Papua (Indonesian province)

Papua is a province of Indonesia comprising part of the western half of the island of New Guinea and nearby islands (see also Western New Guinea). (The name Papua has had a somewhat confusing history: for details see the discussion under New Guinea). The name West Papua is preferred among nationalists who hope to separate from Indonesia and form their own country (the region was promised a referendum on independence from the Netherlands). The province was known as West Irian or Irian Barat from 1969 to 1973—Irian is the Indonesian term for the island of New Guinea. It was then renamed Irian Jaya (roughly translated, "Victorious Irian") by Suharto, a name that remained in official use until 2002. During the colonial era the region was known as Dutch New Guinea or Netherlands New Guinea.

Related Topics:
Province - Indonesia - New Guinea - Western New Guinea - The Netherlands - 1969 - 1973 - Indonesian - Suharto - 2002 - Netherlands New Guinea

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The province originally covered the entire western half of New Guinea, but in 2003, the western portion of the province, on the Bird's Head Peninsula, was made a separate province named West Irian Jaya.

Related Topics:
Bird's Head Peninsula - West Irian Jaya

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