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By Tim Hyland

MELBOURNE, Australia (December 28, 2000 – The Age/Kabar-Irian)---Australia’s foreign affairs officials are transfixed by two fears at they watch the disaster unfolding in Irian Jaya, the Indonesian province now widely known as West Papua. One is that the Indonesian military will deal with the Papuan independence movement the only way it knows how - with brute force and atrocity. The other fear is that this eruption of violence will prompt public pressure on Canberra to do something about it.

As Richard Chauvel warned on this page yesterday, the first fear may already be on the way to being realized. Hardliners in Jakarta, defying the conciliatory approach of President Abdurrahman Wahid, have reverted to the failed tactics of the Suharto era – "the security approach" of military force, arrests, and torture.

The second fear - that Australia will be pressed to respond – will be realized if the crackdown leads to widespread killings that can’t be...

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (December 29, 2000 – Post-Courier/PINA Nius Online)---In the early hours of November 28, Elimar Gombo of Wamena in Indonesian-ruled West Papua fled his home in Jayapura in fear of his life.

The Brimok (Indonesian mobile police) were constantly checking Mr. Gombo through the days leading up to December 1, West Papua’s self declared Independence day.

Mr. Gombo was coordinating activities for the OPM (Free Papua Movement) and like others from Abe, Waina, Sentani and Yapse, they were being constantly monitored by the Brimok.

Many others, wives, husbands, brothers and sisters had been taken away, never to return. Many others had survived but had suffered a permanent injury, including losing all fingers or an eye.

Now a border crosser at Holy Cross community school in Vanimo, Mr. Gombo spoke through interpreter Oscar Gunto about how he escaped. Mr. Gunto is from West Papua too but he moved to Vanimo some years back and has...

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (December 29, 2000 - Post-Courier/Independent/PINA Nius Online)---Indiscriminate firing of weapons by Indonesian soldiers on their side of the border has forced Papua New Guinea villagers to follow a rigid timetable for gardening.

The villagers, who have traditional ties with people across the border, have food gardens about 10 kilometers (6 miles) inside Indonesia-ruled West Papua. They are now allowed to visit them on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday only.

They have to give their names to Indonesian troops manning the border and cross their names off on return.

Police border operation commander Joseph Poma said the villagers had to leave early and return by 3:00 p.m.

"By the end of the day, the Indonesians are satisfied that 10 people went across and 10 people came back," he said.

He said 20 men from the Lae mobile squad were in the area. Their role is to protect PNG citizens and property along the border.

He...

'These 'kids' were talented, energetic, passionate, unflappable and ravenous to get news and deliver it to the nation.'

By Gil Griffin

SAN DIEGO, California (December 31, 2000 - PINA Nius Online)---We had gotten so used to the Suva routine.

Rising for steamy days and retiring in balmy, starry nights.

Brilliant sunsets over the harbor. Walking in the rain. Learning the proper way to hail taxis.

Asking not for "napkins" as we were so used to doing it in our home country, the United States, but for "serviettes," something we'd never heard of.

Catching the green-and-yellow "Vatuwaqa" bus each night, outside our two-bedroom flat, to take us to the Rabuka gym. Breathing in the blend of curry, sea air, exhaust fumes and fresh baked bread each morning.

Going to the Village Six Cinemas every Tuesday night to catch the latest movies. Shopping at Cost U Less. Drinking at Traps. Staying up until all hours of the night watching American...