Governing New Guinea : an oral history of Papuan administrators, 1950-1990 / Oral history of Papuan administrators, 1950-1990 Koninklijk Instituut, Voor Taal-, Land-, en Volkenkunde ; edited by Leontine Visser. - 1 online resource (368 pages) : illustrations, maps

Includes bibliographical references (pages 347-351) and index.

The everyday life of Papuan civil servants 1950-1990 / Do not insult Papuans in front of me / Accused of being a separatist / They falsified my name / The three-month war in panai / Two keys to attracting the baliem people / Meeting the tree people / Koteka are better than pants / Surprised to see beggars / Clearing an airfield with wooden logs / Corpse eating and an illicit cult / I was appointed governor / Between Isaac Hindom and Acub Zainal / The role of teachers in governing communities / We were not given access to proper education / Twins must be killed / Feeling guilty about helping Freeport / Tears on the plane / Leontine Visser -- Trajanus S. Boekorsjom -- Dolf Faidiban -- Arnold Mampioper -- Gerrit Jan Iauri -- Dorus Rumbiak -- Alex Wamafma -- Joel Boray -- Luther Saroy -- Florenz Imbiri -- Lambert Marani -- Barnabas Suebu -- Ismael Bauw -- Alex Sawaki and Marthin Senandi -- Marthin Senandi -- Dirk Bernardus Urus -- Amos Yap -- Amapos Jos Marey.

This is the first time that indigenous Papuan administrators share with an international public their experiences governing their country. These administrators were the brokers of development. After graduating from the School for Indigenous Administrators (OSIBA) they served in the Dutch administration until 1962. The period 1962-1969 stands out as turbulent and dangerous, and for many curtailed their professional careers. These administrators' having been in active service until their retirement in the early 1990s allows for a complete recounting of political and administrative transformations under the Indonesian governance of Irian Jaya/Papua.This book brings together 17 oral histories of the everyday life of Papuan civil servants, including their relationships with superiors and colleagues, the murder of a Dutch administrator, their translation of 'development' to the Papuan people, the organization of their first democratic institutions, and the actual political and economic conditions leading up to the so-called Act of Free Choice. Finally, they share their experiences in the UNTEA and Indonesian government organization.Leontine Visser is Professor of Development Anthropology at Wageningen University. Her research focuses on governance and natural resources management in eastern Indonesia.

9789004260450 (e-book)


Indigenous peoples--Politics and government.--Papua New Guinea
Civil service--Papua New Guinea.
Oral history--Papua New Guinea.


Papua New Guinea--Politics and government.


Electronic books.

DU740.76.A2 / K66 2012eb

995.3/04