Western New Guinea
Encyclopedia
West Papua informally refers to the Indonesia
n western half of the island of New Guinea
and other smaller islands to its west. The region is officially administered as two provinces: Papua and West Papua. The eastern half of New Guinea is Papua New Guinea
.
The population of approximately 3 million comprises ethnic Papuans, Melanesians
, and Austronesians. The region is predominantly dense forest where numerous traditional tribes live such as the Dani
of the Baliem Valley, although the majority of the population live in or near coastal areas. The largest city in the region is Jayapura
. The official and most commonly spoken language is Indonesian
. Estimates of the number of tribal languages in the region range from 200 to over 700, with the most widely spoken including Dani, Yali, Ekari and Biak. The predominant religion is Christianity (often combined with traditional beliefs) followed by Islam. The main industries include agriculture, fishing, oil production, and mining.
Human habitation is estimated to have begun between 42,000 and 48,000 years ago. The Netherlands
made claim to the region and commenced missionary work in nineteenth century. The region was incorporated into the Indonesian republic in the 1960s, and has faced a violent separatist movement
since then. Following the 1998 commencement of reforms across Indonesia
, Papua and other Indonesian provinces received greater regional autonomy. In 2001, "Special Autonomy" status was granted to Papua province, although to date, implementation has been partial. Since 2003, the region has been divided into the two provinces of Papua
and West Papua.
. "West Papua", which is not the official name for the western half of the island, is preferred by ethnic Papuans and separatists. The region has had the official names of Netherlands New Guinea
(1895–1962), West New Guinea (1962–63), West Irian (1963–73), Irian Jaya (1973–2001), and Papua (2002–2003). When the region was administratively one in Indonesia, Indonesian officials criticized activists' use of the term "West Papua", because they thought that the term implied that the province was not a part of Indonesia. Indonesian president Abdurrahman Wahid
considered his short-lived use of the name "Papua" in 2002 as a concession to the separatists. Since 2003, western New Guinea has had two provinces: the province of West Papua on the west, and the province of Papua on the east. Officials and administrators refer to the province when they say "West Papua"; independence activists mean the whole of western New Guinea.
mostly follows the 141st meridian east, with one section defined by the Fly River
.
The island of New Guinea was once part of the Australian landmass and lie on the Sahul. The collision between the Indo-Australian Plate
and Pacific plate
resulting in the Maoke Mountains run through the centre of the region and are 600 km (372.8 mi) long and 100 km (62.1 mi) across. The range includes about ten peaks over 4,000 metres (13,120 feet), including Puncak Jaya
(4,884 m), Puncak Trikora
(4,750 m), and Puncak Mandala
(4,701 m). The range ensures a steady supply of rain from the tropical atmosphere. The tree line is around 4000 m (13,123.4 ft) and the tallest peaks feature small glaciers and are snowbound year round. Both north and west of the central ranges the land remains mountainous — mostly 1,000 to 2,000 m (3,300–6,660 ft) high with a warm humid climate year round. The highland areas feature alpine grasslands, jagged bare peaks, montane
forests, rainforests, fast flowing rivers, and gorges. Swamps and low-lying alluvial plains of fertile soil dominate the southeastern section around the town of Merauke
. Swamps also extend 300 km around the Asmat
region.
The province has 40 major rivers, 12 lakes, and 40 islands. The Mamberamo river is the province's largest river which winds through the northern part of the province. The result is a large area of lakes and rivers known as the Lakes Plains region. The vast southern lowlands, which consist of a mosaic of habitats including mangrove, tidal and freshwater swamp forest and lowland rainforest, are home to a dense population of fishermen and gatherers such as the Asmat people
. The Baliem Valley
, home of the Dani people
, is a tableland 1600 m (5,249.3 ft) above sea level in the midst of the central mountain range.
The dry season across the region is generally between May and October; although drier in these months, rain persists throughout the year. Strong winds and rain are experienced along the north coast in November through to March. However, the south coast experiences and increase in wind and rain between April and October, which is the dry season in the Merauke area, the only part of West Papua to experience distinct seasons. Coastal areas are generally hot and humid, whereas the highland areas tend to be cooler.
, the regions flora and fauna include Asiatic, Australian, and endemic species.
Marsupial species dominate the region; there are an estimated 70 marsupial
species (including possum
s, wallabies
, tree-kangaroo
s, cuscus
), and 180 other mammal species (including the endangered long-beaked echidna
). The region is the only part of Indonesia to have kangaroos, marsupial mice, bandicoots, and ring-tailed possums. The approximately 700 bird species include cassowaries
(along the southern coastal areas), bowerbirds, kingfishers, crowned pigeons, parrot
s, cockatoo
s) of which 450 are endemic. Birds of paradise can be found in Kepala Burung and Yapen
. The region is also home to around 800 species of spiders, 200 frogs, 30,000 beetles, 70 bat species, the world's longest lizards (Papua monitor
) and some of the world's largest butterflies. The extensive waterways and wetlands of Papua are also home to salt and freshwater crocodile
s, tree monitors, flying foxes
, osprey
s, and other animals; while the equatorial glacier fields remain largely unexplored.
The region is 75% forest and it has a high degree of biodiversity. The island has an estimated 16,000 species of plant, 124 genera of which are endemic. The mountainous areas and the north are covered with dense rainforest. Highland vegetation also includes alpine grasslands, heath, pine forests, bush and scrub. The vegetation of the south coast includes mangroves and sago palms, and in the drier southeastern section, eucalypts, paperbarks, and acacias.
In February 2005, a team of scientists exploring the Foja Mountains
discovered numerous new species of birds, butterflies, amphibians, and plants, including a species of rhododendron
which may have the largest bloom of the genus.
Environmental issues include deforestation, the spread of the introduced Crab-eating Macaque
which now threatens the existence of many native monkey species, and discarded copper and gold tailings from the Grasberg mine
.
and Jayapura in the northeast. Both cities have a population of approximately 200,000.
