The book places the Papuan struggle in a context of failing reform within Indonesia and a politically reviving military: the feared and loathed TNI. King argues that international intervention to resolve Papua's plight is essential: Australia, the US and other countries must act in concert through the UN.

However, the Papuans are equally determined to win independence. King argues passionately and persuasively that international intervention to resolve Papua's plight is essential: Australia, the US and other countries must act in concert through the UN once more, as they did in East Timor. Indonesians must be persuaded that their best interests lie not in a 'security approach' but in dialogue and negotiation with the Papuans and other disenchanted minorities.

Acronyms/Glossary
Prologue to Papua
1 Morning Star rising? 2 Congress Papua 2000 and 'Independence'
3 Autonomy, federalism or the unthinkable for Papua? 4 The TNI in business, politics and repression
5 The TNI and Papua
6 Australia, Indonesia and West Papua
7 The global struggle over Papua
Notes, Bibliography, Index