Nonie Sharp

The Dutch colonial government prepared the territory, which covers the western half of New Guinea and surrounding small islands, for independence during 1952-1961. Under international pressure, however, the Dutch were forced to 'give away' the territory to the Indonesian state in 1963, as the countries in the Southeast Asian - Australian region preferred the regional political stability to the human rights of a poverished self-sufficient people. The struggle for independence continued and the repression by the Indonesian army took thousands of lifes in the villages.… (more)