Frans Kaisiepo
| Frans Kaisiepo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 4th Governor of Papua | |
|
In office 1964–1973 | |
| President |
Ir. Soekarno Soeharto |
| Preceded by | Elias Jan Bonai |
| Succeeded by | Acub Zaenal |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Frans Kaisiepo 10 October 1921  Biak, Papua, Dutch East Indies |
| Died |
10 April 1979 (aged 57) Jayapura, Papua, Indonesia |
| Nationality |
Indonesia |
| Spouse(s) |
Anthomina Arwam Maria Magdalena Moorwahyuni |
| Occupation | National Hero of Indonesia |
| Religion | Protestantism |
Frans Kaisiepo (10 October 1921 – 10 April 1979) was a National Hero of Indonesia (Gelar Pahlawan Nasional Indonesia).
Kaisiepo was born in Wardo on the island of Biak on 10 October 1921. As the representative of Papua he was involved in the Malino Conference (16 – 25 July 1946), where the formation of the Republic of Indonesia was discussed. He proposed the name Irian, which came from the Biak language.
Biography
He was educated at Sekolah Rakyat (Primary School) 1928–1931; LVVS Korido 1931–1934; Sekolah Guru Normalis at Manokwari 1934–1936; Bestuur Course, March – August 1945; and Bestuur School / Pamong Praja 1952–1954
He married Anthomina Arwam and had 3 children; however his wife died and then on 12 November 1973, he married Maria Magdalena Moorwahyuni from Demak, Central Java and they had one child.
History
The Japanese occupation of Indonesia during World War II resulted in the Dutch government lacking personnel in New Guinea. In order to satisfy this deficiency, in 1944, Resident J.P. van Eechoud established the Police Training School and the School of Civil Service (betuurschool) in Hollandia (currently Jayapura). Eechoud is often called "Vader der Papoea’s" (father of the Papuans). That school had taught 400 people between the year 1944 – 1949. It also produced the most intellectual Irians that were involved in the battle. The Indonesian declaration of independence on 17 August 1945 also affected many young learned men, among them Silas Papare, Albert Karubuy, and Marthen Indey. In 1946 in Serui, Silas Papare and a couple of his followers established a political pro-Indonesia organization called Irian Indonesian Independence Party or Partai Kemerdekaan Indonesia Irian (PKII).
On 17 August 1947 Silas Papare led the raising of the Indonesian red and white flag, accompanied by Johans Ariks, Albert Karubuy, Lodewijk, Barent Mandatjan, Samuel Damianus Kawab and Joseph Djohari. It was a remembrance to Indonesia’s Independence Day. This action resulted in the confinement of all the participants by the Dutch police for more than three months. Two others nationalist, Frans Kaisiepo and Johans Ariks followed the path of Silas Papare. Johan Ariks, at later time, discovered the plans to integrate West Irian into the Republic of Indonesia’s territory instead of fostering its autonomy. In 1945 when he attended Civil Administration Brief course in Nica Holandia city ( Kampung Harapan Jayapura) he befriended Sugoro Atmoprasodjo. From this socialization his Indonesian nationalism grew up and then with his friends often held discreet meeting with Sugoro to discuss the unification of Nederland Nieuw Guinea to Republic of Indonesia. Frans Kaisiepo disagreed with the name plate of Course/School that he attended written Papua Bestuur School. He ordered Markus Kaisiepo, his sibling, to change the name Papua Bestuurschool into Irian Bestuurschool.
The idea of Indonesian Independence grew among students coming from all districts. Therefore, the students of the school often held discreet meetings that opposed the Dutch occupation and planned to join Indonesia. Next, they formed a committee under the leadership of Sugoro Atmoprasojo, with members such as Frans Kaisiepo, Marthen Indey, and Silas Papare, G Saweri, SD Kawab and others
On 14 August 1945 in Kampung Harapan Jayapura, Indonesia Raya Song was reveberated by Frans Kaisiepo, Marcus Kaisiepo, Nocolas Youwe and his friends.
