Indonesian Colonialism?

1. West Papua Indonesian Colonialism?

2. West Papua • The western side of Papua New Guinea (PNG) is West Irian • A colony of the Netherlands after August 1828, it was known earlier as Dutch New Guinea or West New Guinea. • 1961 it was renamed Irian Barat (West Irian) • 1973 it was renamed Irian Jaya. • 2002 the whole of western New Guinea was named Papua • 2003 the western portion of Papua was separated and renamed West Irian Jaya

3. West Papua

4. West Papua • The Netherlands controlled Dutch New Guinea even after the Hague Agreement of December 1949 • The Hague Agreement transferred sovereignty to the Indonesian federal government • The Indonesian leader Sukarno did not want any remnant of Dutch colonialism • The Indonesian army occupied New Guinea in 1961 • An agreement was signed on August 15, 1962 power was transferred to the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA) for six years from 1963

5. West Papua • Indonesia had administrative power over the territory from 1963. • West Irian was incorporated with Indonesia in November 1969 • The incorporation was called “Act of Free Choice” • Only recently did the US Congress questioned the validity of the Act of Free Choice • Independence leaders in Papua had not accepted the merger of West Irian with Indonesia • Opposition to Indonesian rule and the desire for independence as a free nation were held by a sizable portion of the population

6. West Papua • In December 1963 the Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM, or Free Papua Movement) was established • OPM launched a guerrilla campaign against the Indonesian government in 1970 • OPM set up an independent government the next year • OPM’s Liberation Army indulged in terrorist activities • OPM was responsible for the kidnapping of Indonesians and foreigners • OPM had also targeted the multinationals operating in the region • The clashes between the army and the rebels continued from 2003 to 2004