West Papua (Irian Jaya)

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Population: 4 million

In 1545, the Spanish explorer Ynigo Ortiz de Retes, discovered a strip of land on the north coast of the world’s second largest island and named it “Nueva Guinea”. In 1973 the province was renamed Irian Jaya. “Irian” is the Indonesian word for New Guinea and “jaya” means glorious or victorious. However the people rejected this name, identifying themselves as West Papuans. They are of the same ethnic origin as the people of east Papua (Papua New Guinea) and to other Melanesian peoples of the Pacific. In 1999 the President of Indonesia renamed it “West Papua”.

249 Living Languages of West Papua

The capital city, Jayapura, is located on the northern coast. It is estimated that there are 249 living languages spoken in West Papua. The highest point is Puncak Jaya, which is one of the world’s three equatorial glaciers. At an altitude of more than 16,000 feet it is the highest point between the Himalayas and the Andes. It is a land of spectacular and diverse beauty, steep mountain ranges and thick rain forests. Many areas are inaccessible and untouched by the outside world. West Papua contains the world’s largest gold and copper deposits. The Grasberg mine, near the town of Freeport, is the world’s largest gold mine. West Papua also contains much of the world’s remaining stone-age civilisation.

There are currently more than 10,000 West Papuan refugees living in East Awin or in border camps in Papua New Guinea (PNG). At this stage the UNHCR only recognises the 3,400 in East Awin and funding for them is provided by AusAID. The 7,000 refugees are in 8 camps close to the PNG border and are without UN assistance. A small number of missionaries and volunteers, including the Kiunga Catholic mission, provide health and educational services.

Massacres in West Papua

Health and medical services in West Papua is the lowest in Indonesia. In one area with 400,000 people there is just one hospital with 70 beds. There is one doctor for an area of 53,000 square kilometres. Leprosy is as high as 88 per 10,000 people in some regions. It has the highest number of HIV carriers in Indonesia with HIV cases tripling in just 5 years. The infant mortality rate is one of the highest in the world with pneumonia accounting for 25% of infant deaths. It has been estimated that 20% of West Papua is suffering some degree of malnutrition.

Since 1962 the people of West Papua have resisted Indonesian authority and have endured years of repressive and unjust conflict. Under Indonesia’s Transmigration Program the people of West Papua have been reduced to a minority due to the forced resettling of more than 10,000 Muslim families particularly in the coastal towns. Conflict between the dispossessed tribespeople and the Indonesian military has led to large-scale conflicts and massacres. Not recognising the indigenous people of West Papua, the Indonesian government has left them defenseless in the face of development and transmigration.

Prayer Guide for West Papua

* Pray for the recipients of the relief and education programs currently occurring. (Psalm 72:12-14)

* Pray for the Muslim families who have been forced to move to West Papua, that they would be open to the gospel.

* Pray for the Holy Spirit to move in signs, wonders and healing among the Muslims, demonstrating the saving and delivering power of Jesus Christ. (Luke 1:77-79, 1 Thessalonians 1:5)