West Irian on the map. Free Papua: how Papuans are trying to save their world and win independence. Cannibalism - as a defensive tactic

G., western New Guinea was formerly known as Dutch New Guinea And West Irian, and in 1973-2000 as Irian Jaya.

The territory of Western New Guinea was annexed by Indonesia in the year according to Act of Free Choice, the validity of which is not recognized by everyone. In the year, the Indonesian government announced that the territory of Irian Jaya, which had previously been a single province, would be divided into three provinces: Papua, Central Irian Jaya and Western Irian Jaya. However, this decision was met with significant protests among the local population. As a result of the decision of the Supreme Court of Indonesia, the creation of the province of Central Irian Jaya was canceled. Western Irian Jaya had already been created by that time (02/06/2006), but its future is still unclear. On February 7, 2007 it was renamed a province West Papua(Papua Barat).

Geography

Western New Guinea is washed in the north by the Pacific Ocean, in the west by the Kerama Sea, in the south by the Arafura Sea, and in the east it borders Papua New Guinea. Territory of Irian Jaya - 421981 sq. km is 22% of the total land area of Indonesia. Main city- Jayapura port. The province is located south of the equator and is dominated by mountainous terrain. The Maoke Mountains range, running from north to south, divides West Irian into two parts. Peak Puncak with a height of 5030 m is the most high point Indonesia. About 75% of Irian Jaya's territory is covered by forests, most of which are impenetrable tropical.

Topographic map of Western New Guinea

The climate is predominantly tropical, humid and hot on the coast; the rainy season lasts from December to March, the dry season from May to October; characteristic slight seasonal temperature fluctuations. The climate is hot and very humid almost everywhere. Summer temperatures range from +24 … +32 °C, in winter +24 … +28 °C. In the mountains the temperature is lower, and in some places there are snow fields that never melt. The rains are very heavy, especially in summer, with precipitation levels ranging from 1300 to 5000 mm per year. Irian Jaya boasts the most long rivers Indonesia, such as Baliem, Memberamo and Tariku. In the southwest, rivers have caused the formation of large mangrove swamps and tidal forests.

Nature

Considered a naturalist's paradise, Western New Guinea boasts an astounding diversity of flora and fauna. Vegetable world has representatives of mountains, meadows, swamps and bogs, tropical, tidal, deciduous and coniferous forests, in which you can find an endless variety of grasses, club mosses, ferns, moss, vines, flowers and trees. The fauna of the province is also very diverse. A variety of plants form a living carpet here, intertwining with the overhanging canopy tropical forest. Freshwater and terrestrial vertebrates are almost no different from animals found in Australia, including those from the marsupial family. Forests and open grassy areas are home to many species of snakes, turtles, anteaters, porcupines, possums, bats and rats (including the world's largest tree-climbing water rats), as well as giant lizards, kangaroos, tree-dwelling and marsupial cats. Irian Jaya is famous for its diversity of butterflies and many (700) unique species of birds, including 80 species of bird of paradise and the huge flightless cassowary. In coastal waters you can find sea turtles and sea cows.

East of Jayapura, on the shores of Yos Sudar So Bay, is located nature reserve Yotefa with many beautiful beaches, with the skeletons of several ships that were once sunk during hostilities at sea. From Sorong, Raja Empat Island Wildlife Sanctuary is easily accessible.

The waters off the Bird's Head Peninsula contain the highest concentration of hard corals known to science - more than 250 different species on one hectare. This is more than four times the number of coral species in the entire Caribbean Sea, but in an area roughly equal to two football fields. Two new species of epaulette sharks have been discovered, so named for the spots on their sides that resemble the shape of these military uniform accessories. These elegant fish grow up to 1.2 meters in length and, moving along the bottom, rely on their pectoral fins. As well as 8 new species of shrimp, 24 species of fish and 20 corals, many of which are endemic. These reefs are literally species factories. In the inner valley of the Foja ridge in several. hundreds of kilometers from the Bird's Head, many new species of animals and plants, previously unknown to science, have been discovered: giant flowers and a rare tree kangaroo; orange honey badger: first the new kind birds found on the giant island over 60 years ago. The Foja Range and the waters at Bird's Head are considered some of the most unique areas of biodiversity on the planet.