The region is home to around 312 different tribes, including some uncontacted peoples
. The Dani
, from the Baliem Valley
, are one of the most populous tribes of the region. The Manikom and Hatam inhabit the Anggi Lakes area, and the Kanum and Marind are from near Merauke. The semi-nomadic Asmat
inhabit the mangrove and tidal river areas near Agats and are renowned for their woodcarving. Other tribes include the Amungme
, Bauzi
, Biak (Byak), Korowai
, Lani
, Mee
, Mek
, Sawi
, and Yali. Estimates of the number of distinct languages spoken in the region range from 200 to 700. A number of these languages are permanently disappearing.
As in Papua New Guinea and some surrounding east Indonesian provinces, a large majority of the population is Christian. In the 2000 census 54% identified themselves as Protestant, 24% as Catholic, 21% as Muslim, and less than 1% as either Hindu or Buddhist. There is also substantial practice of animism
among the major religions, but this is not recorded by the census.
is the most common, with Y-chromosome haplogroup O2a
as a small minority in second place and Y-chromosome haplogroup S
back in third position across the mountain highlands; while D, C2 and C4 are of negligible numbers.
(penis gourd) is worn by males in ceremonial contexts. The use of the koteka as everyday dress by Dani
males in Western New Guinea is still common.
Austronesian peoples migrating through Maritime Southeast Asia
settled in the area at least 3,000 years ago, and populated especially in Cenderawasih Bay
. Diverse cultures and languages have developed in situ; there are over 300 languages and two hundred additional dialects in the region (See Papuan languages
, Austronesian languages
, Central–Eastern Malayo-Polynesian languages).
accidentally came upon the principal island and is credited with naming it Papua, from a Malay
word Papuwah, for the frizzled quality of Melanesia
n hair. He landed also on Waigeo Island and named the region Ilhas dos Papuas (Islands of Papuans).
In 1545 the Spaniard Yñigo Ortiz de Retez
sailed along the north coast as far as the Mamberamo River near which he landed, naming the island Nueva Guinea. In 1606 Spanish navigator Luís Vaz de Torres
sailed along the southwestern part of the island in present-day Papua, and also claimed the territory for the King of Spain.
Near the end of the sixteenth century, Sultanate of Ternate
under Sultan Baabullah (1570–1583), had influence over parts of Papua.
In 1660, the Dutch recognised the Sultan of Tidore
's sovereignty over New Guinea
. New Guinea thus became notionally Dutch as the Dutch held power over Tidore. In 1793, Britain established a settlement near Manokwari
, however, it failed. By 1824 Britain and the Netherlands agreed that the western half of the island would become part of the Dutch East Indies
. In 1828 the Dutch established a settlement in Lobo (near Kaimana
) which also failed. Great Britain and Germany had recognised the Dutch claims on western New Guinea in treaties of 1885 and 1895. Dutch activity in the region remained minimal in the first half of the twentieth century. Dutch, US, and Japanese mining companies explored the area's rich oil reserves in the 1930s. In 1942, the northern coast of West New Guinea and the nearby islands were occupied by Japan
. In 1944, Allied forces gained control of the region through four-phase campaign from neighbouring Papua New Guinea. The United States constructed a headquarters for MacArthur at Hollandia
(Jayapura) intended as a staging point for operations taking of the Philippines. Papuan men and resources were used to support the Allied war effort in the Pacific. After the war's end the Dutch regained possession of the region.
Since the early twentieth century, Indonesian nationalists had sought an independent Indonesia based on all Dutch colonial possessions in the Indies, including western New Guinea. In December 1949, the Netherlands recognised Indonesian sovereignty over the Dutch East Indies with the exception of Dutch New Guinea, the issue of which was to be discussed within a year. In attempt to prevent Indonesia taking control of the region and to prepare the region for self-rule, the Dutch significantly raised development spending off its low base, began investing in Papuan education, and encouraged Papuan nationalism. A small western elite developed with a growing political awareness attuned to the idea of independence, with close links to neighbouring eastern New Guinea which was administered by Australia. A national parliament was elected in 1961, however, support for the nascent nationalist movement across the region was weak and fragmented.
Sukarno made take over of western New Guinea a focus of his continuing struggle against Dutch imperialism and part of a broader Third World conflict with the West. Indonesia launched seaborne and paratroop incursions into the territory but with little success. The Dutch knew that a military campaign to retain the region would require protracted jungle warfare, and were unwilling to see a repeat of their eventually futile efforts in the armed struggle for Indonesian independence
in the 1940s, and they agreed to American mediation. The negotiations resulted in the UN-ratified New York Agreement
of September 1962, that required authority to be transferred to a United Nations Temporary Executive Authority
(UNTEA) and then to Indonesia from 1 May 1963, until such time as Indonesia allowed the Papuans to determine whether they wanted independence or be part of Indonesia. Accordingly in 1969, the United Nations supervised the "Act of Free Choice
" in which the Indonesian government used the procedure of musyawarah
, a consensus of 'elders'. Without a significant Papuan nationalist movement, the 1,054 elders (officials appointed by the Indonesian government) represented agreed to be a part of Indonesia. Soon after, the region became the 26th province of Indonesia with full United Nations and international recognition.
The separatist Free Papua Movement
(OPM) has engaged in a small-scale conflict with the Indonesian military since the 1960s. Rebellions occurred
in remote mountainous areas in 1969, 1977, and the mid-1980s, occasionally spilling over into Papua New Guinea
. In 1996, 5,000 Papuans rioted and burned the Abepura market in Jayapura resulting in several deaths. That year, Free Papua Movement separatists kidnapped European and Indonesian researchers in a remote part of the Baliem Valley. The Europeans were released four months later, however, two Indonesian hostages were killed. A two-year study by a team of Australian and local researchers concluded in 2005 that Indonesia’s security forces had been the main source of instability in the territory and estimated that more than 100,000 Papuans had died through Indonesian military campaigns since incorporation into Indonesia. In the Post-Suharto era since 1998, the national government began a process of decentralization to the provinces, including, in December 2001, a "Special Autonomy" status for Papua province and a reinvestment into the region of 80% of the taxation receipts generated from the region. In 2003, the province of "West Papua" was created in the Bird's Head Peninsula and surrounding islands to its west.
The West Papua region is governed by two Indonesian provinces:
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n western half of the island of New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
and other smaller islands to its west. The region is officially administered as two provinces: Papua and West Papua. The eastern half of New Guinea is Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
.
