19 November 1969
UN Abandons West Papua
Photo collection Het Vrije Volk
BG H12/356
Since 1962 the former Dutch colony of West Papua was under UN protection. In fact, Indonesia ruled it and had no compassion whatever for the Papuan independence movement. UN diplomats carried out research on the spot and concluded that it was politically unfeasible to separate West Papua from Indonesia. To the Papuans great sorrow, the UN dropped their country after a sham 'Act of Free Choice'. West Papua officially became a province of Indonesia on 19 November 1969. The photograph shows a demonstration in The Hague on 8 November 1969 intended to influence the discussion in the UN.
Today in the Biographies Dutch Labour Movement
Born on 19 November |
Died on 19 November |