The Political Status of West Papua (Part 6)

Since the conclusion of the Round Table Conference, Indonesia had sought to find ways for a peaceful settlement to the question of West Papua in line with Article 2 of the Charter of Transfer of Sovereignty:

• a. In April 1950, an Indonesian-Netherlands Ministers' Conference on financial matters in Jakarta dis some preliminary work on the question of West Papua. Also a Commission comprising of Netherlands and Indonesian representatives was established to visit and make an investigation on West Papua. The Conference decided that negotiations on this question should continue, on the basis of the report of the Commission, at the Second Conference of Ministers of the Netherlands - Indonesia Union, at the Hague during 1050.

The Political Status of West Papua (Part 3)

The status of the Netherlands East Indies territory including West Papua, was never in question is further confirmed by the following events concerning the validity of Indonesia's position.

1. In December 1946 the Dutch Governor-General Dr. H.J. Van Mook reiterated the view of his government: "Decidedly not the intention of the Government (the Dutch Government) to exclude New Guinea from Indonesia".

The Political Status of West Papua (Part 2)

For Indonesia, this was a difficult compromise for what this envisaged was that the Netherlands military presence and administrative control would remain in Indonesian territory for the stipulated period of one more year. It also presented Indonesia with great difficulties to have part of its territory under occupation and have such position ratified by its Parliament. Therefore, it can be said that Indonesia's acceptance of this compromise was a reflection of its sincere determination to resolve through peaceful means in accordance with the aims of the United Nations and its own national policies, a situation that had the potential to disturb international peace and security. What made this position even more unacceptable was that the newly independent Republic of Indonesia had to contend with a dispute over its territory, when it was not a question of its making. (*)