United Nations Temporary Executive Authority

Western New Guinea became the focus of a political dispute between the Netherlands and Indonesia following the recognition of the independence of the latter. The Indonesian side claimed the territory as its own while the Dutch side maintained that its residents were not Indonesian and that the Netherlands would continue to administer the territory as Dutch New Guinea until it was capable of self-determination.

In May 1959 a United States diplomat proposed a scheme for using a "a special United Nations trusteeship over the territory for a limited number of years, at the end of which time sovereignty would be turned over to Indonesia";Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Indonesia, Volume XVII; 203. Despatch From the Embassy in Indonesia to the Department of State and in March 1961 the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta asserted "the Indos once contended that UN trusteeship would be anathema under any circumstances. Now, although they have not gone so far as to be willing to call a trusteeship a trusteeship, they talk in terms of "one or two years" of some kind of interregnum as being acceptable."Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XXIII, Southeast Asia; 150. Telegram From the Embassy in Indonesia to the Department of State The Netherlands refused to directly transfer the colony to Indonesia and, with Operation Trikora underway, requested the UN dictate self-determination rights in 1962.{{cite journal |last1=Lopez-Reyes |first1=Ramon |title=United Nations Zones of Peace Territories: A Proposal for Transforming the Trusteeship System |journal=Peace Research |date=1995 |volume=27 |issue=1 |page=78 |jstor=23607653 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/23607653 |issn=0008-4697}} On 15 August, Indonesia and The Netherlands signed the New York Agreement, which promulgated a transfer via a temporary United Nations administration.

The United Nations General Assembly approved the agreement and accepted administration on 21 September in General Assembly resolution 1752.{{cite journal |last1=McCorquodale |first1=Robert |last2=Robinson |first2=Jennifer |last3=Peart |first3=Nicola |title=Territorial Integrity and Consent in the Chagos Advisory Opinion |author-link2=Jennifer Robinson (lawyer) |author-link3=Nicola Peart |journal=International and Comparative Law Quarterly |date=January 2020 |volume=69 |issue=1 |page=221 |url=https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/incolq69&i=227 |doi=10.1017/S0020589319000551|s2cid=212816137}} The UN administration took effect on 1 October 1962.

The transfer of authority took place on 1 May 1963 and West New Guinea became a province of Indonesia known as West Irian (Irian Barat).The name used until 3 March 1973. It was agreed that following the transfer of authority Elias Jan Bonai, a member of the New Guinea Council, would be appointed as the first Indonesian Governor.{{cite web | url=https://peacekeeping.un.org/sites/default/files/past/unsfbackgr.html | title=UNITED NATIONS SECURITY FORCE IN WEST NEW GUINEA (UNSF) - Background }} It later evolved into the present-day provinces of Papua, Southwest Papua, Central Papua, South Papua, Highland Papua and West Papua.

According to the New York Agreement, UNTEA could legislate, appoint government officials, and guarantee law and order. These permissions led to the establishment of a court system, a New Guinea Council and regional councils.{{cite journal |last1=Kondoch |first1=Boris |title=The United Nations Administration of East Timor |journal=Journal of Conflict & Security Law |date=2001 |volume=6 |issue=2 |page=252 |doi=10.1093/jcsl/6.2.245 |jstor=26294294 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/26294294 |issn=1467-7954}} An official gazette was established on 1 October 1962.{{cite journal |last1=Childs |first1=James B. |title=UNTEA Official Gazette. 1962 numbers 1–9, to 1963, number 17. Official Gazette of the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority, West New Guinea, West Irian. (Hollandia, West New Guinea, UNTEA, 1962–63. 5 nos. 62 leaves mimeographed.) |journal=American Political Science Review |date=December 1963 |volume=57 |issue=4 |page=1036 |doi=10.1017/S0003055400283470 |s2cid=152038960 |via=Cambridge University Press}} During the seven-month transition period Dutch civil servants and officials were slowly recalled to the Netherlands and were replaced by, UN, local and Indonesian officials.

The New Guinea Council, first elected in January 1961, was reconvened by the administrator on 4 December 1962 and members took new oaths of office, swearing allegiance to UNTEA. The administrator had the power to appoint new members of the council to fill any vacancies that may arise. Eleven regional councils were also established.{{cite web | url=https://peacekeeping.un.org/sites/default/files/past/unsfbackgr.html | title=UNITED NATIONS SECURITY FORCE IN WEST NEW GUINEA (UNSF) - Background }}

UNTEA was initially led by acting administrator {{ill|José Rolz-Bennett|es}} of Guatemala from 1 October 1962 to 15 November, and then by {{ill|Jalal Abdoh|fa|جلال عبده|}} of Imperial Iran who served as administrator from 15 November 1962 to 1 May 1963.

