This is a comment on an article titled "Berlin Wall and separatist movement in RI", (The Jakarta Post, Nov. 10, p. 7).
I can't see that Indonesia is similar to Germany. I'd rather say that New Guinea is similar to Germany. The island was ripped apart by foreign states. It is rather difficult for people to visit their family members on the other side of the border. The Soviet Union was able to keep control over East Germany for more then 30 years, but finally Germany has been reunited and all Germans can live in freedom. The question is, how long will Indonesia be able to control West Papua?
Of cause there are many things that are different. East Germany remained a separate state and was just influenced by the Soviet Union. Furthermore, the general living conditions in East Germany were far better than they are for natives in West Papua.
Markus Haenauer
Surheim, Germany
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