Why is West Papua important to Indonesia?

The Dutch also wanted to maintain a regional presence and to secure their economic interests in Indonesia. On the other hand, Indonesia regarded West New Guinea as an intrinsic part of the country on the basis that Indonesia was the successor state to the Dutch East Indies.

When did Indonesia control West Papua?

The US government managed to engineer a meeting between Indonesia and the Netherlands resulting in the New York Agreement, which in 1962 gave control of West Papua to the United Nations and one year later transferred control to Indonesia.

Why is West Papua so poor?

Poverty Rates This lack of local control is an essential component of poverty in New Guinea as the populace of the western half of the island lacks political control of their vast natural resources. Much like Indonesian New Guinea, Papua New Guinea has a wealth of natural resources.

Does West Papua have a government?

Independence leader Benny Wenda announced the formation of the Provisional Government of West Papua on 1 December 2020. The now president of the provisional government further set out in a statement that the body would “begin implementing our own constitution and reclaiming our sovereign land”.

Who governs West Papua?

Indonesia
West Papua is the second-least populous province in Indonesia, with a population of 1,134,068 at the 2020 Census….West Papua (province)

West Papua Papua Barat
• Governor	Dominggus Mandacan
• Vice Governor	Mohamad Lakotani
Area
• Total	102,946.15 km2 (39,747.73 sq mi)

How did West Papua become part of Indonesia?

The New York Agreement specified that all men and women in Papua that were not foreign nationals had the right to vote in the Act. On 1 May 1963, UNTEA transferred total administration of West New Guinea to the Republic of Indonesia.