From 1966 to 1998, Soeharto, who succeeded Soekarno as president of Indonesia, served as the country’s executive head of state. While in charge, this influential politician has made some changes to Indonesia in terms of economic, social, and government changes in Indonesia. West Papua in Soeharto era also gained some changes that can be seen until today. History remains as the people remember.
What happened with West Papua in this era could change the region entirely. In this article, we would like to address some regulations or changes done by this politician figure until his final year of governing. Here they are.
3 Things That Happen with West Papua in Soeharto Era
Surely, many occasions happen in those long time. While other regions in Indonesia also face their problem and conflict, these matters also happen in Papua. Here are some points concluded from what was happening at that time:
- The Act of Free Choice
While already celebrating years of Indonesian Independent day, the Papua region is still in the clutch of the Netherlands. Some conferences, such as the KMB Indonesian government and Netherlands, agreed on the issue of West Papua in Soeharto era.
Even though still quite insisting on their intention with Papua, the Netherlands agreed that they would give Papua to Indonesian through the Act of Free Choice in 1969.
On this occasion, they chose more than 1000 tribal leaders from the Papuan population. It decided whether to be part of the Indonesian government or the Dutch. Through this act, Papua officially becomes part of Indonesia. This means the Dutch clutch is not severing the independence of Indonesia in the end. This means the integrity of Indonesia as a nation is still strong.
- Change of Name
Papua waa changes into several names years after officially becoming part of Indonesian. In 1963, the name Papua was changed to Irian Barat Province until 1973.
The name is still in use until it is changed again by Soeharto. From Irian Barat Province into Irian Jaya Province. We still used this name until the end of the Soeharto era in 1998.
This name stayed still until the year 2001. While today, Papua has become three different provinces: Papua Selatan Province, Papua Tengah Province, and Papua Pegunungan Province.
- The Birth of Freeport in Papua
On March 3rd, 1973, Soeharto, president of Indonesia, officially announced the mining site in Papua called the Freeport Sulphur. Freeport Sulphur is part of a big company from America. While doing so, he also announced the new town called Tembagapura.
He declared at that time that this new site was the money we could use for Indonesian sake. To build Indonesia to be better. He hoped this movement would inspire foreign investors to come and invest in Indonesia. This also claimed to develop the country to be better and more forward.
However, this movement was gaining hate from the local Papuan people. The mountain contains a large amount of gold and is said to be the biggest gold mine in the world. The Freeport company has threatened the local people from the Amungme tribe. It threatens their house and culture since the mountain is held as the holy place for their tribe.
Final Words
What happened with West Papua in Soeharto era cannot just be concluded in some words. In those eras, people could gain and also lose many things. However, we should learn from the history of things that the old days have ever been to be learned by the new people. The old days are done by the new days. Papua should gain more as the day passed.
