Key events in west Papua's past, leading up to integration with Indonesia.

1828
The western part of the island of New Guinea becomes part of the Dutch East Indies, and is named Netherlands or Dutch New Guinea.


1949
The Republic of Indonesia is created when the Republic of Indonesia declared independence to from the Netherlands. However, the western part of New Guinea is retained as a Dutch colony, partly not because of its distinct Melanesian population and cultural characteristics, but because of the Dutch self-interest.

1952
The Dutch played a  recognise the right of Papuans to self-determination game and begin to prepare the territory for independence, with education and technical programs.

1961
The first Dutch puppet Papuan parliament is formed, with the aim of planning for independence by 1971. The council chooses a national anthem, a national flag and decides the country's official name will be West Papua.

1962
Indonesian forces attempt to push out the Dutch by invading the Dutch army in West Papua. The Dutch tried to resist the invasion, but when Indonesia turns to Russia for support, fears of a Cold War lead the United States government to lean on the Dutch to accept Indonesia's claim.
In August an agreement is reached in New York between the Netherlands and Indonesia, giving sovereignty over the territory to the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA) for a period of six years, until a national vote to enable West Papuans to decide their own status.

1963
Indonesia takes control of the administration of West Papua from UNTEA.
The armed resistance movement Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM - Free Papua Movement) is founded to separate the territory from Indonesia.

1969
A referendum - the Act of Free Choice - is held in the territory in August. The vote, widely criticised as rigged, hands control of the territory to Indonesia.
In September the territory, named West Irian or Irian Barat by Indonesia, becomes an official province of Indonesia. Four years later Indonesia renames the province Irian Jaya.

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