey shows that Cook generally had the best intentions when dealing with the inhabitants of these islands, and that most unfortunate incidents were the result of misunderstandings. Further, Cook showed an uncommon concern and compassion for all the people he came in contact with. Withey's book provides the reader with numerous insights into the motivations which spurred on this age of exploration, both political, in the case of the English government, and personal, in Cook's case. Her fascinating account of the complex events surrounding Cook's death in Hawaii, and the Hawaiian belief system that contributed to this unfortunate event, clearly show how two cultures can come unwittingly into conflict when they first meet. Overall, this book is a clearly written, comprehensive, and highly informative treatment of this fascinating period of our history.

This book offers a lot more than its title might suggest. Murray's survey of opinion formation about Japan in the 1930s through the Australian media ranges from political and diplomatic machinations to the intrigues of propaganda campaigns and espionage. It is richly researched, steeped in primary sources, including the author's own interviews, yet written with a light touch that maintained this reader's interest. The book's price-tag is certainly a discouragement, but it is well edited and sturdily made. It deserves a wide readership.

Best educational book on the climate and weather of New Zealand ( and Australia) ever written. Good for one studying docturates on meteorology.

If you ever have the time to visit Western Australia, the book can be a good guide to its vastness. The state is twice the size of Alaska, with scarcely 2 million people. And over half of these are in the Perth metropolitan area.

The book's coverage of Perth and Fremantle isn't bad. Describing places like Kings Park, with a magnificent view of the Swan River and the CBD. The city is basically as clean and safe as portrayed by the authors. Travel books are typically panglossian. Skipping carefully over the slums and bad aspects of a city. Since such books are sold to people going to a region. But the synopsis of Perth is accurate.

The south west has a slightly cooler climate. The grape growing in the Margaret River district is explained as world renowned.

While if you do venture north of Perth, the photos in the book illustrate the desolate beauty of the coastline. The outback stretches to the Indian Ocean. The mining towns of Tom Price and Newman are shown. Important in the global sense, for a lot of iron ore mined from here gets exported; mainly to Asia.

This is the first comprehensive whale watching guidebook to come out of Australia (other than the earlier work by Ross Isacc). There is an introduction to whale and dolphin biology, evolution, etc. plus some historical whaling facts and also a chapter on whale and dolphin watching both from land and from cruises. The best part of the book would be its excellent coverage of whale watching spots in and around Australia and New Zealand and the fantastics pics. The thing I did not like about this book was its actual style of writing. I rather read something that was written in the style used in Discovery Travels series where they write in the way that allows you to really picture the place in your head. Overall, still the best whale watching guidebook for Oceania.

University of Houston professor Gerald Horne sets forth an intriguing study into the slave trade in the Pacific during the second half of the 19th Century.
While setting down a well-documented history of Pacific "blackbirding," a euphemism for slave trading, Horne also develops an argument that the shortage of cotton and sugar created by the Civil War set into motion a series of events that gives rise to U.S. Imperialism, which eventually extinguishes Hawaii's sovereignty, fosters the White Australia policy and gives rise to Imperial Japan and ultimately, World War II in the Pacific.
Almost as intriguing is Hawaii's role in the White Pacific. Horne develops the early ambitions of Kamehameha the Great to become the Napoleon of the Pacific, using the fleet assembled for an assault on Kauai to subjugate Tahiti. These ambitions live all the way through Kalakaua, who successfully argued before the legislature for $30,000 to form a Polynesian confederation.
The King sent representatives to Samoa, where the Malietoa, or alii nui, agreed to a confederation between the two kingdoms. However, the arrangement was short-lived as Kalakaua was stripped of his power the following year when he signed the Bayonet Constitution, and a reform party ended the alliance.
Hawaii's distaste for slavery was written into the Constitution of 1852, partially on the advice of Alexander Liholiho, nephew of Kamehameha III. During a visit to the United States in 1849, Alexander Liholiho experienced slavery and racism first hand and vowed that it would never take place in the Hawaiian Kingdom.

The exploration of the Pacific was, in its day, something closely akin to modern space travel - huge risks, huge rewards, vast spaces. This useful guide takes us through encyclopaedia-length entries on both the luminaries (Cook, La Perouse) and the lesser-known Pacific explorers. Dunmore is a leading authority in this field.

I have purchased a one-way ticket to Sydney, Australia with plans to attend graduate school and possibly get a job in the country. This book, while extremely helpful, can be dry at times and is written primarily from the British perspective. However, when dealing with such exciting topics and taxation, bureaucracy and housing, one cannot expect the most spectacular prose and the British viewpoint can be easily circumvented with some careful reading.