On the Periphery: Human Rights, Australia and Indonesia

Abstract

the government led by Prime Minister Ben Chifley intended to remain loyal to its ally, the Netherlands, which was expected to reclaim control over its colonial possession. On the other hand, Chifley’s government understood the aspirations of Indonesian nationalists, and gradually—as this section will show—had to consider its relationship with a new neighbour. Meanwhile, Indonesia was focused on securing independence and sought international support for its claims. Human rights were not on the agenda of either Australia or Indonesia. Their absence is explained in part by the relative novelty at the time of human rights as a concept in international relations—the Universal Declaration of Human..