Population

The end of Dutch rule coincided with a campaign of confrontation launched by President Sukarno, who sent over 2,000 Indonesian troops into the province to provoke an anti-Dutch uprising that ended in failure. The western part of New Guinea, which received the new name West Irian, gradually came under the control of the Indonesian government and the issue of annexing the territory to Indonesia was to be decided through a referendum. In 1963 there was the first attempt to proclaim local population independent Republic of West Papua, suppressed by force by the Indonesian authorities.

Links

List of fauna in Western New Guinea

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Dutch subjugation of the western part of the island of New Guinea began in late XIX V. By the middle of the 20th century. this territory was completely controlled by the Dutch and was included, along with the islands of the Indonesian archipelago, in the colonial possession of the Netherlands Indies. After the declaration of independence of Indonesia on August 17, 1945 and the recognition of its sovereignty by Holland in 1949, the western part of New Guinea did not become part of the Indonesian state and remained a colony of Holland. The Indonesian governments launched a struggle for the liberation of West Irian (Irian is the Indonesian name for New Guinea) and its annexation to the Republic of Indonesia on the grounds that an independent Indonesian state should embrace the entire former Dutch colony of the Netherlands Indies, and therefore the western part of New Guinea. The problem of liberating this territory from colonial status and its further fate were submitted for discussion to the UN. However, since 1961, its Papuan population also joined the struggle for freedom of this territory. In 1963, by decision of the UN, the western part of New Guinea was annexed to the Republic of Indonesia as the province of West Irian, later renamed the province of Irian Jaya. But part of the Papuan population continued to fight for independence, now against the Indonesian authorities. In 1964, the separatist Organization for a Free Papua (OPF) was created. In 1969, at the initiative of the UN, a referendum was held in West Irian, according to the official results of which the population of the province was in favor of the final inclusion of the province into the Republic of Indonesia. Nevertheless, the separatists continued to fight, justifying their demand for independence by claiming that the results of the 1969 referendum were falsified. By the early 1980s. The OPM numbered from 30 to 50 thousand people. The main reasons for population discontent are socio-economic. Irian Jaya Province remained the least developed and least controlled area of the country. On a huge territory of 422 thousand square meters. km, covered with impenetrable forests, swamps and numerous mountain ranges, is home to less than 2 million people, mostly Papuan tribes belonging to the Negroid race, speaking different dialects and often fighting with each other. Many tribes remain at the level of the primitive communal system with remnants of cannibalism.

During the reign of the military-bureaucratic regime of President Suharto, foreign capital poured into the province in a wide stream, developing the vast natural resources of the province. The activities of foreign companies caused serious damage to the natural environment. The standard of living of the population remained the lowest in Indonesia. Residents of the province protested against the seizure of their lands by foreign companies, put forward demands for compensation for damage to the natural environment, which is of vital importance to the Papuans, and for the development of healthcare and education.

The second cause of discontent was transmigration encouraged by the government, i.e. resettlement of residents from other densely populated islands of Indonesia to West Irian. The pace of transmigration especially intensified during the reign of Suharto. By 2000, the number of immigrants amounted, according to various estimates, from 30% to 50% of the province’s population. More educated and experienced migrants - representatives of non-indigenous ethnic groups - began to occupy the main positions in the economy and infrastructure of the province, while high unemployment rates remained among the local Papuan population, since the low level of their education and professional training made them uncompetitive. The migrants were alien to the local population not only ethnically, but also religiously. Most Papuans professed either Christianity or traditional local pagan beliefs, and the migrants were predominantly Muslim. In addition, the newcomers brought with them a lifestyle, traditions and customs that were different from the locals, which was also considered by the Papuan population as undermining their own unique culture.

Suharto's government unleashed a crackdown on the rebels, leaving some 30,000 independence fighters, mostly armed with bows and arrows, dead and 20 percent of civilians forced to flee into the jungle starving to death. The repression sharply weakened the forces of the separatists, who acted disunitedly and controlled a small territory. Their tactics were acts of terror and the taking of hostages, including foreigners, in order to attract the attention of the world community to the Iranian problem.