On 31 August 1945, they held a ceremony where they hoisted the Indonesian flag and sang Indonesia Raya (Indonesia’s national anthem) followed by figures of Indonesian Committee of freedom such as : Frans Kaisiepo, Marcus Kaisiepo, Corinus Krey and M. Youwe. On 10th Juli 1946 in Biak Party Of Freedom of Indonesia (Partai Indonesia Merdeka) was founded with Lukas Rumkoren as the leader. One of the founders was Frans kaisiepo who at the time was the chief of Warsa District, North Biak.
In July 1946 Frans Kaisiepo was member of the Malino Conference Delegation in South Sulawesi, pioneered by Dr. H.J. van Mook. He was the only native Papuan attending the Malino Conference. As a speaker, he suggested that the name Papua should be changed into Irian (supporting the Republic of Indonesia anti-Netherland). The people said Irian was taken from the Biak language meaning hot area.
Frans Kaisiepo was one of members of Delegation that opposed the establishment of East Indonesian State (NIT), because NIT was without Irian Jaya. Based on this reference he suggested Irian Jaya join North Sulawesi.
In March 1948, rebellion broke out in Biak protesting against the Dutch government. One of the inciters of the rebellion was Frans Kaisiepo.
In 1949 he rejected appointment as the delegate leader of Netherlands Nieuw Guinea in the Round Table Conference in the Netherlands, because he did not want to be dictated to by the Netherlands. As a result, Frans Kaisiepo was arrested from 1954 to 1961.
In 1961, he established Irian Political Party that strived to re-unite Nederlands Nieuw Guinea with the Republic of Indonesia. To envisage the decolonization of the Nederland Government, President Soekarno ignited Trikora ( People’s Triple Commands) on 19 December 1961 in Yogyakarta. The commands included (a) aborting the formation of the ‘Papua state’ as created by colonial Netherland, (b) Waving the Red and White Flag in West Irian, and (c) preparing to mobilize to defend the independence and unification of motherland. Many volunteers were sent to aid the Irian combatants. Frans Kaisiepo often protected these combatants who would silently infiltrate West Irian.
Due to the Trikora Act, the Netherlands Government was forced to sign an agreement known as the New York Agreement on 15 August 1962 12:01 hours. The transfer of government administration to UNTEA occurred on 1 October 1962. The transfer of West Irian to Indonesia was conducted by the United Nations the following year on 1 May 1963. By the end of 1969, the Papuans had to decide whether or not to join Indonesia or remain autonomous. Indonesia had the responsibility to develop the region from 1963 to 1969.
The first governor of Irian was Elieser Jon Bonay who held the office for less than a year (1963–1964). In the beginning, Bonay sided with the Indonesians. Yet, in 1964, he urged the Act of Free Choice in Irian Jaya for the independence of West Irian; this request was forwarded to the United Nations. His action caused him to be resigned as governor. In 1964, he was replaced by Frans Kaisiepo. His resignation without a replacement position disappointed Bonay and propelled him to join Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM) or the Free Papua Organization overseas, he left his homeland and became a prominent figure of OPM and resided in the Netherlands.
Frans Kaisiepo, as governor and one of activator from Irian Jaya Big Discussion strived to archive the Act of Free Choice, as it coincided with his original vision. Finally, it was won, meaning that Irian Jaya was reunited with Republic of Indonesian in 1969. In 1972, Frans Kaisiepo was appointed member of Republic Indonesia’s People’s Consultative Council / MPR RI and during 1973 – 1979, he was appointed member of Republic Indonesian’s Leadership of Supreme Judgement / DPA RI.
On 10 April 1979, Frans Kaisiepo died and was buried in Taman Makam Pahlawan Cendrawaish (Cendrawaish Heroes Burial Site) in Biak. Due to his meritorious service, Frans Kaisiepo was awarded the Trikora and the Act of Free Choice merit by the Indonesian government. His name is also immortalized as the Biak Airport. Inside Frans Kaisiepo, there was the will to firmly maintain the unification of the nation.
In 1993 Frans Kaisiepo was honored as a National hero based on resolution letter number 077/TK/1993 from the President of Republic of Indonesian with carter and Maha Putera Adi Pradana Medal Class 2nd.
Inside Frans Kaisiepo, there was the will to firmly maintain the unification of the nation. He firmly believed in the proverb that "United we stand, divided we fall".
