Frans Kaisiepo

Frans Kaisiepo (October 10, 1921 – April 10, 1979) was a National Hero of Indonesia ("Gelar Pahlawan Nasional Indonesia").

Kaisiepo was born in Wardo on the island Biak on October 10, 1921. As the representative of Papua He was involved in the Malino Conference (16 July – 25 July 1946), where the formation of the Republic of Indonesia was discussed. He proposed the name Irian, which came from the Biak language.Married with Anthomina Arwam and have 3 childrenThe first wife passed away and then on 12th November 1973 he married Maria Magdalena Moorwahyuni from Demak, Central Java and have 1 children.Education :1. Sekolah Rakyat (Primary School) 1928 –19312. LVVS Korido 1931-19343. Sekolah Guru Normalis at Manokwari 1934-19364. Besstur Course, March – August 19455. Besstur School / Pamong Praja 1952-1954He died on April 10, 1979. He is buried in the Taman Makam Pahlawan Cendrawasih cemetey in Jayapura.

History about Frans KaisiepoThe Japanese occupation in the majority of Indonesia’s islands 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 “van 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 August 17th , 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 Auguts 17th , 1947 Silas Papare led the raising of the Indonesia’s red and white flag, accompanied by Johans Ariks, Albert Karubuy, Lodewijk, Barent Mandatjan, Samuel Damianus Kawab and Joseph Djohari. It was a rememberance 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 Indonesia’s 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 othersOn 14th August 1945 in Kampung Harapan Jayapura, Indonesia Raya Song was reveberated by Frans Kaisiepo, Marcus Kaisiepo, Nocolas Youwe and his friends.On August 31, 1945, they held a ceremony where they hoisted the Indonesian flag and sang Indonesia Raya (Indonesia’s national anthem) followed by figures of Indonesian Comittee of freedom such as : Frans Kaisiepo, Marcus Kaisiepo, Corinus Krey and M. Youwe.On 10th Juli 1946 in Biak Party Of Freedom of Indoneia ( 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 Distric, North Biak.On Juli 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 taken from 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 to join North Sulawesi.In March 1948, rebellion broke out in Biak protesting against the Dutch government. One of the impetus of the rebellion was Frans Kaisiepo. In 1949 He rejected to be appointed the delegate leader of Netherlands Nieuw Guinea in the Round Table Conference in the Netherlands, because he did not want to be dictated by Netherland. As a result, Frans Kaisiepo was arrested during 1954 to 1961In 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 December 19th 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 August 15th , 1963. The transfer of government administration to UNTEA occurred on May 1st, 1962. The transfer of West Irian to Indonesia was conducted by the United Nations the following year on May 1, 1963. By the end of 1969, the Papuans had to dicide whether or not they joined Indonesia or remained 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 we 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 April 10, 1979, Frans Kaisiepo passed away and was buried in Taman Makam Pahlawan Cendrawasih (Cendrawasih 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. He firmly believed in the proverb that “United we stand, divided we fall”.In 1993 Frans Kaisiepo was awarded as National hero based on resolution letter number 077/TK/1993 from 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”.

(Edited by Satgas Korvet Sigma )