New Guinea Council

History

Netherlands New Guniea

Prior to the formation of the New Guinea Council, there existed a Council of Directors, which consisted of the heads of government departments. Dutch authorities initially began to establish local government bodies such as village councils and regional councils.

The New Guinea Council was inaugurated on 5 April 1961 with 28 council members, 16 of whom had been elected in elections held during January 1961. The council's inauguration was attended by representatives from Australia, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and other Pacific Forum nations with exception of the United States.

The council was requested to make its wishes on self-determination known within a year. During an emergency session the council drafted a national manifesto and symbols including the Morning Star flag for a new national identity to be known as "West Papua".

United Nations Temporary Executive Authority

Following the August 1962 New York Agreement between the governments of the Netherlands and Indonesia, the administration of Western New Guinea was assumed by the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA) on 1 October 1962. A deliberative body, also known as the New Guinea Council, was convened by the United Nations administrator on 4 December 1962 and disbanded on 1 May 1963 when Western New Guinea was handed over to Indonesia.

Council members and officials

Members

Members of the council were elected in the 1961 Dutch New Guinea general election.

Officials

Frits Sollewijn Gelpke was Council Chairman and Nicolaas Jouwe was Vice-Chair. J. W. Trouw was the Clerk of the Council.

Council building

The council building was built in Hollandia between 1960 and 1961. Currently the building houses the regional legislature of Papua, .

Gallery

Erewacht van de Algemene Politie voor de voorlopige vergaderzaal van de Nieuw-Guinea Raad (Stadsgehoorzaal) te Hollandia ter gelegenheid van de installatie van deze raad, KITLV 44706.tiff|Council building in Hollandia De opening van de Nieuw-Guinea Raad, KITLV 44712.tiff|New Guinea Council in session Nieuwe serie postzegels t.g.v. installatie Nieuw Guinea Raad, Bestanddeelnr 934-6340.jpg|Council building in Hollandia Voorzitter en twee leden Nieuw Guinea Raad terug naar Nieuw-Guinea B Mofu , Ab, Bestanddeelnr 913-3648 (cropped).jpg|Chairman J.H.F. Sollewijn Gelpke and councillors Arfan and Mofu File:Nicolaas Jouwe (1962).jpg|Vice-chair Nicolaas Jouwe File:Leden van de delegatie van de Nieuw Guinea Raad op Soestdijk Sollewijn Gelpke ,, Bestanddeelnr 913-2917.jpg|Members of the council with Queen Juliana of the Netherlands File:Nieuw-Guinea Raad op Euromast, Bestanddeelnr 912-9197.jpg|Members of the council at Euromast

References

References

1. (14 April 1961). "Dutch New Guinea". Reuters.
2. Tanggahma, Leonie. (1 December 2012). "A History of the Morning Star Flag of West Papua". West Papua Media.
3. newspaper report. [http://wpik.org/Src/SMH/19610406p6.pdf Sydney Morning Herald, 6 April 1961] {{Webarchive. link. (29 July 2020)
4. [http://wpik.org/Src/WNGC_res00.html New Guinea Council statements]
5. "UNITED NATIONS SECURITY FORCE IN WEST NEW GUINEA (UNSF) - Background".
6. [https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-322675100/view?partId=nla.obj-323282242#page/n137/mode/1up Members of NNG's New Council] ''Pacific Islands Monthly'', April 1961, pp136–137
7. "Nieuw Guinea 67/68 Nieuw-Guinea Raad Postfris".