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This article is about the Indonesian province. For other uses, see Papua. West Papua (Indonesian: Papua Barat) is an administrative province of Indonesia covering the western peninsula of the island of New Guinea. It is the least-populous province of Indonesia and one of two situated in Indonesian New Guinea, with the province of Papua also lying to the east. Prior to 2007, the province was known as West Irian Jaya (Indonesian: Irian Jaya Barat). The region covers the Doberai (Bird's Head) Peninsula and the surrounding islands of Raja Ampat.
Regencies
The capital of West Papua is Manokwari. The province is administratively divided into eight regencies (kabupaten) and one city (kota):
Administrative history
West Papua was created from the western portion of Papua province in February 2003, initially under the name of Irian Jaya Barat; it was renamed Papua Barat (West Papua) on 7 February 2007. The split remains controversial. Supporters, including those in the central government in Jakarta and immigrants to Papua from elsewhere in Indonesia, argue that the creation of the new province will help ensure the efficient management of resources and fair distribution of services. The split is widely opposed in Papua itself, where it is viewed as a violation of special autonomy laws governing Papua, and as an effort to quell the Papuan separatist movement (see History of Western New Guinea).
In November 2004, an Indonesian court agreed that the split violated Papua's autonomy laws. However, the court ruled that because the new province had already been created, it should remain separate from Papua. The ruling also prohibited the creation of another proposed province, Central Irian Jaya, as that division had not yet been formalised.
The province changed its name to West Papua on 7 February 2007. The new name applies from that date, but a plenary session of the provincial legislative council is required to legalise the change of name, and the government needs to then issue a regulation.1
Earthquake
At 4:43 am local time on 3 January 2009, an earthquake 7.6 on the Richter magnitude scale struck near the northern coast of the Doberai Peninsula. A tsunami warning was initially issued but lifted within an hour of the quake.23 The earthquake occurred about 150 km west-northwest of Manokwari and about 170 km east-northeast of Sorong.3
See also
References
- ^ "Papuan province changes name from West Irian Jaya to West Papua". Radio New Zealand International. 07 February, 2007. http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=29965. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
- ^ "3 dead after powerful Indonesian earthquakes: officials". CTV.ca (CTVglobemedia). January 3, 2009. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090103/indonesia_earthquake_090103/20090103?hub=TopStories.
- ^ a b "Indonesia earthquake kills at least 2, injures 35". CNN (Cable News Network). January 3, 2009. http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/01/03/indonesia.earthquake/index.html.
External links
Coordinates: 1°48′5″S 133°40′14″E / 1.80139°S 133.67056°E / -1.80139; 133.67056
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