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Historical
Dates - In Chronological Order
1511-12
Antonio d' Abreu and Francisco Serrano, Portuguese sailors, sight
New Guinea but do not go ashore.
1526-27
The
Portuguese Governor of Ternate, Jorge de Menezes, lands on Waigeo
Island, takes shelter at Warsai on the Vogelkop for some months and
names the region, "Ilhas dos Papuas".
1528
Hernan Cortez, Spanish conquistador in Mexico, sent Alvaro de
Saavreda Ceron to relieve a Spanish outpost under siege from the
Portuguese in Tidore. Lives for one month on the Schouten Islands
(probably Biak) which he calls, "Isla de Oro".
1537
In Mexico,
Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortez directs Hernan Grijalva to search
for the 'Island of Gold' - mutiny and ship abandoned at Cenderawasih
Bay. Seven survivors captured and enslaved by natives. Eventually
ransomed by the Portuguese governor of Ternate years later.
1545
Ynigo Ortiz de Retes, Mexican-based Spanish captain, sailed along
the north coast and plants the Spanish flag at a spot east of the
mouth of the Mamberamo River on 20th June, taking possession of the
island in the name of the King of Spain and names it "Nueva
Guinea".
1569
New Guinea
appeared on the Mercator world map.
1606
Luis Vaez de Torres, a Portuguese sailor in the service of Spain,
explores the entire south and west coast and sails through the
Torres Strait which he discovered and from whom Torres Strait is
named. Willem Jansz, a Dutchman, sails along the west and south
coast.
1616
Jacob Le Maire and Willem Schouten chart the north coast, including
the islands in Cenderawasih Bay.
1623
Jan Carstensz sails along the south west coast and sees a "very
high mountain range [that is] in many places white with snow".
Report greeted with disbelief and ridicule in Europe, as no one
believed there could be snow so near the Equator (4° South). The
doubters did not check with the Spaniards about the Andes, and it
was 200 years later before the snows on Kilimanjaro were sighted.
1660
Treaty
between the Dutch East India Company (V.O.C.) and the Sultan of
Tidore whereby the V.O.C. recognizes the Sultan's sovereignty over
the "Papuan islands in general" but with an "internal
alliance" which stipulated that all Europeans were forbidden in
the area except the Dutch.
1678
First Dutch
flag hoisted on west coast by Keyts.
1700
William
Dampier sails along the North and West Coast. His voyage sparks the
VOC again to activity.
1705
Jacob
Weyland discovers and explores the Geelvink Bay.
1714
Treaty of Utrecht - Tidore empire rescinds New Guinea to the VOC
(Dutch East India Company) and the British.
1750
Power of the
VOC declines; Other nations appear in these regions.
1768
Louis de Bougainville sails along the north coast and names the
Cyclops mountain range near Port Numbay / Jayapura.
1770
Captain James Cook travels along the south west coast during his
round the world voyage. Lands at Cook Bay but hostile Asmat warriors
force a hasty retreat. Cook lost 20 of his men to the Asmat. The
Asmat practiced cannibalism.
1775
Thomas
Forrest of the British East India Company lands at Doreri Bay near
Manokwari, on Cenderawasih Bay, to search for an alternative supply
of spices outside the Dutch sphere of control.
1780
Prince Nuku,
Pretender to the Throne of Tidore, flees to the Papuan islands and
commences guerilla warfare against the Dutch.
1791
John
McCluer, a Briton, stopped on the southwest coast of West Papua. He
mapped the gulf which almost cuts the Bird's Head from the body. It
was named McCluer Bay and this name was changed to the present day
Berau Bay after West Papua's integration into Indonesia. On the map
this bay lies north of Fak Fak.
1793
The British
Captain John Hayes established Fort Coronation at Doreri Bay,
Vogelkop, the first European settlement. He named the settlement New
Albion.
1795
April
- Fort Coronation abandoned due to native hostility, lack of
supplies, and disease. All men not taken as slaves by the natives
were very ill. Disappointing quality of spices led the British East
India Company to decline to recognise the settlement. Survivors
spent 6 months as guests of Prince Nuku on Seram Island (Ceram),
after which they were repatriated to Calcutta.
