New Guinea Council

Last updated
New Guinea Council
Netherlands New Guinea coa 1961.svg
Leadership
Chair
Frits Sollewijn Gelpke
Vice-Chair
Clerk
J. W. Trouw
Seats28
Elections
16 elected
12 appointed
Last election
 1961
Meeting place
De opening van de Nieuw-Guinea Raad, KITLV 44712.tiff
Hollandia

The New Guinea Council (Dutch : Nieuw-Guinea Raad) was a unicameral representative body formed in the Dutch overseas territory of Netherlands New Guinea in 1961.

Contents

History

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. [1] [2]

The council was requested to make its wishes on self-determination known within a year. [3] 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". [4]

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 [5] and disbanded on 1 May 1963 when Western New Guinea was handed over to Indonesia.

Council 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, People's Representative Council of Papua  [ id ]. [6]

References

  1. ↑ Dutch New Guinea. Reuters TV (Television production). Reuters. 14 April 1961. 2639/61. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  2. ↑ Tanggahma, Leonie (1 December 2012). "A History of the Morning Star Flag of West Papua". West Papua Media. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  3. ↑ newspaper report. Sydney Morning Herald, 6 April 1961
  4. ↑ New Guinea Council statements
  5. ↑ "UNITED NATIONS SECURITY FORCE IN WEST NEW GUINEA (UNSF) - Background".
  6. ↑ Based on building similarities between the New Guinea Council building on 1961 Netherlands New Guinea stamps ( "Nieuw Guinea 67/68 Nieuw-Guinea Raad Postfris". First Quality Stamps. Retrieved 4 February 2021.) and the current old building of DPR Papua.
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