New Guinea's Natives vote to withdraw from Australia

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The government faces tough negotiations with a group of about 6,000 Aboriginals living in the Torres Strait, near Papua, New Guinea, after the islanders voted to withdraw from Australia.

The Aboriginals have called upon the United Nations to help them seek the independence and the Australian government has been presented with a huge compensation claim for illegal conquest and 200 years of "devastation and deprivation."

In an attempt to address Aboriginal grievances Australian Prime Minister Hawke has promised to grant self-government.