Papua

If talking about Papua, which is often pictured in our minds is the uniqueness of Asmat wood carving or authenticity of Dani culture in the Middle Mountains of Papua who have been so recognized. In addition, there are also cultural uniqueness and originality inherent in society. Papua with an area of 421,981 km2, or more than 20% of Indonesia's land area or 3.5 times the island of Java, has a length of 2000 ± mile beach and the vast sea waters around 228.000 km2. Papua lengthwise from west to east between the City Sorong-Jayapura along ± 1200 km, and ran from north to south between Jayapura - Merauke along ± 736 Km.

Papua is an area filled with hills and mountains are rich with tropical rain forest (tropical rain forest) that are difficult to navigate and the majority is still a virgin forest. One of the top of the mountain known as Puncak Jaya (Carstensz Pyramid) which is the highest peak in Indonesia that covered by eternal snow, with a conservation area surrounded by an area of 21,500 km2 Lorentz and is the oldest nature conservation area in Indonesia. The region have various kinds of biological richness in different ecosystems, ranging from mangrove swamps to the top of the snow.

World War II that occurred in all regions of Papua or the Pacific War (Pacific War) left the phenomenon itself in Papua. On the occasion of war veterans Japanese nationals, the American traveling memorial to the Biak, Manokwari, Sorong, Jayapura and Sarmi. But unfortunately, the ruins of the many relics of the war that has become old and lost iron for trade. One of the remaining relics of them is a former airfield on Biak formerly known as the Mokmer and monuments in Sentani, built by General Douglas MacArthur.

History and Culture

Population of Papua, now numbering 2.2 million people, where the proportion of indigenous population numbered approximately 1.3 million people. They are people who still can be said is still very traditional, except in some coastal areas are relatively more advanced cultures as a result of interaction with the outside world. Until a few decades ago, most people who live mainly in rural areas are still Like a stone age. There are many natives in the mountains wearing only a cover for male genitals (Koteka) and women wearing only grass skirts. Inter tribal war was not much happening again, but not lost completely, while the traditional agriculture is still done.

In Papua there are 251 languages, or 40% of the language known in Indonesia that number ± 600. Language in Papua if combined with 770 languages in Papua New Guinea is one-fifth of the language known in the world. A total of 140 languages in Papua only used by less than 1000 people. One third of the Papua natives using one of the languages Dani (400,000) or the language Ekagi (130,000) and only these two languages and the language of the Asmat (80,000) are widely known.

Humans had arrived in New Guinea long before they reached the United States or the European mainland. The evidence does not directly address the that in about 30,000 to 40,000 years ago, ancestors of the indigenous Papuan people coming in small groups the same time as the formation of ice, so that the sea level dropped. The island is welcoming its predecessors is totally different from what we know today. Estimated at that stretch of ice covered large areas and there is snow at an altitude of only 350 m above sea level. The temperature was 7 degrees Celsius lower than the temperature at the present time. In some stages of the ice age, a shallow sea Arafuru is land that serves as a bridge, so that the natives of Papua could mix with indigenous Australians. Evidence of this can be seen from the common style and stone handicrafts motifs can be found along the southwest coast of Papua (Kaimana Beach) and in Arnhem Land in northern Australia. From the genetic evidence can be seen that both the native separation occurs in about 10,000 years ago.

Austronesian people is the last major group to come to Papua, which has known high technology, the types of weapons and better equipment, and farming methods and have kept pets. At the Austronesian people came, the natives of Papua are already living in farm groups are settled, in a society that is compact enough to maintain identity, language and their culture. Around tahun4000 BC, people suspected Papua and has planted taro tubers and keep pigs. There is one type of tubers Ipomea called, comes from the new world, but with how to get to inland Papua, is a mystery.

Trade between New Guinea and Indonesia central and west, may have been going on since before the arrival of Christianity. Traders from western archipelago brought clothes and metal goods to be exchanged with Paradise feathers, and serf masoi bark, which in Java is used for medicinal herbs. Curly-haired person listed on the wall carvings of Borobudur temple which was built in the 18th century, perhaps the people of Papua. Fiber Negarakertagama poetry books from the Majapahit kingdom in the 14th century was also told about Papua.

In the early 16th century, the Portuguese first set foot on the soil of Papua is Jorge de Meneses is a governor who is stationed in Maluku. He was the first European to give a picture of New Guinea, which he called the "Ilhas dos Papuas". In addition, one known for his research in New Guinea was Alfred Russel Wallace (1858) who did research for five months at Dorei Bay area. Because of biological research generate a theory about the history of speciation that are similar to Charles Darwin's theory.

In the early 20th century the Dutch government began doing serious research on New Guinea, among the most important research is sending troops on a large scale inland New Guinnea in 1907 and 1915. The last major discovery occurred in 1938, when an expedition led by an American explorer named Richard Archbold, landing by plane in the lake and found Habbema Baliem valley. Big Baliem Valley is a fertile valley, lies in the alluvial plains of size 50 times 15 kilometers, inhabited by the Dani tribe of 50,000 that has not been in touch with the outside world before the arrival of Archbold. In today Baliem valley is the main tourist destination in Papua.

Missionary is one of the pioneer explorer in Papua, on February 5, 1855 two German priests employed by the Dutch Protestant Church, came to Papua and first set foot on the island Mansinam Manokwari, the pastor Ottow and Geisler. The spread of Christianity they began to take place in Papua. And to commemorate the entry of the Gospel into the ground by the Government of Papua Region on February 5 has been stipulated as entry of the Gospel in the Land of Papua and expressed As with the official holiday to Papua.

In 1942, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, continue south to New Guinea (Papua) without any significant resistance from the Dutch army that Hollandia (Jayapura) can be controlled by Japanese troops. In the spring of 1944, the United States entered the war with mobilizing troops and material in an effort to fight back under the leadership of General Douglas MacArthur. By 1200 the power of the aircraft, 217 ships and 50,000 troops, MacArthur finally able to land at Hollandia, and held the city with 159 victims of allied troops. After falling the hands allies Hollandia, Biak and then became the next target for control of the north coast of New Guinea. Battle of Biak was one of the most ferocious battles during the war where American soldiers used dynamite and diesel fuel to drive the Japanese army in the cave. Only 220 people survived the Japanese army. Until now there are many families visited Biak veterans to honor family members who became victims of war. Allies later expand Biak airport for landing big bombers capable of turning the tide of war Pacific.