If you mention a hero named Frans Kaisiepo, then Papua will always be juxtaposed with his name. Frans Kaisiepo himself is a national hero born in Wardo, West Biak. He was governor of Papua from 1964 to 1973. And was the representative of Papua at the 1946 Conference during the establishment of the United States of Indonesia (RIS).
Frans Kaisiepo was the figure who first proposed the use of the name ‘Irian’ as a substitute for ‘Papua’. For information, the name ‘Irian’ is an acronym for ”Join the Republic of Indonesia Anti-Nederland”. But during the era of President Aburrahman Wahin, Indonesia’s hidden paradise returned to its original name, namely Papua.
His figure has indeed left many stories of struggle for Papua in particular. So it is not surprising that his name will continue to be enshrined as the name of one of the airports with international status located in Biak, Biak Numfor Regency, Papua.
Behind the story of the name Frans Kaisiepo Airport, it turns out that this airport has an interesting story to discuss.
Originally Founded by Japan
Recorded in 1943 was the beginning of the establishment of this airport. At that time this airport was envied by Japan to fulfill the ambition of waging war in the Pacific in World War II. The position of Biak Island which is close to the Pacific Ocean makes the coral island one of the important bases by Japan.
The Japanese not only built airfields, but also built a number of other military facilities. Even so, the construction of this airport had violated customary rules in Papua. Built on the shores of Ambroben Beach, this airport is included in the Swapodibo customary territory.
At that time Japan did not ask permission from six clans vowing customary land or Swapodibo customary land, namely Rumaropen, Wakum, Ronsumre, Rumbiak, Simopieref, and Yarangga.
Not long ago, it turned out that this Japanese military air base had to fall to the Allied forces. Under the leadership of Lieutenant General L. Eichelburger during the attack of 15-27 June 1944, the Allies succeeded in driving the Japanese from Biak.
And since then the name of this airfield is known as Ambroben Airport, which is still one of the most important airbases for winning wars in the Pacific. And during that wartime, Ambroben Airport also became a Royal Australian Air Force Base.
The Allies eventually built a new airfield to expand the air base. Again taking indigenous territories belonging to Sorido and Burokum. Indigenous people in Kinmom, Bariasba, and Sasuf villages were evicted by Allied troops.
When the war ended and along with the arrival of the Dutch, finally all military facilities at Ambroben Airport were taken by the Dutch, precisely in 1947. Since its use by the Dutch, the airport is better known as Mokmer Airport. Not as a military base, but Mokmer Airport has begun to function as a commercial flight requirement by the Dutch.
Precisely in 1952, Bureu Luchtvaart West Irian or the Office of Aviation Affairs created by the Netherlands began to prepare commercial facilities. Even the Dutch at that time made Biak as an international flight route around the world. To support Biak as part of international flight routes, the Netherlands also built a hotel called RIF Hotel.
Until 1959, Mokmer Airport had opened the Biak-Tokyo-Amsterdam flight route. However, this did not last long because in 1962, control of Mokmer Airport was handed over to the United Nations Temporary Executive Administration (UNTEA), the United Nations (UN) agency that takes care of the West Irian Act of Free Choice.
Only after the transfer of sovereignty of West Irian to Indonesia on May 1, 1953, UNTEA handed over control of Mokmer Airport to Indonesia in 1969.
Changed Name and Has Direct Flight Route to Hawaii
Actually only in 1984, Mokmer Airport changed its name to Frans Kaisiepo Airport. Even so, after the control of the airport was given to Indonesia by UNTEA, Frans Kaisiepo Airport remained a very strategic airport for international flights.
That’s because of its position near the Pacific Ocean and collated at the equator. Since 1996, Garuda Indonesia has included Biak on international flights to the United States. In the period 1996-1998, Garuda Indonesia made the Jakarta-Denpasar-Biak-Honolulu-Los Angeles route. That means the trip from Biak could directly land to Honolulu-Hawaii.
In addition, Frans Kaisiepo Airport has also had other international flight routes, namely Jakarta-Denpasar-Biak-Seattle.
With an airport area of about 206 hectares, has a runway of 3,570 meters, with a runway width of 45 meters, large planes can land at Frans Kaisiepo Airport. When there is a direct route to Hawaii, Garuda Indonesia’s wide-body MD-11 aircraft can land here. Even the huge Boeing 747 400 series aircraft can still land here.
But unfortunately, the impact of the economic crisis in 1998 made the international route across the Pacific Ocean forced to stop. Until now there are no more international flight routes from Frans Kaisiepo Airport. Even though this airport is still an international airport and includes a very sturdy airport.
No wonder Japan used to choose Biak as its air military base because it turned out that Frans Kaisiepo Airport was built on limestone lithology or limestones or rocks that are very hard and sturdy.
Author: JS
Travel Vlogger, Journalist,
