Do you know what is the difference between West Papua and Papua New Guinea? They are the two halves that form the island of New Guinea. One belongs to the Republic of Indonesia, the other is an independent country. Interested in knowing the reason behind that difference? Here is why.
A Tale of Two Papuas
Located in Melanesia, New Guinea is the second-largest island in the world. It is called Niugini in Tok Pisin, the creole language of Papua New Guinea, the independent country on the eastern half of the island. On the other hand, the island is known as Papua in Indonesian. The western part of the island is under Indonesia, divided into two provinces called Papua and West Papua.
Geographically, this island abounds with diverse types of natural wonders. From lowlands, mountains, mangroves, wetlands, grasslands, tundras, to coral reefs, you can find any kind of ecosystem in New Guinea.
Anthropologically, the two halves of the island also share many similarities. The Indigenous people belong to the Melanesian ethnic group. Because of the extreme terrains of the region, many Papua New Guinea and West Papua people do not experience exposure to the outside world. This has resulted in diversity in cultures and languages.
Difference between West Papua and Papua New Guinea
So, with all the similarities, what makes West Papua and Papua New Guinea different? Here are several factors that differentiate them.
Government
Any West Papua news article will tell you that it is a province of Indonesia. The local government certainly has the autonomy to manage the region and establish local regulations. However, it ultimately answers to the central Indonesian government in the capital, Jakarta.
Conversely, Papua New Guinea is a part of the British Commonwealth. So, even though the country had declared its independence, Papua New Guinea people still recognize the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II, as their head of state. The head of the government, the Governor-General of Papua New Guinea, acts as the Queen’s representative.
History
The main difference between West Papua and Papua New Guinea is historical. For a long time, West Papua was colonized by the Dutch as a part of the Dutch East Indies, which later became present-day Indonesia. However, what later became Papua New Guinea was first colonized by Germany, then Britain, then Australia.
West Papua became a part of Indonesia in 1963 after the Dutch returned it to Indonesian sovereignty. Later, Australia finally granted independence to Papua New Guinea in 1975. Today, Papua New Guinea is a country with a population of around 8.6 million. This number is almost eight times the current population of West Papua, which is around 963,000.
Languages
West Papua’s official language is Indonesian, while Papua New Guinea’s official languages are English and Hiri Motu. However, the most widely spoken Papua New Guinea language is Tok Pisin. Tok Pisin is a creole that combines English and indigenous New Guinean languages. There are also more than 800 recognized languages in Papua New Guinea. Meanwhile, the Indonesian Government recorded 428 languages in the provinces of West Papua and Papua.
Religions
West Papua was colonized first and taken initially by the Dutch. At that time, Dutch Protestant missionaries went all over the world to proselytize. They also spread Christianity in West Papua. Meanwhile, the eastern half was in turn controlled by Germany, Britain, and Australia. These countries were relatively secular when they ruled Papua New Guinea.
As a result, West Papua is about 53% Protestant, while Papua New Guinea has a more diverse religious demography. Thus, religion is another notable difference between West Papua and Papua New Guinea.