The population of approximately 3 million comprises ethnic Papuans, Melanesians
Melanesians
Melanesians are an ethnic group in Melanesia. The original inhabitants of the group of islands now named Melanesia were likely the ancestors of the present-day Papuan-speaking people...
, and Austronesians. The region is predominantly dense forest where numerous traditional tribes live such as the Dani
Dani People
The Dani people, also spelled Ndani, and sometimes conflated with the Lani group to the west, are a people from the central highlands of western New Guinea ....
of the Baliem Valley, although the majority of the population live in or near coastal areas. The largest city in the region is Jayapura
Jayapura
Jayapura City is the capital of Papua province, Indonesia, on the island of New Guinea. It is situated on Yos Sudarso Bay . Its approximate population in 2002 was 200,000....
. The official and most commonly spoken language is Indonesian
Indonesian language
Indonesian is the official language of Indonesia. Indonesian is a normative form of the Riau Islands dialect of Malay, an Austronesian language which has been used as a lingua franca in the Indonesian archipelago for centuries....
. Estimates of the number of tribal languages in the region range from 200 to over 700, with the most widely spoken including Dani, Yali, Ekari and Biak. The predominant religion is Christianity (often combined with traditional beliefs) followed by Islam. The main industries include agriculture, fishing, oil production, and mining.
Human habitation is estimated to have begun between 42,000 and 48,000 years ago. The Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
made claim to the region and commenced missionary work in nineteenth century. The region was incorporated into the Indonesian republic in the 1960s, and has faced a violent separatist movement
Papua Conflict
The Papua conflict is an ethnic separatist insurgency in Indonesia, predominantly in the Papua and West Papua provinces on the island of New Guinea. Since the withdrawal of the Dutch colonizers in 1963, the militant Free Papua Movement organization has conducted a low-level campaign of attacks on...
since then. Following the 1998 commencement of reforms across Indonesia
Reformation (Indonesia)
The Post-Suharto era in Indonesia began with the fall of Suharto in 1998. Since then Indonesia has been in a period of transition. This era has been called the period of Reformasi...
, Papua and other Indonesian provinces received greater regional autonomy. In 2001, "Special Autonomy" status was granted to Papua province, although to date, implementation has been partial. Since 2003, the region has been divided into the two provinces of Papua
Papua (Indonesian province)
Papua comprises most of the western half of the island of New Guinea and nearby islands. Its capital is Jayapura. It's the largest and easternmost province of Indonesia. The province originally covered the entire western half of New Guinea...
and West Papua.
Name
Speakers align themselves with a political orientation when choosing a name for the western half of the island of New GuineaNew Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
. "West Papua", which is not the official name for the western half of the island, is preferred by ethnic Papuans and separatists. The region has had the official names of Netherlands New Guinea
Netherlands New Guinea
Netherlands New Guinea refers to the West Papua region while it was an overseas territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands from 1949 to 1962. Until 1949 it was a part of the Netherlands Indies. It was commonly known as Dutch New Guinea...
(1895–1962), West New Guinea (1962–63), West Irian (1963–73), Irian Jaya (1973–2001), and Papua (2002–2003). When the region was administratively one in Indonesia, Indonesian officials criticized activists' use of the term "West Papua", because they thought that the term implied that the province was not a part of Indonesia. Indonesian president Abdurrahman Wahid
Abdurrahman Wahid
Abdurrahman Wahid, born Abdurrahman Addakhil , colloquially known as , was an Indonesian Muslim religious and political leader who served as the President of Indonesia from 1999 to 2001...
considered his short-lived use of the name "Papua" in 2002 as a concession to the separatists. Since 2003, western New Guinea has had two provinces: the province of West Papua on the west, and the province of Papua on the east. Officials and administrators refer to the province when they say "West Papua"; independence activists mean the whole of western New Guinea.
Geography
The region is 1,200 km from east to west and 736 km north to south. It has an area of 420540 km² (162,371 sq mi), approximately 22% of Indonesia's land area. The border with Papua New GuineaPapua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
mostly follows the 141st meridian east, with one section defined by the Fly River
Fly River
The Fly at , is the second longest river, after the Sepik, in Papua New Guinea. The Fly is the largest river in Oceania, the largest in the world without a single dam in its catchment, and overall ranks as the twenty-fifth largest river in the world by volume of discharge...
.
The island of New Guinea was once part of the Australian landmass and lie on the Sahul. The collision between the Indo-Australian Plate
Indo-Australian Plate
The Indo-Australian Plate is a major tectonic plate that includes the continent of Australia and surrounding ocean, and extends northwest to include the Indian subcontinent and adjacent waters...
and Pacific plate
Pacific Plate
The Pacific Plate is an oceanic tectonic plate that lies beneath the Pacific Ocean. At 103 million square kilometres, it is the largest tectonic plate....
resulting in the Maoke Mountains run through the centre of the region and are 600 km (372.8 mi) long and 100 km (62.1 mi) across. The range includes about ten peaks over 4,000 metres (13,120 feet), including Puncak Jaya
Puncak Jaya
Puncak Jaya or Carstensz Pyramid is the highest summit of Mount Carstensz in the Sudirman Range of the western central highlands of Papua province, Indonesia . Other summits are East Carstensz Peak and Ngga Pulu...
(4,884 m), Puncak Trikora
Puncak Trikora
Puncak Trikora, until 1963 Wilhelmina Peak, is a 4730 or high mountain in the Papua province of Indonesia on New Guinea. It lies in the eastern part of the Sudirman Range of the Maoke Mountains. Behind Puncak Jaya at , it is either the second or third highest mountain on the island of New Guinea...
(4,750 m), and Puncak Mandala
Puncak Mandala
Puncak Mandala , is a mountain located in Papua, Indonesia. Following Mount Carstensz 350 km to the east, Mandala is the second highest freestanding mountain of Oceania, Australasia, New Guinea and Indonesia.-Further reading:* at GunungBagging.com...
