The Council Of Papua Formed By The Netherlands In History Today, April 5, 1961

The seconds of raising the Red and White Flag when West Irian was returned by the Dutch to Indonesia on May 1, 1963. (Doc. History of the Indonesian Navy)

JAKARTA History today, 62 years ago, April 5, 1961, the Netherlands formed the Papuan Council. The efforts were made by the Dutch so that Papua would not fall into the hands of Indonesia. Even the Papuan Council has the task of smoothing the Dutch desire to build a puppet country, Papua.

Previously, Indonesia had struggled to seize Papua from the hands of the Dutch. The intention was made at the Round Table Conference (KMB). As a result, the Netherlands was willing to recognize Indonesia's sovereignty. However, not with Papua. The Dutch wanted to control the region.

Indonesia's strength in defending independence through diplomacy cannot be underestimated. The power of diplomacy is in fact able to talk a lot, compared to the lifting of arms during the revolution. This fact is due to the condition of Indonesia, which is still old as corn.

Alias, Indonesia does not yet have an adequate army of war. Diplomacy was also able to bring Indonesia to be recognized by countries in the world. Many of them, "Egypt to India -- have the intention of fighting colonialism above the world of having support."

At its peak, support for Indonesia's independence achieved maximum results in the KMB in the Netherlands in 1949. This celebration made Indonesia's fate as an independent country bright.

The Dutch finally agreed to recognize Indonesia's sovereignty. The results of the KMB were also greeted with great fanfare. Indonesia's struggle to defend independence was finally achieved. Then, the Netherlands fully recognized Indonesia's sovereignty by signing an agreement in two places. Dam Palace in the Netherlands and Rijswijk Palace (now: State Palace) on December 27, 1949.

The strength of national unity was also proven when Indonesia's integrity was threatened with tearing by the design of the country of the Republic of Indonesia (RIS) which the Netherlands wanted. Based on the results of the KMB in The Hague from August 23 to November 2, 1949, the Dutch government gave up completely unconditionally.

Upaya itu harus dilakukan sebelum 30 Desember 1949, kedaulatan Belanda atas semua wilayah bekas Hindia, kecuali Papua, kepada Republik Indonesia Serikat (RIS). RIS terdiri dari Republik Indonesia dan 15 negara bagian bentukan Belanda, dengan Soekarno menjabat sebagai Presiden RIS, sementara Mohammad Hatta sebagai Wakil Presiden dan Perdana Menteri (1949-1950), terang Yudi Latif dalam buku Mata Air Ketadanan: Pancasila dalam Perdahatan(2014).

It is possible that the Dutch recognized Indonesia as a country. However, the recognized territory of Indonesia does not include Papua. The Dutch actually acted to defend Papua as their territory. Meanwhile, the government remains in a position where Indonesia will not be complete without Papua.

Indonesia's strong will is understood by the Dutch. In order to reduce it, the Dutch then moved quickly. They immediately inaugurated the Papuan Council on April 5, 1961. The inauguration was considered a Dutch study establishing a puppet country.

This reputation angered Indonesia and Bung Karno waged a war against the Dutch. Big Brother also launched Three People's Commands (Trikora). First, Bung Karno invited the entire archipelago to thwart the formation of a puppet nation. Second, fly the Red and White in West Irian. Third, prepare for general mobilization to maintain Indonesian independence and integrity.

The reason he put forward was because of Indonesia's attitude in breaking diplomatic relations and was only willing to negotiate the problem of resolving West Irian on the basis of handing over control of the region to Indonesia. Dutch actions regarding West Irian turned out not only there.

On April 5, 1961, the Netherlands inaugurated the Papuan Council with the flag and national anthem that had been prepared. This then leads to the formation of a Papuan State. With the plan to form a Papuan State, it means placing West Irian sovereignty outside the Republic of Indonesia," it is written in the book History of the Indonesian Army AD 1945-1973 Volume 3 (1979).