After the resignation of the Suharto government, the Papuan tribal elite began to actively advocate for independence and on November 12, 1999, promulgated the Declaration of Independence of Papua. The new Indonesian authorities introduced the idea of expanding provincial autonomy. Under these conditions, the wing of the separatist movement that advocated the peaceful achievement of self-determination for West Irian through negotiations with the Indonesian administration became stronger. An agreement was reached to fly the Papuan Morning Star flag. However, the peaceful dialogue with Iranian separatists caused sharp opposition in Indonesian military circles, which have serious economic interests in this province. The army insisted on armed suppression of the struggle for self-determination, which led to new casualties among the local population. In retaliation for the violence, an angry crowd of Iranians attacked a migrant settlement in October 2000, resulting in the death of 30 migrants and the shooting of the rebel group by the Indonesian military. In a number of areas, Papuans began to attack workers at logging enterprises because they consider the forests to be their property. In response to these actions, the military arrested a number of separatist leaders, which, in turn, led to the resumption of scattered armed uprisings and hostage-taking.

The rebels are demanding a referendum on the issue of self-determination for the province, an investigation into cases of human rights violations, and guaranteeing “national leadership” for the province. Indonesian President Ab-durrahman Wahid was unable to resolve these issues due to opposition from the country's armed forces.

Having come to power in 2001, President Megawati Sukarnoputri, first of all, asked for forgiveness for the arbitrariness of the army in West Irian, promised to develop projects for expanded autonomy for this province, but threatened that if the separatists disagree with these plans of the Indonesian authorities, she will give the army freedom of action. At the end of 2001, the president announced the introduction of special autonomy status in this province in 2002, renaming it Papua, with its own anthem and flag. The province must retain 80% of the revenues from the exploitation of local mineral resources.

However, the separatists did not stop fighting. From time to time in West Irian there are major attacks by armed rebel groups on towns and airfields and government institutions. At the same time, Indonesian soldiers are dying, mosques, schools, and police stations are being destroyed.

Events in the western part of the island of New Guinea cause complications in Indonesia's relations with neighboring countries - Papua New Guinea(PNG), occupying the eastern half of the island, as well as Australia. Refugees go there and separatists persecuted by the authorities try to hide there. In the course of their pursuit, Indonesian patrols often violate the border of PNG, which causes protests from the government of this country. In turn, Indonesia is unhappy that the rebels are finding shelter in PNG and Australia and support from non-governmental organizations in these countries. As for the official position of PNG and Australia on the West Irian issue, government representatives declare respect for the territorial integrity of the Republic of Indonesia.

The main difficulty of the Irians in the struggle for self-determination lies in the lack of unity among the separatists, disunity among the 250 Papuan ethnic groups, as well as the negative attitude of the indigenous people towards later settlers, who are also now residents of the province and are seeking to guarantee their rights and freedoms.

Western New Guinea (Irian Jaya, West Irian) - the name of the western part of the island of New Guinea, belonging to Indonesia, consisting of two provinces: Papua and West Irian Jaya. Incorporated into Indonesia in 1969, western New Guinea was formerly known as Netherlands New Guinea and West Irian, and from 1973-2000 as Irian Jaya.

The territory of Western New Guinea was annexed by Indonesia in 1969 under the Act of Free Choice, which is not widely accepted. In 2003, the Indonesian government announced that Irian Jaya, previously a single province, would be divided into three provinces: Papua, Central Irian Jaya and Western Irian Jaya. However, this decision was met with significant protests among the local population. As a result of the decision of the Supreme Court of Indonesia, the creation of the province of Central Irian Jaya was canceled. Western Irian Jaya had already been created by that time (02/06/2006), but its future is still unclear. On February 7, 2007, it was renamed the province of West Papua (Papua Barat).

Geography

Western New Guinea in the north it is washed by waters Pacific Ocean, in the west - the Kerama Sea, in the south - the Arafura Sea, and in the east it borders Papua New Guinea.

Irian Jaya Territory - 421981 sq. km is 22% of the total land area of Indonesia.

Main city- Jayapura port.

Flag of Irian Jaya

The province is located south of the equator and is dominated by mountainous terrain. The Maoke Mountains range, running from north to south, divides West Irian into two parts. Peak Puncak at 5030 m it is the highest point in Indonesia. About 75% of Irian Jaya's territory is covered with forests, most of which are impenetrable tropical forests.