(4,701 m). The range ensures a steady supply of rain from the tropical atmosphere. The tree line is around 4000 m (13,123.4 ft) and the tallest peaks feature small glaciers and are snowbound year round. Both north and west of the central ranges the land remains mountainous — mostly 1,000 to 2,000 m (3,300–6,660 ft) high with a warm humid climate year round. The highland areas feature alpine grasslands, jagged bare peaks, montane
Montane
In biogeography, montane is the highland area located below the subalpine zone. Montane regions generally have cooler temperatures and often have higher rainfall than the adjacent lowland regions, and are frequently home to distinct communities of plants and animals.The term "montane" means "of the...
forests, rainforests, fast flowing rivers, and gorges. Swamps and low-lying alluvial plains of fertile soil dominate the southeastern section around the town of Merauke
Merauke
Merauke is a town considered to be one of the easternmost towns in Indonesia, located in Merauke Regency, Papua province, Indonesia. It is next to Maro River.In 2006 it had a population of 71,838....
. Swamps also extend 300 km around the Asmat
Asmat
Asmat may mean:*Asmat people*Asmat languages*Asmat Regency, Indonesia*Asmat District, Eritrea*Asmat , a Ge'ez word referring to the names of God and later associated with magic in general....
region.
The province has 40 major rivers, 12 lakes, and 40 islands. The Mamberamo river is the province's largest river which winds through the northern part of the province. The result is a large area of lakes and rivers known as the Lakes Plains region. The vast southern lowlands, which consist of a mosaic of habitats including mangrove, tidal and freshwater swamp forest and lowland rainforest, are home to a dense population of fishermen and gatherers such as the Asmat people
Asmat people
The Asmat are an ethnic group of New Guinea, residing in the Papua province of Indonesia. Possessing one of the most well-known and vibrant woodcarving traditions in the Pacific, their art is sought by collectors worldwide...
. The Baliem Valley
Baliem Valley
The Baliem Valley, also spelled Balim Valley and sometimes known as the Grand Valley, of the highlands of Western New Guinea, is occupied by the Dani people. The main town in the valley is Wamena...
, home of the Dani people
Dani People
The Dani people, also spelled Ndani, and sometimes conflated with the Lani group to the west, are a people from the central highlands of western New Guinea ....
, is a tableland 1600 m (5,249.3 ft) above sea level in the midst of the central mountain range.
The dry season across the region is generally between May and October; although drier in these months, rain persists throughout the year. Strong winds and rain are experienced along the north coast in November through to March. However, the south coast experiences and increase in wind and rain between April and October, which is the dry season in the Merauke area, the only part of West Papua to experience distinct seasons. Coastal areas are generally hot and humid, whereas the highland areas tend to be cooler.
Ecology
Lying in the Asia-Australian transition zone near WallaceaWallacea
Wallacea is a biogeographical designation for a group of Indonesian islands separated by deep water straits from the Asian and Australian continental shelves. Wallacea includes Sulawesi, the largest island in the group, as well as Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Sumba, Timor, Halmahera, Buru, Seram, and...
, the regions flora and fauna include Asiatic, Australian, and endemic species.
Marsupial species dominate the region; there are an estimated 70 marsupial
Marsupial
Marsupials are an infraclass of mammals, characterized by giving birth to relatively undeveloped young. Close to 70% of the 334 extant species occur in Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands, with the remaining 100 found in the Americas, primarily in South America, but with thirteen in Central...
species (including possum
Possum
A possum is any of about 70 small to medium-sized arboreal marsupial species native to Australia, New Guinea, and Sulawesi .Possums are quadrupedal diprotodont marsupials with long tails...
s, wallabies
Wallaby
A wallaby is any of about thirty species of macropod . It is an informal designation generally used for any macropod that is smaller than a kangaroo or wallaroo that has not been given some other name.-Overview:...
, tree-kangaroo
Tree-kangaroo
Tree-kangaroos are macropods adapted for life in trees. They are found in the rainforests of New Guinea, far northeastern Queensland, and nearby islands. Although most are found in mountainous areas, several species also occur in lowlands, such as the aptly named Lowlands Tree-kangaroo...
s, cuscus
Cuscus
Cuscus is the common name generally given to the species within the four genera of Australasian possum:* Ailurops* Phalanger* Spilocuscus* Strigocuscus...
), and 180 other mammal species (including the endangered long-beaked echidna
Echidna
Echidnas , also known as spiny anteaters, belong to the family Tachyglossidae in the monotreme order of egg-laying mammals. There are four extant species, which, together with the platypus, are the only surviving members of that order and are the only extant mammals that lay eggs...
). The region is the only part of Indonesia to have kangaroos, marsupial mice, bandicoots, and ring-tailed possums. The approximately 700 bird species include cassowaries
Cassowary
The cassowaries are ratites, very large flightless birds in the genus Casuarius native to the tropical forests of New Guinea, nearby islands and northeastern Australia. There are three extant species recognized today...
(along the southern coastal areas), bowerbirds, kingfishers, crowned pigeons, parrot
Parrot
Parrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...
s, cockatoo
Cockatoo
A cockatoo is any of the 21 species belonging to the bird family Cacatuidae. Along with the Psittacidae and the Strigopidae , they make up the parrot order Psittaciformes . Placement of the cockatoos as a separate family is fairly undisputed, although many aspects of the other living lineages of...
s) of which 450 are endemic. Birds of paradise can be found in Kepala Burung and Yapen
Yapen
Yapen is an island of western New Guinea, Indonesia. The Yapen Strait separates Yapen and the Biak Islands to the north. It is in Cenderawasih Bay. To the west is Mios Num Strait between it and Mios Num Island, and the east Kurudu Island. The southeast are the Amboi Islands and the southwest...
. The region is also home to around 800 species of spiders, 200 frogs, 30,000 beetles, 70 bat species, the world's longest lizards (Papua monitor
Monitor lizard
Monitor lizards are usually large reptiles, although some can be as small as in length. They have long necks, powerful tails and claws, and well-developed limbs. Most species are terrestrial, but arboreal and semiaquatic monitors are also known...
) and some of the world's largest butterflies. The extensive waterways and wetlands of Papua are also home to salt and freshwater crocodile
Crocodile
A crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae . The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e...
s, tree monitors, flying foxes
Megabat
Megabats constitute the suborder Megachiroptera, family Pteropodidae of the order Chiroptera . They are also called fruit bats, old world fruit bats, or flying foxes.-Description:...
