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Narrated by Rachel Griffiths and featuring rare archival film and eyewitness accounts, Land of the Morning Star explores the causes and realities of the troubles in Papua. -- Land of the Morning Star, screens 8.30pm, February 2, on ABC TV Land of the Morning Star tells how for centuries the world has jostled for control of this rugged, isolated region with its abundant natural resources and strategic position. It is an epic story of colonial ambitions, cold war sellouts and fervent nationalism. Land of the Morning Star is a new Australian documentary premiering on ABC TV at 8.30pm, Monday February 2. Its director, Mark Worth, has spent much of his journalistic career reporting on the region. The western half of the island of New Guinea is a wildly beautiful place where snow-capped mountains drain into massive rivers and over 250 of the world's languages are spoken. It has been known by many names including Netherlands New Guinea, West Papua, Irian Jaya and Papua. The first outsiders to arrive were Macassans from the Malay Peninsula, looking for sandalwood, prized bird of paradise feathers and slaves. Next came the Dutch, with their explorers, anthropologists, traders, planters and missionaries. When war came to the Pacific in 1941, the Americans chose Dutch New Guinea's capital Hollandia as their base of operations against the Japanese. Half a million soldiers passed through Hollandia, going on to fight some of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific war. After the war, the Dutch reclaimed Papua, until U.S. President Kennedy persuaded them to hand over their colony to a newly independent Indonesia. Today, despite continuing Papuan resistance, the Indonesians remain firmly in control. Narrated by Rachel Griffiths and featuring rare archival film and eyewitness accounts, Land of the Morning Star explores the causes and realities of the troubles in a land only 100 kilometres to Australia's north. Film Australia is an Australian Government-owned company, which supports production and distribution of documentaries in the national interest. Further information @ http://www.filmaustralia.com.au/ ===== Free West Papua ! Free Aceh ! Papua Merdeka !!! Aceh Merdeka !!! ===== -- Visit the proposed Leftlink web site at http://www.leftlink.net/ -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Sub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
