West Papua history dates back to centuries before the independence of Indonesia, the country it’s located in. Do you know that this province didn’t officially become a part of Indonesia until well after the nation’s independence? Here is what you need to know about the history of this region.
Before Indonesian Independence
Before 20th Century
West Papua’s contact with the outside world started with visits by international traders between the 16th until early 17th century. Many European merchants came to the island of Papua to obtain spices. The region now known as the western part of Papua Island became a part of the East Dutch East Indies, which is now Indonesia, in 1828. It was then known as West Irian. This area remained under Dutch colonization after Indonesia proclaimed its independence in 1945.
Battle of Sovereignty
West Papua history as a part of Indonesia began with the Round Table Conference on December 27, 1949. The conference resulted in the transfer of sovereignty from the Netherlands to Indonesia. However, both countries battled for sovereignty over West Papua, which was then called West Irian.
The Netherlands wants West Papua or Netherlands New Guinea as a separate country under the auspices of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. On the other hand, Indonesia wants the entire territory to be handed over to them.
The issue was finally brought to the UN. President Sukarno then formed the Mandala Command to seize Papua on January 2, 1962, pressuring the Netherlands to renegotiate with Indonesia. On August 15, 1962, the New York Agreement was agreed. The document stated that the Netherlands would hand over its control over the Papua area to the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA).
West Papua, Indonesia
On December 31, 1962, Indonesia’s rule over Papua under the supervision of the UN began until it was completely handed to Indonesia on May 1, 1963. Finally, a new chapter of West Papua history started in 1969 as the people of West Irian chose to remain part of Indonesia in a referendum.
The Indonesian government then appointed Zainal Abidin Syah as the first Governor of the province of Papua. In 1973, President Soekarno also changed the name West Irian or Irian Barat into Irian Jaya. At this time, the western part of Papua that belonged to Indonesia was still one large province. The division into two provinces only came later.
Two Provinces
In October 1999, under President B. J. Habibie, there was a plan to divide the Papua island part under Indonesia into three provinces. However, the bill was rejected by the Papuans in Jayapura, the capital of the province, with a large demonstration on October 14, 1999.
Since then, the division of the province was suspended. However, at the request of the people of West Irian Jaya, the division of West Irian Jaya again came into the spotlight of the central Indonesian government in 2002. Finally, in 2003, Papua was split into two provinces.
The eastern part remains called the Province of Papua. On the other hand, the western half was declared the West Irian Jaya Province, with Manokwari as its capital. On the West Papua map, you can see that this province consists of two large peninsulas called Domberai and Bomberai as well as their surrounding inlets.
Finally, on April 18, 2007, West Irian Jaya Province changed its name to West Papua Province. Because of its former status as a part of Papua Province, West Papua has a special autonomy status. As the region becomes more open for tourism, don’t hesitate to visit and learn about West Papua history as well as its natural and cultural heritage.
