Journal article
Writing on the border: Irian, Indonesian literature and Gerson Poyk's "Matias Akankari"
SPAN, Vol.34 & 35, pp.178-183
1993
Abstract
In his short story "Matias Akankari" Gerson Poyk uses the term "Irian Barat" (literally "West Irian") for the territory which lies to the west of the central north-south international border dividing the island of Papua. To the east of that border now lies Papua New Guinea. To the west, a land in dispute, a former Dutch colony incorporated into the independent state of Indonesia under controversial circumstances between 1963 and 1969. Initially called Irian Barat in Indonesian its name was later changed to "Irian Jaya" (literally "Glorious Irian") after its incorporation. Within the territory a separatist movement continues to press for independence through secession from Indonesia. They reject the name 'Irian' as an Indonesian artifice and prefer to use "Papua Barat" (West Papua), emphasising common links with Melanesian cultures and heritage to the east, rather than with non-Melanesian Indonesia to the west. Similarly they refer to the people of their territory not as 'orang Irian' (Irianese), but as 'orang Papua' (Papuans) or 'Orang Melanesia' (Melanesians).
Details
- Title
- Writing on the border: Irian, Indonesian literature and Gerson Poyk's "Matias Akankari"
- Authors/Creators
- D.T. Hill (Author/Creator)
- Publication Details
- SPAN, Vol.34 & 35, pp.178-183
- Publisher
- Murdoch University
- Identifiers
- 991005544377807891
- Copyright
- The Author
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Asia Research Centre; School of Arts
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Note
- SPAN, Journal of the South Pacific Association for Commonwealth Literature and Language Studies Number 34-35 (1993)
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