Abstract
This chapter argues against the populist grain in West Papuan independence politics. It contends that West Papua's mixed race activists are equally legitimate as political actors for West Papuan rights as 'non-mixed' West Papuan activists, and as such should be accorded as weighty a voice in political deliberations. It demonstrates that this would be to the benefit of the West Papuan human rights agenda from both ethical and strategic perspectives: in West Papua's efforts to obtain merdeka - an independent, peaceful and just West Papua - the means of attainment should be as ethically sound as the end vision. In making this case, this chapter also aims to remedy the dearth of research on 'being' mixed race in Oceania-on mixing of 'communities of colour' that do not include 'white' (in this chapter, 'black' and 'brown' communities are examined) - and on the fraughtness of mixed-ness during ethno-political conflict.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Mixed Race Identities in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands |
| Editors | Kirsten McGavin, Farida Fozdar |
| Place of Publication | U.S. |
| Publisher | Routledge |
| Pages | 162-180 |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781315559391 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781138677708 |
| Publication status | Published - 2017 |
Keywords
- human rights
- Papua Barat (Indonesia)
- human rights workers