, osprey
Osprey
The Osprey , sometimes known as the sea hawk or fish eagle, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than in length and across the wings...
s, and other animals; while the equatorial glacier fields remain largely unexplored.
The region is 75% forest and it has a high degree of biodiversity. The island has an estimated 16,000 species of plant, 124 genera of which are endemic. The mountainous areas and the north are covered with dense rainforest. Highland vegetation also includes alpine grasslands, heath, pine forests, bush and scrub. The vegetation of the south coast includes mangroves and sago palms, and in the drier southeastern section, eucalypts, paperbarks, and acacias.
In February 2005, a team of scientists exploring the Foja Mountains
Foja Mountains
The Foja Mountains are located just north of the Mamberamo river basin in Papua, Indonesia. The mountains rise to , and have 3,000 square kilometres of old growth tropical rainforest in the interior part of the range...
discovered numerous new species of birds, butterflies, amphibians, and plants, including a species of rhododendron
Rhododendron
Rhododendron is a genus of over 1 000 species of woody plants in the heath family, most with showy flowers...
which may have the largest bloom of the genus.
Environmental issues include deforestation, the spread of the introduced Crab-eating Macaque
Crab-eating Macaque
The Crab-eating macaque is a cercopithecine primate native to Southeast Asia. It is also called the "long-tailed macaque", and is referred to as the "cynomolgus monkey" in laboratories.-Etymology:...
which now threatens the existence of many native monkey species, and discarded copper and gold tailings from the Grasberg mine
Grasberg mine
The Grasberg Mine is the largest gold mine and the third largest copper mine in the world. It is located in the province of Papua in Indonesia near Puncak Jaya, the highest mountain in Papua, and it has 19,500 employees...
.
Demographics
The population of the region was estimated to be 2,646,489 in 2005. The interior is predominantly populated by ethnic Papuans and coastal towns are inhabited by descendants of intermarriages between Papuans, Melanesians, and other Indonesian ethnic groups. Migrants from the rest of Indonesia also tend to inhabit the coastal regions. The two largest cities in the territory are Sorong in the northwest of the Bird's Head PeninsulaBird's Head Peninsula
The Bird's Head Peninsula or Doberai Peninsula is a large peninsula that makes up the northwest portion of the Province of West Papua, Indonesia.-Location and geography:...
and Jayapura in the northeast. Both cities have a population of approximately 200,000.
The region is home to around 312 different tribes, including some uncontacted peoples
Uncontacted peoples
Uncontacted people, also referred to as isolated people or lost tribes, are communities who live, or have lived, either by choice or by circumstance, without significant contact with globalized civilisation....
. The Dani
Dani People
The Dani people, also spelled Ndani, and sometimes conflated with the Lani group to the west, are a people from the central highlands of western New Guinea ....
, from the Baliem Valley
Baliem Valley
The Baliem Valley, also spelled Balim Valley and sometimes known as the Grand Valley, of the highlands of Western New Guinea, is occupied by the Dani people. The main town in the valley is Wamena...
, are one of the most populous tribes of the region. The Manikom and Hatam inhabit the Anggi Lakes area, and the Kanum and Marind are from near Merauke. The semi-nomadic Asmat
Asmat people
The Asmat are an ethnic group of New Guinea, residing in the Papua province of Indonesia. Possessing one of the most well-known and vibrant woodcarving traditions in the Pacific, their art is sought by collectors worldwide...
inhabit the mangrove and tidal river areas near Agats and are renowned for their woodcarving. Other tribes include the Amungme
Amungme
The Amungme are a group of about 13,000 people living in the highlands of the Papua province of Indonesia. Their language is called Damal.They practice shifting agriculture, supplementing their livelihood by hunting and gathering...
, Bauzi
Bauzi
The Bauzi tribe consists of a group of 1500 people living in the north-central part of the Indonesian province of Papua The Bauzi tribe consists of a group of 1500 people living in the north-central part of the Indonesian province of Papua The Bauzi tribe consists of a group of 1500 people living...
, Biak (Byak), Korowai
Korowai
The korowai, also called the Kolufo, are a people of southeastern Papua . They number about 3,000. Until 1970, they were unaware of the existence of any people besides themselves....
, Lani
Lani (ethnic group)
The Lani are an indigenous people in Western New Guinea, usually labelled 'Western Dani' by foreign missionaries, or grouped—inaccurately—with the Dani people who inhabit the Baliem Valley to the east.-Etymology:...
, Mee
Mee (tribe)
The Mee are a people who inhabit West Papua on the Island of New Guinea. They speak the Ekagi language.-External links:...
, Mek
Mek (tribe)
The Mek are a Papuan people of Papua, Western New Guinea.A television series on The Discovery Channel entitled "Living with the Mek" was shown in 2008....
, Sawi
Sawi
The Sawi are a tribal people of Western New Guinea, Indonesia. They were known to be cannibalistic headhunters as recently as the 1950s.Since then, many of the tribe have converted to Christianity and the world's largest circular building made strictly from un-milled poles was constructed in 1972...
, and Yali. Estimates of the number of distinct languages spoken in the region range from 200 to 700. A number of these languages are permanently disappearing.
As in Papua New Guinea and some surrounding east Indonesian provinces, a large majority of the population is Christian. In the 2000 census 54% identified themselves as Protestant, 24% as Catholic, 21% as Muslim, and less than 1% as either Hindu or Buddhist. There is also substantial practice of animism
Animism
Animism refers to the belief that non-human entities are spiritual beings, or at least embody some kind of life-principle....
among the major religions, but this is not recorded by the census.
Haplogroups
There are 6 main Y-chromosome haplogroups in West Papua; Y-chromosome haplogroup MHaplogroup M (Y-DNA)
In human genetics, Haplogroup M is a Y-chromosome DNA haplogroup. The Karafet's 2008 paper introduced a number of changes, compared to the previous...
is the most common, with Y-chromosome haplogroup O2a
Haplogroup O (Y-DNA)
In human genetics, Haplogroup O is a Y-chromosome DNA haplogroup. Haplogroup O is a close cladistic brother group with Haplogroup N, and is one of several descendants of Haplogroup K ....
as a small minority in second place and Y-chromosome haplogroup S
Haplogroup S (Y-DNA)
In human genetics, Haplogroup S is a human Y-chromosome DNA haplogroup. From 2002 to 2008, it was known as Haplogroup K5.-Distribution:Haplogroup S is commonly found among populations of the highlands of Papua New Guinea...
back in third position across the mountain highlands; while D, C2 and C4 are of negligible numbers.