Climatepredominantly tropical, humid and hot on the coast; the rainy season lasts from December to March, the dry season from May to October; characteristic slight seasonal temperature fluctuations. The climate is hot and very humid almost everywhere. Summer temperatures range from +24 … +32 °C, in winter +24 … +28 °C. In the mountains the temperature is lower, and in some places there are snow fields that never melt. The rains are very heavy, especially in summer, with precipitation levels ranging from 1300 to 5000 mm per year. Irian Jaya boasts some of the longest rivers in Indonesia, such as the Baliem, Memberamo and Tariku. In the southwest, rivers have caused the formation of large mangrove swamps and tidal forests.

Today, Irian Jaya is considered the most isolated region from the rest of the world. Mangrove swamps make large sections of the coast impassable, and dense jungle and high mountains(some snow-covered peaks reach a height of 5000 m) completely isolate individual parts of this territory from each other. There are almost no roads and extremely poor air and sea communications, resulting in sometimes weeks of travel along narrow and dangerous paths to reach many remote villages.

Perhaps in part because of its territorial fragmentation, the province is incredibly diverse in its peoples and cultures. Isolated and very unique local tribes- many of whom are barely beyond the Stone Age - speak more than 100 languages incomprehensible even to their neighbors.

Irian Jaya has an amazing diversity of flora and fauna. Ferns, orchids and climbing plants form a living carpet here, intertwining with the overhanging rainforest canopy. This dense bush is home to more than 700 species of birds, including the huge flightless cassowary and the famous birds of paradise (Paradisea apoda). In forests and open grassy areas there are also marsupials - tree and bush kangaroos, flying squirrels.

After oil was discovered in the west of New Guinea half a century ago, a port grew here Sorong city(40 thousand inhabitants) with hotels and bars, where workers from other parts of Indonesia began to arrive. From Sorong you can easily take a boat to the Raja Empat Island Nature Reserve, where you can observe birds of paradise in natural conditions.

Jayapura, the administrative center of the province of Irian Jaya and its largest city (50 thousand inhabitants), was founded at one time by the Dutch, who laid claim to the middle part north coast New Guinea. East of Jayapura, on the shores of Yos Sudar So Bay, lies the Yotefa Nature Reserve, with many beautiful beaches where you can see the wrecks of several ships that were once sunk during naval warfare. To the east, along the shore of the bay, there is a settlement of the Sepik tribe, famous for their primitivist painting of tree bark and the production of carved tribal figures. In the eastern suburbs of Jayapura is the building of the Chand Rawasih University with its magnificent Anthropological Museum. The most interesting in the museum's exposition is the collection of objects of material culture of the Asmat tribe, acquired thanks to a subsidy from the John D. Rockefeller III Foundation. The figures and weapons presented here, made by masters of this tribe, are distinguished by absolute harmony and aesthetic perfection and are highly valued by connoisseurs of primitivist art. Although the Asmat tribe lives on the southern coast of New Guinea, there is a specialty shop for Asmat handicrafts in Jayapura.

Western New Guinea (Irian Jaya, West Irian) is the name of the western part of the island of New Guinea, belonging to Indonesia, consisting of two provinces: Papua and West Irian Jaya. Incorporated into Indonesia in 1969, western New Guinea was formerly known as Netherlands New Guinea and West Irian, and from 1973-2000 as Irian Jaya.

New Guinea has been inhabited for at least 50,000 years and the area of modern Irian Jaya was known to Indonesian and Asian sailors many centuries before the Portuguese first sighted it in 1511. The Dutch captured western New Guinea in 1828 and incorporated it to the Dutch East Indies and officially annexed it in 1848. The separatist movement of Irian Jaya (the name of the island of New Guinea) was created in 1961. This movement fights for the independence of the entire island. The fighting took place in 1961-62. Indonesia's struggle to annex the former Dutch colony of West Irian was carried out with the assistance of the USSR (tactical air and naval groups were created). However, military operations as such were not carried out, the conflict was resolved peacefully, and the Dutch colonial troops left West Irian. The Dutch government finally abandoned this territory in favor of the United Nations. On September 21, 1962, the UN General Assembly adopted the “Agreement between the Republic of Indonesia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands concerning Western New Guinea (West Irian)” (the establishment of a UN Security Force in western New Guinea (West Irian) to assist the UN Transitional Executive Authority (in western New Guinea). Guinea)). Irian Jaya remained a Dutch colony until 1962.

