Asia 729
January 4 that the arms seizure was not legitimately based on its claim to West New
Guinea. The Dutch concluded that a new pact could be entered into between the two
countries in order to decide the future of the colonial territory.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from August 16, 1951. End Date changed from
December 14, 1951. Outcome changed from Unclear. Settlement changed from None.
MID#2000
Dispute Number: 2000
Date(s): May 11, 1953 to September 23, 1953
Participants: 850 Indonesia/210 Netherlands
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: 26–100 deaths
Narrative: While the Netherlands granted Indonesia full sovereignty on November
2, 1949, it did not agree to also cede the territory of Dutch New Guinea. Indonesia
disputed the Dutch claim to this territory, and in May 1953, the Dutch government
protested the infiltration of its territory by armed Indonesians. On May 20, the head of
the Indonesian Military Territory command denied that Dutch forces had repelled an
attack or that any infiltration had occurred. However, it was reported that this state-
ment was made without the authorization of the army chief of staff or the defense
ministry.
In late June 1953, as the Dutch Foreign Minister was planning a visit to Australia,
the Indonesian government warned that any pact with Australia to secure Dutch New
Guinea territory would be viewed as an “unfriendly act.” The Dutch minister denied
that this was the purpose of his visit to Australia. In mid-July, the Dutch Foreign Min-
ister said that discussions over the disputed territory needed to wait until the govern-
ment in Jakarta was stable (Indonesia was in the midst of a civil war).
In late September, Indonesia reported that troops from Dutch-controlled West New
Guinea had landed on two Indonesian islands and had begun burning homes and
shooting at residents there. No additional incidents occurred for some time.
MID#1024
Dispute Number: 1024
Date(s): November 7, 1957 to February 27, 1959
Participants: 850 Indonesia/210 Netherlands
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: On November 6, 1957, the Netherlands issued a joint policy aim with Aus-
tralia on the future of West New Guinea, a territory long coveted by Indonesia. The
policy was one of self-determination for the territory, undermining Indonesia’s claim
to ownership. In response, during the next year, Indonesia began to seize and national-
ize Dutch industries in the area. By February 18, 1959, Indonesia had agreed to pay
compensation to the Dutch owners who had lost their businesses in the nationaliza-
tion process, as long as the Netherlands would meet and settle the West New Guinea