- Haplogroup M is the most frequently occurring Y-chromosome haplogroup in West Papua.
- In a 2005 study of Papua New Guinea’s ASPM gene variants, Mekel-Bobrov et al. found that the Papuan people have among the highest rate of the newly-evolved ASPM haplogroup D, at 59.4% occurrence of the approximately 6,000-year-old allele.
- Haplogroup O2a (M95) is typical of Austro-AsiaticAustro-Asiatic languagesThe Austro-Asiatic languages, in recent classifications synonymous with Mon–Khmer, are a large language family of Southeast Asia, also scattered throughout India and Bangladesh. The name Austro-Asiatic comes from the Latin words for "south" and "Asia", hence "South Asia"...
peoples, Tai–Kadai peoples, Malays, Indonesians, and MalagasyMalagasy peopleThe Malagasy ethnic group forms nearly the entire population of Madagascar. They are divided into two subgroups: the "Highlander" Merina, Sihanaka and Betsileo of the central plateau around Antananarivo, Alaotra and Fianarantsoa, and the côtiers elsewhere in the country. This division has its...
, with a moderate distribution throughout South, Southeast, East, and Central Asia. - Haplogroup S occurs in eastern Indonesia (10–20%) and Island Melanesia (~10%), but reaches greatest frequency in the highlands of Papua New Guinea (52%).
Culture
West Papuans have significant cultural affinities with the inhabitants of Papua New Guinea. As in Papua New Guinea the peoples of the highlands have distinct traditions and languages from peoples of the coast, though Papuan scholars and activists have recently detailed cultural links between coast and highlands as evidenced by close similarity of family names. In some parts of the highlands, the kotekaKoteka
The koteka, horim, penis gourd or penis sheath is a phallocrypt or phallocarp traditionally worn by native male inhabitants of some ethnic groups in New Guinea to cover their genitals. They are normally made from a dried out gourd, Lagenaria siceraria, although other species, such as Nepenthes...
(penis gourd) is worn by males in ceremonial contexts. The use of the koteka as everyday dress by Dani
Dani People
The Dani people, also spelled Ndani, and sometimes conflated with the Lani group to the west, are a people from the central highlands of western New Guinea ....
males in Western New Guinea is still common.
History
Papuan habitation of the region is estimated to have begun between 42,000 and 48,000 years ago. Research indicates that the highlands were an early and independent center of agriculture, and show that agriculture developed gradually over several thousands of years and that banana has been cultivated in this region since at least 7,000 years ago.Austronesian peoples migrating through Maritime Southeast Asia
Maritime Southeast Asia
Maritime Southeast Asia refers to the maritime region of Southeast Asia as opposed to mainland Southeast Asia and includes the modern countries of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, East Timor and Singapore....
settled in the area at least 3,000 years ago, and populated especially in Cenderawasih Bay
Cenderawasih Bay
Cenderawasih Bay , also Teluk Sarera , formerly Geelvink Bay is a large bay in northern Province of Papua and West Papua, New Guinea, Indonesia, at . The Dutch name comes after a Dutch ship and family called Geelvinck...
. Diverse cultures and languages have developed in situ; there are over 300 languages and two hundred additional dialects in the region (See Papuan languages
Papuan languages
The Papuan languages are those languages of the western Pacific which are neither Austronesian nor Australian. The term does not presuppose a genetic relationship. The concept of Papuan peoples as distinct from Melanesians was first suggested and named by Sidney Herbert Ray in 1892.-The...
, Austronesian languages
Austronesian languages
The Austronesian languages are a language family widely dispersed throughout the islands of Southeast Asia and the Pacific, with a few members spoken on continental Asia that are spoken by about 386 million people. It is on par with Indo-European, Niger-Congo, Afroasiatic and Uralic as one of the...
, Central–Eastern Malayo-Polynesian languages).
European discovery
In 1526-27, the Portuguese explorer Jorge de MenezesJorge de Menezes
Jorge de Menezes was a Portuguese explorer who in 1526-27 landed on Waigeo Island , taking shelter in the town of Wasai whilst he awaited the passing of the monsoon season...
accidentally came upon the principal island and is credited with naming it Papua, from a Malay
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
word Papuwah, for the frizzled quality of Melanesia
Melanesia
Melanesia is a subregion of Oceania extending from the western end of the Pacific Ocean to the Arafura Sea, and eastward to Fiji. The region comprises most of the islands immediately north and northeast of Australia...
n hair. He landed also on Waigeo Island and named the region Ilhas dos Papuas (Islands of Papuans).
In 1545 the Spaniard Yñigo Ortiz de Retez
Yñigo Ortiz de Retez
Yñigo Ortiz de Retez was a 16th-century Spanish maritime explorer, who navigated the northern coastline of the Pacific - Melanesian island of New Guinea, and is credited with bestowing the island's name .-Spanish discovery:...
sailed along the north coast as far as the Mamberamo River near which he landed, naming the island Nueva Guinea. In 1606 Spanish navigator Luís Vaz de Torres
Luís Vaz de Torres
Luís Vaz de Torres , also Luis Váez de Torres in the Spanish spelling, was a 16th-17th century maritime explorer serving the Spanish Crown, noted for the first recorded navigation of the strait which separates the continent of Australia from the island of New Guinea, and which now bears his name...
sailed along the southwestern part of the island in present-day Papua, and also claimed the territory for the King of Spain.
Near the end of the sixteenth century, Sultanate of Ternate
Sultanate of Ternate
The Sultanate of Ternate was originally named the Kingdom of Gapi, but later change the name base of its capital, Ternate. The sultanate is one of the oldest Muslim kingdoms in Indonesia, established by Baab Mashur Malamo in 1257...
under Sultan Baabullah (1570–1583), had influence over parts of Papua.