1826
Pieter Mercus, Dutch Governor of the Molluccas, sent an official
expedition to claim the south coast of New Guinea up to the 141°
parallel, on hearing false rumours of the existence of a British
trading post somewhere in south west New Guinea. Expedition led by
Lieutenant Kolff.
1829
Dutch Explorer de Rochemont lands briefly at Flamingo Bay.
1828
24th August
- Dutch
formally proclaim the south west coast as a Netherlands possession.
Dutch government post and colony named Merkussoord established on
Triton Bay. Fort du Bus was built of stone and named after the
Belgian Viscount du Bus de Ghisignies, Governor-General of the Dutch
East Indies.
1838
Malaria finally forced the abandonment of Merkussoord colony and
Fort du Bus.
1848
Netherlands Indies government lays claim to West New Guinea as far
as the 141° parallel in the name of the Sultan of Tidore.
1855
5th February
- The first German missionaries, C. W. Ottow and J. G. Geissler
settle on Mansinam Island, Doreri Bay.
1862
Three Dutch missionaries of the Utrecht Mission Society arrive at
Doreri Bay.
1875
Eastern boundary to 141° parallel determined.
1884
British flag
raised at Port Moresby - South East New Guinea declared a British
Protectorate. Germans claim North East New Guinea - Kaiser
Wilhelmsafen.
1895
16th May
- Treaty of The Hague signed whereby boundary with British New
Guinea is determined which to today remains unchanged.
1898
Dutch government administrative posts established at Fak-Fak and
Manokwari.
1902
Dutch government post opened at Merauke.
1905
Two Dutch
Roman Catholic missionaries settle at Merauke. Dutch steamer Valk
chugged 560 km (350 miles) up the Digul River from the south coast.
Snow-crested peak sighted and dubbed Wilhelmina Top in honour of the
Dutch Queen.
1907-15
Military
explorative expeditions map all of West New Guinea except the
interior mountain ranges.
1910
7th March
- Dutch flag hoisted at Hollandia (now Port Numbay / Jayapura).
Border with German New Guinea (north east New Guinea) settled this
year also.
1913
Franssen Herderschee climbs the Wilhelmina Top (15,585 ft) from the
south on 21st February.
1920
Van Overeem
Expedition visits the Swart Valley.
1921
Kremer expedition reaches the Wilhelmina Top from the North after
crossing the headwaters of the Baliem river.
1926
Dutch - American Stirling expedition to the upper Rouffaer regions,
the first expedition to use air transport.
1928
Demarcation
line between Protestant and Roman Catholic missions abolished.
Franciscan mission founded at Fak Fak.
1929
The Moluccan Protestants (M.P.K.) commence work in south New Guinea.
1930
First
expatriate settlers arrive at Manokwari and Hollandia (Port Numbay /
Jayapura).
1935
Bijlmer expedition to the Charles Louis Mountains.
1936-7
Colijn, Dozy and Wissel climb some of the Carstensz Peaks. Ngga Pulu
Top (16,530 ft) reached 5th December. Wissel discovers the lakes
which bears his name, 31st December. Aerial mapping begun by the
Netherlands New Guinea Petroleum Company.
1938
23rd June
- American explorer Richard Archbold, travelling under the
auspices of the American Museum of Natural History, discovers Baliem
Valley (60km by 15km or 37 miles by 9 miles) from the seaplane Guba
on his third expedition. First Dutch Government post opened in the
Highlands at Enarotali, Wissel Lakes.
1939
Le Roux
expedition to the Wissel Lakes region . C.A.M.A and Roman Catholic
missionaries begin work at Wissel Lakes.
1942
Japanese
seize all but the southeastern part of New Guinea. They arrive in
Fak Fak on 1st April (April Fool's Day) and at Manokwari on 12th
April.
1944
Hollandia
(Port Numbay / Jayapura) recaptured from the Japanese 22nd April.
General Douglas MacArthur devised his 'island-hopping' strategy
whilst looking at the various islands dotted around Lake Sentani
from his base at Ifar Gunung (Mount Ifar) at the foot of Mount
Cyclops. Thus the Philippines were liberated and the Japanese
eventually defeated in the Pacific War of WWII.
1949
All Dutch East Indies except Netherlands New Guinea (West Papua)
handed over to the newly independent Republic of Indonesia. The
Constitution of the Government of Netherlands New Guinea is
established.
