The New Guinea Council (, ) was a unicameral representative body for the Dutch overseas territory of Netherlands New Guinea between 1961 and 1962 and the United Nations administered territory of West New Guinea between 1962 and 1963.
History Netherlands New Guniea 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.
The council was requested to make its wishes on self-determination known within a year.newspaper report. Sydney Morning Herald, 6 April 1961 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".New Guinea Council statements
United Nations Temporary Executive Authority 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. The New Guinea Council, was re-convened by the United Nations administrator on 4 December 1962. It was disbanded on 1 May 1963 when Western New Guinea was handed over to Indonesia.
Council members and officials Members Members of the council were elected in the 1961 Dutch New Guinea general election.https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-322675100/view?partId=nla.obj-323282242#page/n137/mode/1up
Elected members ConstituencyElected membersAjamaruDaud DedaFakfakNicolaas TanggahmaHollandiaNicolaas JouweHollandia CityO.J. de RijkeJapen–WaropenE.J. Boney, M.B. RamandeyKaimanaMohamad AchmadManokwariH.F.W. GosewichMeraukeA. Kendau GebseNimboranManasse SuwaeRadja AmpatAbulla ArfanRansikiP. ToreySchouten IslandsMarkus Kaisepo, B. MofuSorongA. van ZeelandTeminaboeanA. Onim
Appointed members Appointed membersL.J. van de BergBertus BurwosKarel GobaiF. KammaClemens KiriwaibV. MaturbongsThontji MezethFredericus PoanaSimon SamkakaiDorkas Tokoro-HanasbeyDominicus WalabHerman Womsiwor
Officials Frits Sollewijn Gelpke was Council Chairman and Nicolaas Jouwe was Vice-Chair. J. W. Trouw was the Clerk of the Council.Members of NNG's New Council Pacific Islands Monthly, April 1961, pp136–137
Council building The council building was built in Hollandia between 1960 and 1961. Currently the building houses the regional legislature of Papua, .Based on building similarities between the New Guinea Council building on 1961 Netherlands New Guinea stamps () and the current old building of DPR Papua.
Gallery
See also Kosovo Transitional Council, similar body that existed in United Nations Administered Kosovo between 1999 and 2001 National Council (East Timor), similar body that existed in United Nations Administered East Timor between 1999 and 2001
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