History of Papua

Papua is the largest Indonesian province located in the central part of Papua Island or the easternmost part of West New Guinea (Irian Jaya). The eastern hemisphere is a state of Papua New Guinea or East New Guinea. The province of Papua first encompassed the entire western part of Papua, but since 2003 it has been divided into two provinces where the eastern part still retains the name of Papua while the western part uses the name of West Papua. Papua has an area of ​​808,105 square kilometers and belongs to the second largest island in the world and the first largest island in Indonesia.

The development of the origin of the name of the island of Papua has a long journey in line with the history of interaction between foreign nations with the Papuan community, as well as with local languages ​​in interpret the name of Papua. Papua Province used to cover the entire western part of Papua. During the colonial period of the Dutch East Indies, this region was known as Dutch New Guinea (Nederlands Nieuw-Guinea or Dutch New Guinea). After joining the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, this region became known as West Irian Province from 1969 to 1973.

Its name was later changed to Irian Jaya by Soeharto when it inaugurated the Freeport copper and gold mine, a name which remained officially used until 2002.  UU no. 21 of 2001 on Special Autonomy Papua mandated the name of this province to be changed into Papua. In 2003, accompanied by various protests (amalgamation of Central Papua and East Papua), Papua was divided into two provinces by the Indonesian government; the eastern part still retains the name of Papua while the western part becomes West Irian Jaya province (a year later becomes West Papua). This is the eastern part of the province of Papua at this time.  The name of West Papua (West Papua) is still frequently used by the Free Papua Organization (OPM), a separatist movement that wants to break away from Indonesia and form its own state.

 The island of Papua has an area of ​​about 421,981 km2, the island of Papua is on the eastern edge of the Indonesian territory, with the potential of natural resources of economic value and strategic, and has encouraged foreign nations to control the island of Papua. Puncak Jaya Regency is the highest city on the island of Papua, while the lowest city is the city of Merauke. As a tropical and archipelagic region, the island of Papua has a relatively higher air humidity ranging from 80-89% of this varying geographical conditions affecting the uneven distribution conditions of the population. In 1990 the population on the island of Papua totaled 1,648,708 inhabitants and increased to approximately 2.8 million in 2006. 

The island of Papua has an area of ​​about 421,981 km2, the island of Papua is on the eastern edge of the Indonesian territory, with the potential of natural resources of economic value and strategic, and has encouraged foreign nations to control the island of Papua.

Puncak Jaya Regency is the highest city on the island of Papua, while the lowest city is the city of Merauke. As a tropical and archipelagic region, the island of Papua has a relatively higher air humidity ranging from 80-89% of this varying geographical conditions affecting the uneven distribution conditions of the population. In 1990 the population on the island of Papua totaled 1,648,708 people and increased to about 2.8 million in 2006.

When viewed from the characteristics of the culture, livelihood and lifestyle, the indigenous Papuans can be divided into two major groups, namely the mountain or inland Papua, highlands and lowland and coastal Papua. The traditional religious beliefs of Papuan society are united and absorbed into all aspects of life, they have an integral world view that is closely related to each other between the material and spiritual, secular and sacred worlds and they both work together.

Indigenous groups in Papua consist of 25 tribes, with different languages. The tribes include:

Ansus

Amungme

Asmat

Ayamaru, inhabiting the Sorong area

Bauzi

Biak

Dani

Empur, inhabiting the Kebar and Amberbaken areas

Enggros

Fuyu

Hatam, inhabit the Ransiki and Oransbari regions

Iha

Kamoro

Korowai

Mandobo / Wambon

Mee, inhabits the Paniai mountains

Meyakh, inhabited the City of Manokwari

Moskona, inhabiting the Merdei area

Muyu

Nafri

Sentani, inhabited around Sentani lake

Souk, inhabiting the Anggi and Menyambouw regions

Tobati

Waropen

Wamesa

Some indigenous Papuans also spread to several regions in Indonesia between Java,   Sumatra, Sulawesi, Bali, NTT and NTB. Some of them also mixed marriages with other tribes.

Before experiencing the expansion of the district, the border areas in Papua are located in 4 (four) districts of Jayapura, Jayapura, Jayawijaya and Merauke. After the division of the district, the border areas in Papua are located in 5 (five) districts / cities, namely Jayapura City, Keerom Regency, Pegunungan Bintang Regency, Boven Digoel Regency and Merauke Regency, and 23 (twenty three) ). Of the five districts, Keerom Regency, Pegunungan Bintang and Boven Digoel are new districts resulting from pemekaran.

The land border line between Indonesia and PNG in Papua extends about 760 kilometers from Skouw, Jayapura in the north to the mouth of the Bensbach river, Merauke in the south. This line was established through an agreement between the Dutch and British Governments on May 16, 1895.

The number of border pillars in the border area of ​​Papua to date is still very limited, ie only 52 pieces. The number of pillars of this boundary is certainly very inadequate for a border area that is often used as a hideout and crossing illegally by separatist groups of both countries. This condition is aggravated by the ignorance of the people around the border against the border that separates the two countries, even among many people who do not yet have identification or identity such as identity cards or other identification.

Doors or border posts in the border area of ​​Papua are in Muara Tami District of Jayapura City and in Sota District of Merauke Regency. The condition of the border gate in Jayapura City is still not optimally utilized as the border gates in Sanggau and Nunukan, due to its incomplete CIQS facilities are available. Cross border activity at the border gate in Marauke is relatively more limited compared to Jayapura, with the main activity of cross-border flows of both countries in the context of traditional family and trade visits. A relatively larger trading activity takes place in unofficial gateways that link the people of both countries illegally without cross-border posts or official security posts.

The border regions of Papua have enormous natural resources of forests, both conversion forest and protected forests and national parks along the border. Forest conditions that lie along these borders are almost entirely untouched or exploited except in some locations that have been developed as conversion forests. In addition to forest resources, the area also has considerable water resources potential from rivers flowing along the border. Similarly, minerals and metals deposited in undeveloped soil such as copper, gold and other metals of high economic value.

Physically, the condition of border areas in Papua is mountainous and hilly, difficult to be penetrated by regular means of transportation or four-wheeled vehicles. Transport facilities that enable to reach border areas are pioneer aircraft and helicopter aircraft that are used by central and local government officials and apparatus to visit the area.

As in other areas the condition of the people along the border of Papua is largely poor, low welfare, lagging and lack of attention from local and central government apparatus. The condition of Papuan communities along this poor, lagging and isolated border is not much different and relatively equal to the people in PNG. Through the many social aids performed by missionaries operating in spiritual ministry using the church's plane, many people are helped and helped in the fulfillment of their daily needs. The missionary's communications facilities are even utilized by local officials in conducting their work visits in the border areas.