1951-1958
Various missions begin work around Hollandia, the Vogelkop area, the
Baliem Valley and related locales. 20th April 1954 - Lloyd van Stone
of CMA (Christian & Missionary Alliance) began preaching amongst
the Dani tribes.
1959
Dutch expedition to the Star Mountains. Juliana Peak reached.
1961
October
- Ist Papuan Congress held. 1st
December
- Nieuw Guinea Raad (West Papuan Parliament) set up. Nieuw Guinea
Raad (West Papuan Parliament) set up. West
Papuan State Symbols approved by the Dutch Governor of Netherlands
Niew Guinea (West Papua) in the name of the Queen of the Netherlands. 20th
December
- Indonesia
invades West Papua overnight. Paratroopers dropped all over West
Papua. Papuan flag replaced with Indonesian flag.
1961
Harvard Peabody Expedition to Baliem Valley. 18th
November
1962
U.N.T.E.A. (United Nations Temporary Executive Authority) replaces
the Dutch Administration in West New Guinea October 1962 - transfer
of sovereignty over West Papua from the Netherlands to Indonesia
lasting to May 1963. Harrer expedition climbs Carstenz Pyramid on
13th February (17,000 feet). The Dutch defeat Indonesian naval
attack which resulted in the loss of Admiral Yos Sudarso of the
Indonesian Navy.
1963
1st May
- Indonesia assumes full administrative control of West Papua
(named West Irian) from the interim administrative control of the
UNTEA (United Nations Temporary Executive Authority).
1968
Two Protestant missionaries, Australian Stan Dale and American Phil
Masters, killed and eaten by cannibals while hiking from Koruppun to
Ninia.
1969
A
plebiscite, generally seen as rigged, formalised Indonesian rule of
West Papua (rigged in that only 1,025 tribal leaders hand-picked by
Indonesia voted under duress for integration with Indonesia lest
they lose their lives otherwise - resulting in all 1,025 or 100% of
them returning a vote in favour of Indonesian control of West
Papua). Most of the 1,025 Papuans have since rescinded their vote.
1970
A seven (7) metre (23ft) estuarine crocodile which had taken
55 human victims killed near the Asmat village of Piramat.
1973
3rd March
- West Papua renamed Irian Jaya (from West Irian).
1977
- Papuans refuse to vote in 2nd Indonesian general election.
Indonesia uses this as an excuse for aerial bombardment of whole
regions throughout West Papua. Many Papuans killed / lost relatives. Between
1977
and 1978 11,000 Papuans fled across the border into
neighbouring Papua New Guinea.
1996
January
- hostage crisis in Mapnduma - to internationalise the case of West
Papua, the OPM led by the notorious Kelly Kwalik kidnapped 26 people
including 7 European scientists (of which 4 were Cambridge
University undergraduates) on a scientific expedition. Held for
several months but eventually released.
1998
15th April
- 16 people
including a New Zealand national shot dead by a mentally disturbed
member of the Indonesian Army's Kopassus Special Forces.
1999
26th February
- Team of 100 Delegation of West Papuans presented statement
to B.J. Habibie, the then President of Indonesia, and his Cabinet to
discuss the matter of West Papua. 1st
December -
Theys Eluay
raised West Papuan flag, Ist West Papuan independence celebration
after 38 years.
2000 Millenium Day, 1st Jan. -
Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid (popularly known as Gus Dur)
gave his agreement that Irian Jaya be renamed Papua (or West Papua,
to differentiate from independent Papua New Guinea, its immediate
neighbour to the east). 29th
May - 4th June -
II Papuan Peoples Congress held in Port Numbay / Jayapura, the
provincial administrative capital. 3000 participants representing
all indigenous segments and tribes within West Papua voted to
correct the history of West Papua, vehemently reject the 1969 Act of
Free Choice, sever West Papua from Indonesia, and to pursue
international recognition of the independence of West Papua as a
sovereign nation since 1st December 1961.
6th October - At least 30 people, mostly settlers, die in a
bloody riot in Wamena when Indonesian police cut down the Morning
Star flag from its post, and ripped it to shreds in front of the
Papuans before burning it. Not surprisingly, the Papuans went on a
rampage. Mass exodus of transmigrants and non-Papuans from Wamena
regency to Jayapura the provincial capital.
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