Netherlands New Guinea
Tidore
Tidore is a city, island, and archipelago in the Maluku Islands of eastern Indonesia, west of the larger island of Halmahera. In the pre-colonial era, the kingdom of Tidore was a major regional political and economic power, and a fierce rival of nearby Ternate, just to the north.-Geography:Tidor...
's sovereignty over New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
. New Guinea thus became notionally Dutch as the Dutch held power over Tidore. In 1793, Britain established a settlement near Manokwari
Manokwari
Manokwari is a city in Indonesia. It is the largest city and, since 2003, the capital of the province of West Papua, at the western end of New Guinea. The city has many resorts and is a major tourist area. It is one of the seats of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manokwari–Sorong. It is also the...
, however, it failed. By 1824 Britain and the Netherlands agreed that the western half of the island would become part of the Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
. In 1828 the Dutch established a settlement in Lobo (near Kaimana
Kaimana
Kaimana is a small port town in West Papua, Indonesia and capital of the Kaimana Regency.It is served by Kaimana Airport. Kaimana is part of a Sea Conservation Area in West Papua.Butterflies in the surrounding forest of Karora are reported to be on the brink of extinction due to logging in the...
) which also failed. Great Britain and Germany had recognised the Dutch claims on western New Guinea in treaties of 1885 and 1895. Dutch activity in the region remained minimal in the first half of the twentieth century. Dutch, US, and Japanese mining companies explored the area's rich oil reserves in the 1930s. In 1942, the northern coast of West New Guinea and the nearby islands were occupied by Japan
Western New Guinea campaign
The Western New Guinea campaign was a series of actions in the New Guinea campaign of World War II. United States and Australian forces assaulted Japanese bases and positions in the northwest coastal areas of Netherlands New Guinea and adjoining parts of the Australian Territory of New Guinea...
. In 1944, Allied forces gained control of the region through four-phase campaign from neighbouring Papua New Guinea. The United States constructed a headquarters for MacArthur at Hollandia
Jayapura
Jayapura City is the capital of Papua province, Indonesia, on the island of New Guinea. It is situated on Yos Sudarso Bay . Its approximate population in 2002 was 200,000....
(Jayapura) intended as a staging point for operations taking of the Philippines. Papuan men and resources were used to support the Allied war effort in the Pacific. After the war's end the Dutch regained possession of the region.
Since the early twentieth century, Indonesian nationalists had sought an independent Indonesia based on all Dutch colonial possessions in the Indies, including western New Guinea. In December 1949, the Netherlands recognised Indonesian sovereignty over the Dutch East Indies with the exception of Dutch New Guinea, the issue of which was to be discussed within a year. In attempt to prevent Indonesia taking control of the region and to prepare the region for self-rule, the Dutch significantly raised development spending off its low base, began investing in Papuan education, and encouraged Papuan nationalism. A small western elite developed with a growing political awareness attuned to the idea of independence, with close links to neighbouring eastern New Guinea which was administered by Australia. A national parliament was elected in 1961, however, support for the nascent nationalist movement across the region was weak and fragmented.
Incorporation into Indonesia
Indonesian National Revolution
The Indonesian National Revolution or Indonesian War of Independence was an armed conflict and diplomatic struggle between Indonesia and the Dutch Empire, and an internal social revolution...
in the 1940s, and they agreed to American mediation. The negotiations resulted in the UN-ratified New York Agreement
New York Agreement
The Agreement between the Republic of Indonesia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands Concerning West New Guinea , also known as the New York Agreement, was a treaty signed between Indonesia and the Netherlands on the political status of West New Guinea...
of September 1962, that required authority to be transferred to a United Nations Temporary Executive Authority
United Nations Temporary Executive Authority
The United Nations Temporary Executive Authority / United Nations Security Force in West New Guinea was established during October 1962 in accord with Article two of the New York Agreement to administer the colony of West New Guinea until the 1st May 1963.-History:Western New Guinea became the...
(UNTEA) and then to Indonesia from 1 May 1963, until such time as Indonesia allowed the Papuans to determine whether they wanted independence or be part of Indonesia. Accordingly in 1969, the United Nations supervised the "Act of Free Choice
Act of Free Choice
Act of Free Choice was an event in July to August 1969 by which Indonesia asserts that the Western New Guinea population decided to relinquish their sovereignty in favor of Indonesian citizenship...
" in which the Indonesian government used the procedure of musyawarah
Musyawarah
Musyawarah is a Malay term for consensus. Consensus in Malay community or in most tribal societies is a decision that comes out after a prolong discussions and sharing of ideas or opinions within the sitting ....
, a consensus of 'elders'. Without a significant Papuan nationalist movement, the 1,054 elders (officials appointed by the Indonesian government) represented agreed to be a part of Indonesia. Soon after, the region became the 26th province of Indonesia with full United Nations and international recognition.
The separatist Free Papua Movement
Free Papua Movement
The Free Papua Movement is a militant organisation established in 1965 to encourage and effect the violent overthrow of the current governments in the Papua and West Papua provinces of Indonesia, formerly known as Irian Jaya to secede from Indonesia, and to reject economic development and...
(OPM) has engaged in a small-scale conflict with the Indonesian military since the 1960s. Rebellions occurred
Papua Conflict
The Papua conflict is an ethnic separatist insurgency in Indonesia, predominantly in the Papua and West Papua provinces on the island of New Guinea. Since the withdrawal of the Dutch colonizers in 1963, the militant Free Papua Movement organization has conducted a low-level campaign of attacks on...
in remote mountainous areas in 1969, 1977, and the mid-1980s, occasionally spilling over into Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. In 1996, 5,000 Papuans rioted and burned the Abepura market in Jayapura resulting in several deaths. That year, Free Papua Movement separatists kidnapped European and Indonesian researchers in a remote part of the Baliem Valley. The Europeans were released four months later, however, two Indonesian hostages were killed. A two-year study by a team of Australian and local researchers concluded in 2005 that Indonesia’s security forces had been the main source of instability in the territory and estimated that more than 100,000 Papuans had died through Indonesian military campaigns since incorporation into Indonesia. In the Post-Suharto era since 1998, the national government began a process of decentralization to the provinces, including, in December 2001, a "Special Autonomy" status for Papua province and a reinvestment into the region of 80% of the taxation receipts generated from the region. In 2003, the province of "West Papua" was created in the Bird's Head Peninsula and surrounding islands to its west.
