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The Governmental Structure of Netherlands New Guinea 1828-1962

Dr. At Ipenburg

We are discussing the system of "Binnenlands Bestuur" or "Gewestelijk Bestuur". This

is separate from the "Centrale Bestuur". The "Centrale Bestuur" is the real Government

in the narrow meaning of the word. The Government is in the hands of the

Governor-General, who, as representative of the Queen, takes all the decisions.

The Dutch East Indies was divided into "Gewesten" or Provinces, headed by a "Hoofd

van Gewestelijk Bestuur" In Java and Madura these have the title of "Resident.," which

is equal to the rank of Colonel.

In the "Buitenbezittingen" there were then still "Governors", with a rank equivalent to

the rank of General-Major.

A "Gewest" (Province) is divided into "Afdeelingen" (Districts) headed by either a Resident, or

a Controleur, or in rare cases a "Posthouder" (Postholder) or "Gezaghebber" (One Who is

Given Authority).

Then you have the "Hoofden van Plaatselijk Bestuur" (HPB or ). There were also

"Assistent-Controleurs, officers in training for Controleur.

Apart from the "Central Bestuur" (Central Government) and the "Gewestelijk Bestuur" or

"Binnenlands Bestuur "(BB)(Provincial Government) there is the "Inlandsch Bestuur” (Native

Government) with its own hierarchy. This Government consisted only of Natives. However,

Natives were allowed to be appointed to ranks in the Binnenlands Bestuur". This happened in

several cases.

Here we have "Regentschappen" headed by a "Regent". This is the present day “Bupati".

These were mostly of high nobility or even of royal class. They usually have the title of

Tumengung, which is equivalent to the rank of Major. When serving well they can rise to the

rank of Adipati, equivalent to Lieutenant-Colonel. The highest rank here is Pangeran. Most of

them also use the title of Raden or Raden Mas. As symbol of their high rank and status they

have the right, and only they, to have a "payung" or "songsong" carried after them.

The "Regentschap" is divided into Districts" headed by a "vedana."

This is the general picture for the whole of the East-Indies. There are regional differences in the

system, derived from the time they joined the Netherlandss East Indies and the conditions on

which a particular area joined.

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This was the picture before circa 1915. Then the Government of the Netherlands East Indies

was divided into

1. "Opperbestuur," (High Government) which rests with the Crown (The Queen and the

Government of the Netherlands)

2. The "Indische Bestuur" and

3. The "Bestuur Ter Plaatse" (Local Government) divided into 3:

a. Binnenlandsch Bestuur

b. Inlandsch Bestuur

c. Bestuur over Vreemde Oosterlingen

For New Guinea, also known as "Tanah Papoea", the picture is as follows.

1828 Taken as a possession by the Netherlands. Establishment of a settlement at Lobo in the

Triton Bay. 1835 given up.

1898 Two government posts established in New Guinea (Manokwari and Fak-Fak) under the

Residentie Ternate. New Guinea was then two "Bestuursafdeelingen" under the "Residentie"

Ternate

Manokwari got a "Controleur".

1901 Three "Afdeelingen: (a) North New Guinea, (b) West-New Guinea and (c) South New

Guinea, under Residentie Ternate

1902 North New Guinea becomes an Assistent-Residentie, headed by and

"Assistent-Resident" with Manokwari as capital

By 1911 West New Guinea moves from the Residentie Ternate to the Residentie Amboina.

In 1912 the independent Asisitent-residentie South New Guinea is abolished and it becomes

also part of the Residentie Amboina. Amboina had then seven "Afdeelingen": among which

- West New Guinea, under an "Assistent-Resident" residing in Fak-Fak

- South New Guinea, under an "Assistent-Resident" in Merauke , assisted by a "Gezaghebber"

in Merauke and a "Gezaghebber" in Okaba.

North New Guinea with an "Assistent-Resident" at Manokwari remained an Afdeeling under

the Residentie "Ternate and Onderhoorigheden."

1919 New Guinea becomes a separate "Gewest" under Resident Lulofs, who became the first

Head of the Gewest with Manokwari as center.

1923 (after the uintimely death of Lulofs) liquidation of New Guinea as "Gewest", and added to

the "Residentie" Amboina.

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1926 Afdeeling Noord en West New Guinea under the Residentie Ternate, and Zuid-Nieuw

Guinea under the Residentie Amboina. Both Amboina and Ternate were part of the

"Gouvernement der Molukken." The "Gouvernement der Molukken" is headed by a

"Gouverneur."

The "Onderafdeeling" Boven Digoel was separate and under an Army Officer with the rank of

"Gezaghebber." or "Fungerend Controleur." (someone with the function of a Controleur)..

1934 Fak-Fak and Manokwari united to from one Afdeeling with Manokwari as Afdeeling..

headed by an "Afdeelingschef." South New Guinea was then under a "Gezaghebber bij het

Binnenlandsch Bestuur"..

The "Afdeeling" Ternate (under the "Residentie" Ternate, under the "Gouvernement der

Molukken) had the "Onderafdeelingen" Sorong, Schouten-eilanden, Jappen-groep, Hollandia

and West New Guinea.

1937 Split again in two Afdeelingen West and Noord Nieuw Guinea with four

"Onderafdeelingen."

a. Manokwari with a "Controleur." and an "Aspirant-Controleur."

b. Sorong under a "Gezaghebber"

c. Seroei under a Gezaghebber

d. Hollandia under a "Gezaghebber.", with "Bestuursressort Sarmi, also headed by a

"Gezaghebber." Sarmi is a de facto "Onderafdeeling."

After 1950, with the loss of the Dutch East Indies, the Dutch begin a "Binnenlandsch Bestuur"

of its own for New Guinea. It got a Governor.

There is a description of the governmental system of Netherlands New Guinea introduced after

1949 in the “Rapport Inzake Nederlands Nieuw Guinea over het Jaar 1953."

The Resident of New Guinea got after 1949 the title of Governor, as before already happened

with the new system of government for the Moluccans (see above).

There are five “Afdelingen” (headed by an "Afdelingschef"), each with a number of

“Onderafdelingen” (20 altogether). Here the HPB, Hoofd Plaatselijk Bestuur", is in charge. The

post was nicknamed by the local population "Bestuur" (= Government). From their perspective

the local people were right. The HPB was for them the “Government”. These Onderafdelingen

were divided into Districts (62 in total) (headed by a "Bestuursassistent") and Onderdistricten

(17 in total) (headed by a "Hulpbestuursassistent" or HBA) .There were also

"Candidaat-hulpbestuursassistenten". under the HBA

There were again a number of changes over the period.