Irian Jaya - Indonesia

Sep 1995 With its brooding jungles, snow-capped mountains, and ancient tribal cultures, Irian Jaya is one of the World's last frontiers. But policies encouraged by the Indonesian Government have put all under threat. A new highway is snaking its way across tribal homelands and logging and mining companies have already staked their claim to vast green swathes on either side of it. The mountains harbour the largest single deposit of gold and copper in the World - a bonanza for the Indonesian Government and its American-owned mining partner, Freeport. Locals are being forcibly resettled and to make matters worse the Indonesian Government is bringing in people from the overcrowded island of Java. The indigenous people and their unique culture are being overwhelmed by these new migrants. All this is giving impetus to their rebel movement, the Organisasi Papua Merdeka. Produced by ABC Australia Distributed by Journeyman Pictures