Administration
- The province of Papua contains 19 regencies, 1 city, 117 subdistricts, 66 kelurahan, and 830 villages. The regencies are: AsmatAsmat RegencyAsmat Regency is one of the regencies in Papua province, Indonesia. The capital of the regency is Agats. Asmat Regency consists of an area approximately 29,658 km² with between 59,000 and 70,000 inhabitants, most from the Asmat ethnic group. The regency is divided into seven subdistricts...
; BiakBiakBiak features a tropical rainforest climate with nearly identical temperatures throughout the course of the year. The average annual temperature in the city is 27 degrees celsius, which is also generally the average temperature of each day in Biak...
-Numfor; Boven DigoelBoven Digoel RegencyBoven Digoel Regency is one of the regencies in Papua province, Indonesia. The Capital is Tanahmerah. The total population of the regency is 43,840....
; JayapuraJayapura RegencyJayapura Regency is one of the regencies in Papua province, Indonesia....
; JayawijayaJayawijaya RegencyJayawijaya Regency is one of the regencies in Papua province, Indonesia. Its capital is Wamena....
; KeeromKeerom RegencyKeerom Regency is one of the regencies in Papua province, Indonesia....
; MappiMappi RegencyMappi Regency is one of the regencies in Papua province, Indonesia....
; MeraukeMerauke RegencyMerauke is a regency in Papua Province, Indonesia.It includes the following districts:* Distrik Ulilin* Eligobel* Jagebob* Kimaam* Kurik* Merauke* Muting* Okaba* Semangga* Sota* Tanah Miring...
; MimikaMimika RegencyMimika Regency is one of the regencies in Papua province, Indonesia. Its capital is Timika....
; NabireNabire RegencyNabire Regency is one of the regencies in Papua province, Indonesia....
; PaniaiPaniai RegencyPaniai Regency is one of the regencies in Papua province, Indonesia....
; Pegunungan BintangBintang Mountain RegencyBintang Mountain Regency is one of the regencies in Papua province, Indonesia....
; Puncak JayaPuncak Jaya RegencyPuncak Jaya Regency is one of the regencies in Papua province, Indonesia. It is an inland highland regency, lying directly east of Paniai Regency and west of Jayawijaya Regency...
; SarmiSarmi RegencySarmi Regency is one of the regencies in Papua province, Indonesia....
; SupioriSupiori RegencySupiori Regency is one of the regencies in Papua province, Indonesia....
; TolikaraTolikara RegencyTolikara Regency is one of the regencies in Papua province, Indonesia.-Events:The VI Asian-Pacific Astronomy Olympiad took place in Tolikara in November-December 2010....
; WaropenWaropen RegencyWaropen Regency is one of the regencies in Papua province, Indonesia. The capital is Botawa...
; YahukimoYahukimo RegencyYahukimo Regency is one of the regencies in Papua province, Indonesia....
and Yapen Waropen. The city of JayapuraJayapuraJayapura City is the capital of Papua province, Indonesia, on the island of New Guinea. It is situated on Yos Sudarso Bay . Its approximate population in 2002 was 200,000....
, which also has the status of a regency, is the largest city in the West Papua region.
- The province of West Papua contains eight regencies and one city. The regencies in West Papua are Fak-Fak RegencyFak-Fak RegencyFak-Fak Regency is a regency of West Papua, Indonesia. The principal town lies at Fak-Fak....
, Kaimana RegencyKaimana RegencyKaimana Regency is a regency of West Papua, Indonesia. The principal town lies at Kaimana....
, Manokwari RegencyManokwari RegencyManokwari Regency is a regency of West Papua, Indonesia. The principal town lies at Manokwari....
, Raja Ampat RegencyRaja Ampat RegencyRaja Ampat Regency is a regency of West Papua, Indonesia. The principal town lies at Waisai....
, Sorong RegencySorong RegencySorong Regency is a regency of West Papua, Indonesia. Its capital is Aimas, it also surrounds Sorong City. . Sorong has an airport, Sorong Airport which also serves the Regency.-Statistics:...
, South Sorong RegencySouth Sorong RegencySouth Sorong Regency is a regency of West Papua, Indonesia. The principal town lies at Teminabuan....
, Tambrauw RegencyTambrauw RegencyTambrauw Regency is a regency of West Papua, Indonesia. The principal town lies at Fef....
, Teluk Bintuni RegencyTeluk Bintuni RegencyTeluk Bintuni Regency is a regency of West Papua, Indonesia. The principal town lies at Bintuni....
, and Teluk Wondama RegencyTeluk Wondama RegencyTeluk Wondama Regency is a regency of West Papua, Indonesia. The principal town lies at Rasiei....
. The current capital city is ManokwariManokwariManokwari is a city in Indonesia. It is the largest city and, since 2003, the capital of the province of West Papua, at the western end of New Guinea. The city has many resorts and is a major tourist area. It is one of the seats of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manokwari–Sorong. It is also the...
.
Further reading
- Penders, C.L.M., The West New Guinea debacle. Dutch decolonisation and Indonesia 1945–1962, Leiden 2002, KITLVKITLVThe Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies at Leiden was founded in 1851. Its objective is the advancement of the study of the anthropology, linguistics, social sciences, and history of Southeast Asia, the Pacific Area, and the Caribbean. Special emphasis is laid on...
- "Arrow Against the Wind." Narrative of documentary on people of Asmat and Dani, their culture, and their relationship with the nature http://www.dgmoen.net/video_trans/004.html
- Throwim Way LegThrowim Way LegThrowim Way Leg is a book written by Australian zoologist and climate change activist Tim Flannery. It documents Flannery's experiences in the highlands of Papua New Guinea and Indonesian Western New Guinea. The book describes the flora and fauna of the island and the cultures of the various tribes...
by Tim FlanneryTim FlanneryTimothy Fridtjof Flannery is an Australian mammalogist, palaeontologist, environmentalist and global warming activist.... - Marshall, A.J. and B. Beehler (eds.), "The Ecology of Papua". 2007. Parts 1 & 2 as Vol. 6 in "The Ecology of Indonesia" series. Singapore: Periplus Press.