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| 1 May 1963

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UNTEA had the authority to issue travel documents to residents of Western New Guinea. The Netherlands and Indonesia were responsible for providing consular assistance and protection abroad to persons carrying UNTEA issued travel documents.https://treaties.un.org/doc/publication/unts/volume%20437/volume-437-i-6312-english.pdf

The following countries established liaison offices in Hollandia:{{Cite web | url=https://www.mpil.de/files/pdf2/mpunyb_gruss_9_97_126.pdf | title=UNTEA and West New Guinea | first=Daniel | last=Gruss | website=www.mpil.de}}{{cite web | url=https://peacekeeping.un.org/sites/default/files/past/unsfbackgr.html#four | title=UNITED NATIONS SECURITY FORCE IN WEST NEW GUINEA (UNSF) - Background }}

• {{Flag|Netherlands}}
• {{Flag|Indonesia}}
• {{Flag|Australia}}

In addition to civil administration, the United Nations also had a peacekeeping role through a United Nations Security Force (UNSF). The maximum force strength was 1,500 infantry and 76 aircraft personnel. Pakistan, Canada and United States contributed personnel with Pakistan providing 1,500 troops and the United States and Canada contributing 60 and 16 air force personnel respectively.{{cite journal |last1=Goodwin |first1=Geoffrey L. |title=The Commonwealth and the United Nations |journal=International Organization |date=1965 |volume=19 |issue=3 |page=691 |doi=10.1017/S0020818300012510 |jstor=2705876 |s2cid=153884868 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2705876 |issn=0020-8183}} The locally recruited Papuan Volunteer Corps, established by the Netherlands in 1961, was also placed under UNSF command. The Force Commander for the UNSF was Said Uddin Khan of Pakistan.

Following the departure of Dutch police officers, Philippine officers were initially drafted in as an interim measure, before being replaced by Indonesian officers under UNTEA command.

Nineteen postage stamps, as well as some postal stationery items, were issued by UNTEA. These were created by overprinting existing stocks of Netherlands New Guinea issues.{{Cite web |url=http://www.destiga.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=49&catid=37 |title=UNTEA (UNITED NATIONS TEMPORARY EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY) |access-date=14 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204085815/http://destiga.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=49&catid=37 |archive-date=4 February 2009 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} At the time packets of all stamps were sold at UN Headquarters by the United Nations Postal Administration and they remain readily available on the retail market.

File:Unstamp untea 25.jpg|UNTEA postage stamp

File:Postzegels Nieuw Guinea, Bestanddeelnr 903-8383.jpg|Netherlands New Guinea stamps were overprinted by UNTEA

{{portal|New Guinea}}

• Act of Free Choice
• List of territories governed by the United Nations

{{Reflist}}

• [https://peacekeeping.un.org/sites/default/files/past/unsf.htm Official UNTEA / UNSF website]
• Records of [https://search.archives.un.org/informationobject/browse?collection=781331&sort=relevance&topLod=0&onlyMedia=1&sortDir=asc the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority in West Irian (UNTEA) (1962-1963)] at the United Nations Archives
• [https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/United_Nations_General_Assembly_Resolution_1752 United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1752]
• [https://treaties.un.org/doc/publication/unts/volume%20437/volume-437-i-6311-english.pdf New York Agreement]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070713184019/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,829255,00.html Time Magazine October/1962]
• [http://webdiary.com.au/cms/?q=node/1458 Papuan self-determination - historical roots XI]
• [http://webdiary.com.au/cms/?q=node/1471 Papuan self-determination - historical roots XII]
• [http://www.papuaweb.org/dlib/s123/saltford/phd.pdf UNTEA and UNRWI: United Nations Involvement in West New Guinea During the 1960s]

{{coord missing|Indonesia}}

{{UN Peacekeeping Operations}}

{{Territories governed by the United Nations}}

{{Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Nations}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1963 disestablishments in Asia

Indonesian New Guinea

Indonesian New Guinea

Category:Guided Democracy in Indonesia

Category:History of Western New Guinea

Category:Organizations based in Dutch New Guinea

Category:States and territories established in 1962

Category:1962 establishments in Asia

Category:States and territories disestablished in 1963