West Papua has always been a hot topic of discussion, even after it joined Indonesia during the struggle of Indonesia’s independence up until now. Let us dig deeper about the history of Papua from the time of nationalism introduced to its people until the day Papua became a part of Indonesia.
Introducing Nationalism to the People of Papua
According to Bernarda Materay in his dissertation “Nasionalisme Ganda Orang Papua” (2012), the people of Papua started to recognize their true nationalism identity when Japan pulled out from their colonization in Indonesia. The first person who proudly introduced this to Papua people is Soegoro Atmoprasodjo. He was an active member of Taman Siswa, an organization formed by Ki Hajar Dewantara and also a member of Partai Indonesia (Partindo).
In 1935, he was banished to Boven Digoel, Tanah Merah, Papua, accused of being a part in the revolt of Communist Party of Indonesia towards the Dutch in 1926 to 1927 in Central Java. At the beginning of Japan colonization, he was brought to Australia by the Dutch officials in Sekolah Pamong Praja.
The news of Indonesia’s Independence relighted his spirit and nationalism, knowing that his fights and struggles were not in vain. Soegoro taught nationalism to his students by introducing them to the national anthem ‘Indonesia Raya’ and formed a group discussion of political parties. In this group discussion, he stressed about how the people of Papua are a part of Indonesia among all of its diversity. To his students, he emphasized that the unity of the people is the key for winning the struggles against the Dutch colonial.
According to Suyatno Hadinoto in “Api Perjuangan Pembebasan Irian Barat” (1986), Soegoro formed an underground movement against the Netherlands government called IRIAN (Ikut Republik Indonesia Anti Nederland) by involving his students and members of Papua battalion such as Marcus Kaisiepo, Corinus Krey, Lisias Rumbiak, Frans Kaisiepo, Lukas Rumkoren, and two Sumatrans, Sutan Hamid Siregar and Aran Panjaitan. But this revolt plan was uncovered by the Netherlands government and Soegoro was jailed in Hollandia (Jayapura).
“Soegoro is the first Indonesian who held an important role in influencing Papua people against the Netherlands after the proclamation of Independence in August 17th 1945”, wrote Meteray.
On August 31st 1945 in Biak, Papua, Frans Kaisiepo was one of Soegoro’s students holding a full-blown Independence Day ceremony, complete with flying Indonesian flag and singing the national anthem “Indonesia Raya”. Frans was a proud Papuan with the same vision as Soegoro: West Papua as a part of the Republic of Indonesia.
The Plenary Meetings of BPUPKI – The Views of Founding Fathers on West Papua
Towards Indonesia’s Independence Day, the second plenary meeting of BPUPKI (The Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Independence) was held on July 14th 1945. The results of the meeting were to part Indonesia into regions, which was written in the manifesto of BPUPKI Meetings. The regions were parted for ex-colony regions such as Malaya, North Borneo (Sarabah and Sarawak), East Portuguese (now Timor Leste) and Papua.
As we know today, Malaya and North Borneo were England ex-colony, and Timor Leste were Portuguese ex-colony. By the rule of international law of Possidetis Juris, a new nation has rights on the region that was once ruled by its own colonizer.
By this law, Indonesia was under the colonization of the Netherlands and so was West Papua. But according to the Round Table Conference in 1949, the Netherlands government stated that West Papua was not a part of Indonesia because of their difference in racial and ethnical diversity. The Netherlands promised that this issue will be addressed one year later after the meeting.
This issue was the reason Operation Trikora (Three People’s Command) was launched In December 19th 1961, as an effort to free West Irian (West Papua) from the Netherlands as the meeting was not bearing any conclusion about the status of Papua.
Indonesia was advised by the United States of America to take a diplomatic route to free West Papua from the Netherlands. The USA was acting as mediators in this matter and providing a place as neutral ground for the meeting between these two nations. On August 15th 1962, the Netherlands signed the New York Agreement as the follow up from the Round Table Meeting. The points of this agreement were that during the transitional period, Papua will be under the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA), formed by the United Nations.
On May 1st 1963, West Papua was officially returned to Indonesia as a part of its provinces.
Papua in New Order Regime
New order era was the period when Soeharto acted as the 2nd president of Indonesia. This term refers to the political system in 1966 (the launch of Supersemar) until May 1998 (Rober Cribb & Audrey Kohin, 2012).
During Soeharto presidency, as the follow up of West Papua transitional period to Indonesia, an Act of Free Choice (PEPERA) was declared. PEPERA was started from July 14th, until August 2nd 1969, with the result of the integration of West Papua into the Republic of Indonesia.
On March 3rd 1973, Soeharto signed up copper mines to Freeport Sulphur and established Tembagapura city. Freeport was the first foreign company which signed a contract with the New Order Regime, and was the pioneer of foreign investment in Indonesia.
According to impartial notes “Evaluasi Peran Polri di Papua” (2014), the New Order Regime used a military approach with ABRI as the front guard. The military and police force were involved in the military operation from 1963 until 2004. This incident was still carved in the Papua people’s memories up until now.
