Patriots of valor arose on the path to preserving independence. They willingly sacrificed their bodies and souls to help the country break free from colonialism. Frans Kaisiepo, one of the best men of Papua, is among the noble names mentioned in conjunction with this patriotic spirit.
Writing Frans’s biography is necessary given his significant service to Indonesia, particularly Papua. His unwavering devotion to his country is a testament to his strong character and makes him a good role model for future generations.
As a wise man once said, it is because of the previous leaders that we can fully appreciate our current freedom.
Early Life
The only thing known about Frans’s early life is that he was born in Wardo, West Biak, Cenderawasih Bay. As the oldest of Albert Kaisiepo and Alberthina Maker’s six children, he was born on October 10, 1921.
His father, Albert, was a tribal chief as well as an accomplished blacksmith. Little Frans’s mother passed away when he was just one or two years old, so his aunt raised him.
Frans Kaisiepo completed his studies in a teacher’s school in Miei, Wandamen after he graduated from the Vervolgschool in Korido in 1934. He then continued his studies at the Bestuur Course, a civil service school in Sentani, Jayapura, beginning in early 1945.
Frans first learned about nationalism in this school, and that moment served as a turning point in his life.
From 1952 to 1954, Frans got the chance to attend OSIBA, a secondary civil service school in Abepura. His most recent education benefited him later in life, particularly when performing governmental tasks.
Political Involvement
Frans had made great strides in his battle against Dutch colonialism in Papua. In fact, he was an active member of several national organizations well before the establishment of the Republic of Indonesia.
When he was at school, Frans frequently participated in private discussions. They talked about the unification of the Netherlands, New Guinea, and the Republic of Indonesia. For example, on Queen Wilhelmina’s birthday, he was present during the Indonesian flag raising in East Bosnik.
Furthermore, he performed the national anthem, “Indonesia Raya,” which he had been practicing for days. Similar uprisings persisted despite stern responses from the Dutch authorities, leading to Frans’ imprisonment.
After being freed from prison in 1961, Frans established the Irian Party to advance his unification ideas. This campaign ran at the same time as President Sukarno’s notable operation, Operation Trikora.
This movement forced the Dutch government to sign the New York Agreement on August 15, 1962, under duress. Then, UNTEA transferred the administration of the West Irian government from the Netherlands to Indonesia the following year.
For one year, Eliezer Jan Bonay served as the first governor of Irian. However, Eliezer unexpectedly used the Act of Free Choice in 1964 to demand that West Irian become a separate nation.
Due to his debatable acts, Frans stepped up and became the new governor in his place. He never grew weary of promoting Papua as an Indonesian province during his time in office.
He was chosen to represent Papua in the People’s Consultative Assembly in 1973 due to his work to bring Papua and Indonesia together. Furthermore, he became on the Supreme Advisory Council in 1977 to serve as the Papuan affairs representative.
Legacy
The government granted him a token of honor for his extraordinary efforts to uphold the Republic of Indonesia’s integrity after his passing on November 12, 1973. Additionally, a regional airport with service on the Biak Numfor and Supiori lines was named Frans Kaisiepo Airport in his honor.
Final Words
That is Frans Kaisiepo’s contribution to establishing and preserving the integrity of the Republic of Indonesia. Given his tenacity and determination, there are many admirable traits that new generations ought to adopt to carry on with his work in the present age.