1760 British Presidency of Bencooolen. 17 Mar 1824 Part of Netherlands East Indies. Partition of New Guinea agreed by Dutch, UK, and Germany. Northern part occupied by Japan. Dec 1949 Netherlands New Guinea a separate colony.
Plebiscite endorses Indonesian rule.
1 Jul 1971 Separatists proclaim independent 'Republic of West Papua', to no effect. 1 Jan 2000 Irian Jaya renamed Papua. South Moluccas 25 Apr 1950 Republic of South Moluccas proclaimed. Extinguished by Indonesia.