Papua history became Indonesia is a huge part of Indonesia’s history. West Papua has a long history before it became an official part of Indonesia. It was a story of how the founding fathers tried hard to save West Papua from the unlawful grasp of the colonizers. It was also a story of how West Papuans personally chose to unite with and be a lawful, integral part of Indonesia.
Indonesian-Dutch Round Table Conference
Even after Indonesia proclaimed its independence, the Netherlands still refused to acknowledge that Indonesia is an independent and sovereign nation-state. The Netherlands also repeatedly attacked Indonesia and tried to colonize it again.
In 1949, assisted by the United Nations, Indonesia and the Netherlands met in the Indonesian-Dutch Round Table Conference. The most important result of this conference is the Netherlands agreed to leave Indonesian territory and acknowledge the independence of Indonesia. However, there was still one huge problem that remain unsolved. The Netherland still wanted to occupy West Papua because this territory is rich in natural resources. On the contrary, Indonesia thought that all the territories previously occupied by the colonials must be a part of Indonesia.
For years after the conference, the Netherland refused to respect the result of the conference and kept trying to occupy West Papua. Finally, Indonesia decided to hold a military operation to protect West Papua from the colonizer. This act embodied Indonesia’s determinacy in Papua history became Indonesia.
PEPERA (The Act of Free Choice)
In 1962, assisted by UNTEA (United Nations Temporary Executive Authority). The Dutch finally agreed to hand West Papua back to Indonesia. However, they insisted to hold a referendum to ask whether the West Papuans wanted to join Indonesia or not. Since West Papuans are Melanesian, racially different from the rest of the Indonesian, the Dutch thought it was best for the West Papuans to be separated from Indonesia.
It led to a referendum called PEPERA (The Act of Free Choice) one of the most important moments in West Papua history. The people of West Papua decided to unite with Indonesia. From that day forward, Papua is an official part of Indonesia and that is the Papua history became Indonesia.
West Papua Now
The second President of Indonesia, Soeharto, changed Papua’s name into Irian Jaya. And that is how the province is known for years. In 2001, in accordance with Law No. 21 of 2001. Then the name Irian Jaya became Papua. In 2004, Papua province was divided into two provinces. The first one is Papua with Jayapura as the capital city and West Papua with Manokwari as the capital city. Papua is divided into two provinces to ensure better development in all the areas.
West Papua now has 12 regencies and 1 city. The twelve regencies are Sorong, Manokwari, Fakfak, South Sorong, Raja Ampat, Teluk Bintuni, Teluk Wondama, Kaimana, Tambrauw, Maybrat, South Manokwari, and Arfak Mountains. The only city in this province is Sorong. Sorong city has the most population despite it being the smallest area in West Papua.
No matter what the name is, West Papua is a legitimate part of Indonesia. The long struggle to save West Papua from the hand of colonizers is the sign that Indonesia really cares about West Papua and its people, and this province has always been a part of Indonesia.
For the last several years, the government of Indonesia has been accelerating the development of infrastructure in West Papua. This is a sign of commitment from the government to improve the quality of life of every citizen in Indonesia, and also to bring West Papuans closer with their brothers and sisters from the other part of Indonesia. By learning Papua history became Indonesia, we will know that West Papua has been an integral part of Indonesia all along.
