This was the first time in its history that the United Nations assumed direct administrative responsibility for a territory (as opposed to monitoring or supervising). The UN was responsible for promoting and safeguarding human rights at the national level. The United Nations would go on to undertake similar missions in Cambodia (UNTAC), the Eastern Slavonia region of Croatia (UNTAES), Kosovo (UNMIK) and East Timor (UNTAET).
History
Western New Guinea became the focus of a political dispute between the Netherlands and Indonesia following the recognition of the independence of the latter. The Indonesian side claimed the territory as its own while the Dutch side maintained that its residents were not Indonesian and that the Netherlands would continue to administer the territory as Dutch New Guinea until it was capable of self-determination.
In May 1959 a United States diplomat proposed a scheme for using a "a special United Nations trusteeship over the territory for a limited number of years, at the end of which time sovereignty would be turned over to Indonesia";[2] and in March 1961 the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta asserted "the Indos once contended that UN trusteeship would be anathema under any circumstances. Now, although they have not gone so far as to be willing to call a trusteeship a trusteeship, they talk in terms of "one or two years" of some kind of interregnum as being acceptable."[3] The Netherlands refused to directly transfer the colony to Indonesia and, with Operation Trikora underway, requested the UN dictate self-determination rights in 1962.[4] On 15 August, Indonesia and The Netherlands signed the New York Agreement, which promulgated a transfer via a temporary United Nations administration.
The United Nations General Assembly approved the agreement and accepted administration on 21 September in General Assembly resolution 1752.[5] The UN administration took effect on 1 October 1962.
According to the New York Agreement, UNTEA could legislate, appoint government officials, and guarantee law and order. These permissions led to the establishment of a court system, a New Guinea Council and regional councils.[7] An official gazette was established on 1 October 1962.[8] During the seven-month transition period Dutch civil servants and officials were slowly recalled to the Netherlands and were replaced by, UN, local and Indonesian officials.
A deliberative body known as the New Guinea Council was convened by the administrator on 4 December 1962. The administrator had the power to appoint members to the council and to fill any vacancies that may have arised. Eleven regional representative councils were also established.[9]
UNTEA had the authority to issue travel documents to residents of Western New Guinea. The Netherlands and Indonesia were responsible for providing consular assistance and protection abroad to persons carrying UNTEA issued travel documents.[10]
Liaison offices
The following countries established liaison offices in Hollandia:[11][12]
In addition to civil administration, the United Nations also had a peacekeeping role through a United Nations Security Force (UNSF). The maximum force strength was 1,500 infantry and 76 aircraft personnel. Pakistan, Canada and United States contributed personnel with Pakistan providing 1,500 troops and the United States and Canada contributing 60 and 16 air force personnel respectively.[13] The locally recruited Papuan Volunteer Corps, established by the Netherlands in 1961, was also placed under UNSF command.[11] The Force Commander for the UNSF was Said Uddin Khan of Pakistan.
Following the departure of Dutch police officers, Philippine officers were initially drafted in as an interim measure, before being replaced by Indonesian officers under UNTEA command.[11]
Postal history
Nineteen postage stamps, as well as some postal stationery items, were issued by UNTEA. These were created by overprinting existing stocks of Netherlands New Guinea issues.[14] At the time packets of all stamps were sold at UN Headquarters by the United Nations Postal Administration and they remain readily available on the retail market.
UNTEA postage stamp
Netherlands New Guinea stamps were overprinted by UNTEA
↑ Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Indonesia, Volume XVII; 203. Despatch From the Embassy in Indonesia to the Department of State
↑ Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XXIII, Southeast Asia; 150. Telegram From the Embassy in Indonesia to the Department of State
↑ Childs, James B. (December 1963). "UNTEA Official Gazette. 1962 numbers 1–9, to 1963, number 17. Official Gazette of the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority, West New Guinea, West Irian. (Hollandia, West New Guinea, UNTEA, 1962–63. 5 nos. 62 leaves mimeographed.)". American Political Science Review. 57 (4): 1036. doi:10.1017/S0003055400283470. S2CID152038960– via Cambridge University Press.
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