Muslim cartoon attack a joke

After all the carry on over the infamous Swedish cartoon, Indonesians Islamists have launched their own toon offensive, or is that offensive toon?

It is difficult to know just who they are trying to offend however. Australian’s have a different view of their elected officials, and depicting PM Howard and FM ‘Piggy’ Downer as dingoes screwing is pretty lame by that country’s standards.

Downer is often depicted, cartoon wise, in net hose and heels. In a tough ‘blokey’ country ‘Piggy’ is already seen as a bit of a ‘nancy’, and needless to say, a joke.

Depicting the Prime Minister ‘sexually’ is offensive to some of who simply can’t imagine anything more gross. The man was not elected for his sexual charms. In fact it is rumoured that even his hand goes to sleep first in bed.

But there is a serious side to this issue, and it’s about Indonesia’s continued hegemony over West Papua (New Guinea). This latest ‘storm in a tea cup began when Australia signaled that it would give refuge to a group of Papuan refugees.

Even John Howard was not so base as to send these people back to almost certain execution. On the other hand Howard, and Indonesian Authorities understand this well, will in no way entertain independence for West Papua.

I guess what the Indons are really worried about is the Australian people. Howard wasn’t too keen on helping East Timor gain independence either, and was forced only by massive public opinion to take action.

Once that tiny nation came into being the Howard Government made the best of the situation and raped them for the lion’s share of the Timor Sea oil wealth.

It’s more about Oriental fireworks and noise making than any political realities. West Papua should have the right to self determination, but it is not going to happen soon.

Inane cartoons could well prove counter productive so far as the Australian public is concerned. For most, the hapless West Papuans barely exist. If it wasn’t for activists like science personality Tim Flannery few Aussies would have a clue or even care what was beyond their Northern coast line.

So good on you Indonesia for lifting this subject into the light and allowing people a closer look at how brutally the worlds fourth largest population views the wider world.