New Guinea Council

History

Prior to the formation of the New Guinea Council, there existed a Council of Directors, which consisted of the heads of government departments. Dutch authorities initially began to establish local government bodies such as village councils and regional councils.
The New Guinea Council was inaugurated on 5 April 1961 with 28 council members, 16 of whom had been elected in 1961 [Dutch New Guinea general election|elections] held during January 1961. The council's inauguration was attended by representatives from Australia, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and other Pacific Forum nations with exception of the United States.
The council was requested to make its wishes on self-determination known within a year. During an emergency session the council drafted a national manifesto and symbols including the Morning Star flag for a new national identity to be known as "West Papua".

Following the August 1962 New York Agreement between the governments of the Netherlands and Indonesia, the administration of Western New Guinea was assumed by the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority on 1 October 1962. A deliberative body, also known as the New Guinea Council, was convened by the United Nations administrator on 4 December 1962 and disbanded on 1 May 1963 when Western New Guinea was handed over to Indonesia.

Members of the council were elected in the 1961 Dutch New Guinea general election.

Frits Sollewijn Gelpke was Council Chairman and Nicolaas Jouwe was Vice-Chair. J. W. Trouw was the Clerk of the Council.

The council building was built in Hollandia between 1960 and 1961. Currently the building houses the regional legislature of Papua,.