Papuan Figures in the Indonesian Independence Special Edition
Why did the prominent figures from Papua fail to bring the Papuans to support the Republic of Indonesia?
Hussein Abri Dongoran
August 14, 2023
AFTER the years he spent struggling to integrate West Irian into Indonesia, Silas Papare was indifferent about the Act of Free Choice or Pepera held from July 14 to August 2, 1969. The former House of Representatives member instead chose to tend to his cattle in Sawendui village, Raimbawi District, Yapen Islands. In fact, he was among the Indonesian delegation at the Round Table Conference where West Irian was contested by Indonesia and the Nethe
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