Sean Dorney

This is a superb analysis of Papua New Guinea (PNG) politics, and the relations between the civil government, military and police, brought to crisis point by an ill-considered Government plan to hire mercenary soldiers to put down a secession movement in one of PNG's outer islands. Even more than that though, it is a searing indictment of successive Australian Governments that have failed to understand PNG, while convincing themselves that they knew what was best for this former Australian 'Protectorate'. Dorney was an Australian journalist 'on the ground' throughout this period, and his intimate knowledge of the key players and sympathy with the lot of the PNG people shines through in this highly readable account. The inherent frailties of the PNG political system and economy are laid bare, but - oddly enough - also the strengths of its popular democracy. Highly recommended.… (more)