In addition, approximately 85% of Indonesia is Muslim and Papuans are either Christian or Animist.
In 1961, The Netherlands declared that it would grant Statehood to Papua, as the territory was then called, after preparing a local legislature. West Papua declared Independence on December 1, 1961. The reaction from Indonesia was a series of border incursions, which were easily repelled by Dutch Marines.
West Papuans assert that in 1961, U.S. President John F. Kennedy, wishing to appease Indonesian Dictator Suharto, an American ally during the Cold
In 1961, The Netherlands declared that it would grant Statehood to Papua, as the territory was then called, after preparing a local legislature. West Papua declared Independence on December 1, 1961. The reaction from Indonesia was a series of border incursions, which were easily repelled by Dutch Marines.
West Papuans assert that in 1961, U.S. President John F. Kennedy, wishing to appease Indonesian Dictator Suharto, an American ally during the Cold
War, pressured The Netherlands to give Papua to Indonesia.
Fearing the worst, The Netherlands called upon the United Nations to supervise a plebiscite, but the United States then pressured the rest of the U.N. Security Council to allow Indonesia to conduct the plebiscite and Dutch objections were ignored.
Out of a total population of 800,000, only 1,025 tribal leaders voted. The West Papuans state that their choice was to either vote to become part of Indonesia or die. All 1,025 voted unanimously to join Indonesia and the United Nations gave the “vote” its blessing.
Fearing the worst, The Netherlands called upon the United Nations to supervise a plebiscite, but the United States then pressured the rest of the U.N. Security Council to allow Indonesia to conduct the plebiscite and Dutch objections were ignored.
Out of a total population of 800,000, only 1,025 tribal leaders voted. The West Papuans state that their choice was to either vote to become part of Indonesia or die. All 1,025 voted unanimously to join Indonesia and the United Nations gave the “vote” its blessing.
The people of West Papua are called the Koteeka and over centuries – perhaps millennia – have developed their own cultural identity.
Since “joining” Indonesia, they have been invaded by non-Koteka people from Indonesia, just as East Timor was, in an attempt to dominate the territory by sheer numbers.
New Guinea is the world’s second largest island (after Greenland) and has a total population of approximately six million, with five million on the Eastern side of the island and one million on the Western.
Since “joining” Indonesia, they have been invaded by non-Koteka people from Indonesia, just as East Timor was, in an attempt to dominate the territory by sheer numbers.
New Guinea is the world’s second largest island (after Greenland) and has a total population of approximately six million, with five million on the Eastern side of the island and one million on the Western.