United Nations Temporary Executive Authority
Encyclopedia
The United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA) / United Nations Security Force in West New Guinea (UNSF) was established during October 1962 in accord with Article two of the New York Agreement
to administer the colony of West New Guinea until the 1st May 1963.
and Indonesia
following the recognition of the independence of the latter. The Indonesian side claimed the territory as its own while the Dutch side maintained that its residents were not Indonesian and that the Netherlands would continue to administer the territory until it was capable of self determination.
Indonesia landed paratroops onto the territory of Western New Guinea in 1961 which prompted a political crisis between the Netherlands and Indonesia. The United Nations attempted to mediate in the dispute and this led to the signing of the New York Agreement
in September 1962.
The agreement stipulated that the administration would pass from the Netherlands to a United Nations temporary authority on 1 October 1962 which would then transfer administration of the territory to Indonesia on 1 May the following year. The agreement also stated that the people of Western New Guinea would be able to participate in an Act of Free Choice
at a later stage to determine the permanent status of the territory.
The United Nations mission (UNTEA) was initially led by José Rolz-Bennett of Guatemala
and then by Djalal Abdoh of Iran
who served as the Administrator. In addition to civil administration, UNTEA also had a peacekeeping
role through military observers.
Nineteen postage stamp
s, as well as some postal stationery items, were issued by UNTEA. These were created by overprint
ing existing stocks of Netherlands New Guinea issues. At the time packets of all stamps were sold at UN Headquarters by the United Nations Postal Administration
and they remain readily available on the retail market.
During the seven month transition period Dutch civil servants and officials were slowly recalled to the Netherlands and were replaced by local and Indonesian officials. It was agreed that following the transfer or authority, E. J. Bonay a member of the New Guinea Council
would be appointed as the first Indonesian Governor.
The transfer of authority took place on 1 May 1963 and West New Guinea became a province of Indonesia known as Irian Barat, later renamed Irian Jaya.
This was the first time in its history that the United Nations assumed direct administrative responsibility for a territory. The United Nations would go on to undertake similar missions in Cambodia
(UNTAC), Croatia
(UNTAES), Kosovo
(UNMIK) and East Timor (UNTAET).
New York Agreement
The Agreement between the Republic of Indonesia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands Concerning West New Guinea , also known as the New York Agreement, was a treaty signed between Indonesia and the Netherlands on the political status of West New Guinea...
to administer the colony of West New Guinea until the 1st May 1963.
History
Western New Guinea became the focus of a political dispute between the NetherlandsNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
following the recognition of the independence of the latter. The Indonesian side claimed the territory as its own while the Dutch side maintained that its residents were not Indonesian and that the Netherlands would continue to administer the territory until it was capable of self determination.
Indonesia landed paratroops onto the territory of Western New Guinea in 1961 which prompted a political crisis between the Netherlands and Indonesia. The United Nations attempted to mediate in the dispute and this led to the signing of the New York Agreement
New York Agreement
The Agreement between the Republic of Indonesia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands Concerning West New Guinea , also known as the New York Agreement, was a treaty signed between Indonesia and the Netherlands on the political status of West New Guinea...
in September 1962.
The agreement stipulated that the administration would pass from the Netherlands to a United Nations temporary authority on 1 October 1962 which would then transfer administration of the territory to Indonesia on 1 May the following year. The agreement also stated that the people of Western New Guinea would be able to participate in an Act of Free Choice
Act of Free Choice
Act of Free Choice was an event in July to August 1969 by which Indonesia asserts that the Western New Guinea population decided to relinquish their sovereignty in favor of Indonesian citizenship...
at a later stage to determine the permanent status of the territory.
The United Nations mission (UNTEA) was initially led by José Rolz-Bennett of Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
and then by Djalal Abdoh of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
who served as the Administrator. In addition to civil administration, UNTEA also had a peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
role through military observers.
Nineteen postage stamp
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
s, as well as some postal stationery items, were issued by UNTEA. These were created by overprint
Overprint
An overprint is an additional layer of text or graphics added to the face of a postage stamp or banknote after it has been printed. Post offices most often use overprints for internal administrative purposes such as accounting but they are also employed in public mail...
ing existing stocks of Netherlands New Guinea issues. At the time packets of all stamps were sold at UN Headquarters by the United Nations Postal Administration
United Nations Postal Administration
The United Nations Postal Administration is the postal agency of the United Nations. It issues postage stamps and postal stationery, denominated in United States dollars for the United Nations offices in New York, in Swiss francs for the offices in Geneva and in euros for the offices in Vienna...
and they remain readily available on the retail market.
During the seven month transition period Dutch civil servants and officials were slowly recalled to the Netherlands and were replaced by local and Indonesian officials. It was agreed that following the transfer or authority, E. J. Bonay a member of the New Guinea Council
New Guinea Council
The New Guinea Council was a unicameral representative body formed in the Dutch colony of Netherlands New Guinea in 1961. The council was inaugurated on 5 April 1961 with 28 council members, 16 of whom had been elected in elections held during January 1961....
would be appointed as the first Indonesian Governor.
The transfer of authority took place on 1 May 1963 and West New Guinea became a province of Indonesia known as Irian Barat, later renamed Irian Jaya.
This was the first time in its history that the United Nations assumed direct administrative responsibility for a territory. The United Nations would go on to undertake similar missions in Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
(UNTAC), Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
(UNTAES), Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
(UNMIK) and East Timor (UNTAET).