Western New Guinea or Irian Barat (West Irian) is the name given to the present Indonesian provinces of Papua and Western Papua between 1962 and 1970.
From 1948 to 1962 the area was a Dutch colony under the name of Dutch-New Guinea. However, Indonesian President Soekarno wanted the area to be part of the Republic of Indonesia, trying to achieve this through the United Nations. He also threatened to unleash a war in the area, sending military infiltrants. In 1962, the government was temporarily transferred to the United Nations (UNTEA), and in 1963, Indonesia gained control over the area, called Irian Barat. Following the resignation of Soekarno and the arrival of Suharto as president of Indonesia, the name of the area was renamed Irian Jaya. In 2000, President Abdurrahman Wahid decided to give the province the name of Papua.
The name Irian Barat or West Irian should not be confused with the name of the western subprofit of the area. This sub-province was named West Irian Jaya (Irian Jaya Barat) until 2007, and since 2007 West Papua (Papua Barat).
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