The end of Dutch rule coincided with a campaign of confrontation launched by President Sukarno, who sent more than 2,000 Indonesian troops into the province to provoke an anti-Dutch uprising that ended in failure. The western part of New Guinea, which received the new name West Irian, gradually came under the control of the Indonesian government and the issue of annexing the territory to Indonesia was to be decided through a referendum. In 1963, there was the first attempt to proclaim the independent Republic of West Papua by the local population, which was suppressed by force by the Indonesian authorities.

A referendum was held in 1969, but instead of a vote by the entire population, the decision was made by 1,025 specially selected delegates. West Irian became part of Indonesia in August 1969. This limited voting demonstrated the very real problems of relations with the remaining 650,000 inhabitants of the province. As a result, these problems led to the formation of the Free Papua Movement (Organisesi Papua Merdeka), which argued that if a full referendum were held, the people would vote for independence from Indonesia. On July 1, 1971, the movement made a new, also unsuccessful, attempt to proclaim the independence of the Republic of West Papua. Since then, this organization has been waging an insurgency against the Indonesian government. In 1984, the independence of the territory was again declared under the name of the Republic of Western Melanesia, but the leaders of the movement were arrested. Since 1973, the central Indonesian authorities, as a sign of perpetuating ownership of the territory, renamed the province of West Irian to Irian Jaya (“Victory Irian”).

zap. part o. New Guinea, belonging to the Republic of Indonesia. Area 412.8 thousand km 2, pop. St. 700 t.h. (1962). Basic population - Irians, including Papuans, Melanesians, Indonesians; there are also Europeans. The indigenous population is engaged in farming, collecting wild fruits, fishing, and hunting. Communal tribal land use predominates. The administrative center is the city of Kotabaru (former Holland). The history of ZI is part of the history of Indonesia. In the Middle Ages, ZI was controlled by the Srivijayan rulers (7th-13th centuries), and later became part of the Majapahit Empire (13th-16th centuries). There was an intense struggle for influence in Zimbabwe between the sultanates of Tidore and Ternate, which ended in the 17th century. the victory of Tidore, who subjugated Z.I. After the colonial expansion of Holland spread to Z.I., it became at the beginning of the 20th century. part of the so-called Netherlands East Indies.

According to the conditions of the Dutch-Indonesian agreements (see "Round Table" conference) signed in November. 1949, Holland formally recognized Indonesian sovereignty over the entire territory. b. Goll. East Indies with the proviso that ZI will temporarily remain under its control and the issue will be resolved through bilateral negotiations within one year from the date of transfer of sovereignty to Indonesia. However, the negotiations (Apr. 1950 - Feb. 1952) were disrupted by the Dutch. In Feb. 1952 GBP The government passed a constitutional amendment declaring Z.I. part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. At the 9th (1954), 10th (1955), 11th (November 1956 - March 1957) and 12th (1957) sessions of the General. At the UN Assembly, which considered the issue of Z.I., the fair demands of Indonesia were not satisfied due to the opposition of Westerners. powers

In 1962, preparations for Indonesia began. armed strength to possible war. operations against the Dutch in Z.I.; several hundred Indonesian. paratroopers began fighting there. Goll. the production was forced on August 15. 1962 sign an agreement in New York on the transfer of Z.I. to the control of Indonesia. On May 1, 1963 ZI became part of Indonesia.

Lit.: Kesselbrenner G., Zap. Irian, M, 1960; Jamin M., Kedaulatan Indonesia atas Irian Barat, Bukittinggi-Djakarta-Medan, 1956.

V.V. Gordeev. Moscow.

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- the western part of the island of New Guinea, part of Indonesia. Administratively forms a province. Area 412.8 thousand km2. Population 918 thousand people. . The administrative center is Jayapura...
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- a river in Ukraine, Belarus and Poland, the right tributary of the river. Narev. 772 km, basin area 39.4 thousand km². The main tributary is Mukhavets. Navigable 315 km from the mouth. Connected by canals with the Dnieper and Neman. On the Bug - Brest...
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