It is undeniable that Indonesia’s recognition of West Papua as part of its territory is for historical reasons. Meanwhile, the act of recognition itself has become a history of West Papua that must be studied and understood to map the problem objectively, followed by the search for the best solution to resolve the political status of the West Papua region under Indonesian rule.
Explore the Historical Side You Didn’t Know About Indonesia and West Papua
The Living History of Indonesia and West Papua
In the history of life, the people of West Papua have shown that they can manage their own lives. This indicates the leadership of each tribe, which has inhabited West Papua for more than 50,000 years, led by tribal leaders.
In some regions, each tribal chief is democratically elected, while in some other areas, the tribal chief is appointed from generation to generation. There are still traditional governance arrangements in some areas. For example, an Ondofolo still has certain powers in the Sentani area, and an Ondoafi still has respect from the people around Yotefa in Numbay.
In addition to the ability to self-regulate (not influenced by foreign parties), it is obvious that there is a massive difference between West Papua and Indonesia. The Papuan nation is a Negroid race, while the Indonesian people, in general, are a Mongoloid race.
The Struggle Between Indonesia’s Independence and the History of West Papua
The Dutch colonized Indonesia (Sabang to Amboina) for 350 years, while West Papua (Nederland Nieuw-Guinea) was occupied by the Dutch for 64 years. Although West Papua and Indonesia are both Dutch colonies, West Papua’s administration is managed separately.
The Dutch colonized Indonesia under colonial power from Batavia (now Jakarta); it was Batavia’s power that carried out the Dutch colonization of Indonesia, starting from Sabang to Amboina.
Hollandia (now Port Numbay) controlled Dutch power in West Papua, limiting its ability from the Raja Ampat Islands to Merauke.
Indonesia proclaimed that the area of Indonesia included in the proclamation was Indonesia which was under the control of the Dutch East Indies, namely “From Sabang to Amboina”, excluding the rule of Nederland Nieuw-Guinea (West Papua).
Therefore, the establishment statement of the State of Indonesia is the State of Indonesia, whose territorial limits are from Sabang to Amboina without West Papua.
History of West Papua’s Political Manifesto
When West Papua was still a disputed area due to the dispute between Indonesia and the Netherlands, the demands of the people of West Papua for independence as an independent state existed long before Indonesia’s independence on August 17, 1945.
In the 1960s, through a police school and a civil service school (Bestuurschool) in Jayapura (Holland), politicians and West Papuan politicians educated 400 people between 1944 and 1949 to prepare for the independence of West Papua.
Furthermore, at the urging of educated West Papuan politicians and statesmen, the Dutch government formed the Nieuw Guinea Raad (Nieuw Guinea Council).
The National Committee was formed after various preparations were made. This formation was accompanied by rapid political changes due to tensions between Indonesia and the Netherlands. National Committee consisting of 21 people to assist the New Guinea Council in preparing for the independence of West Papua
The 70 educated Papuans who succeeded in producing the political manifesto equipped this committee, which contained:
- Determining the name of the State: West Papua.
- Deciding on the national anthem: Hi Tanahku Papua.
- Determine the State flag: Morning Star.
- The coat of arms of West Papua is the Mambruk Bird, with the motto “One People, One Soul”.
Release Western Imperialism’s Hold Over Southeast Asia
Soekarno threatened to seek support from the government of the former Soviet Union to annex West Papua. It happened if the Dutch government was not willing to hand over West Papua to the Republic of Indonesia.
The United States (US) government was terrified of the fall of Indonesia to the Communist Bloc. The western world knows Soekarno as a president who is very anti-western imperialism and pro-Eastern Bloc.
The United States government wanted to prevent a physical war between the Netherlands and Indonesia. So the United States forced the Dutch government to hand over West Papua to the Republic of Indonesia. In addition to pressuring the Dutch government, the US government tried to approach President Soekarno. They approached Soekarno when he received the invitation to Washington (United States) in 1961.
The signing of the Work Contract between Freeport and the government of the Republic of Indonesia marked the United States’ interest in West Papua. This chapter in the history of West Papua happened two years before the 1969 PEPERA formed in West Papua. From 1962 to 1969, West Papua was categorized as a disputed area, resulting in a juridical discrepancy.
The determination of popular opinion in 1969 was invalid. It was invalid because it was carried out with a “deliberation” system (local Indonesian system). Thus, it was contrary to the content and spirit of the New York Agreement. The agreement explained that Indonesia won the 1969 PEPERA through terror, intimidation, arrests, and murders. In other hand, it isviolations of the law, human rights, and the essence of democracy.
In the marked history of West Papua, the United Nations through Resolution No. 2509 and the Government of Indonesia through Presidential Decree No. 7 of 1971 finally flawed PAPERA’s victory legally and morally.
