Fakfak

Fakfak () is a town in West Papua and seat of the Fakfak Regency. It had a population of 12,566 at the 2010 Census, which rose to 18,900 at the 2020 Census.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. It is served by Fakfak Airport. It is the only town in West Papua with a significant Muslim Indian and Arab Indonesian presence.

History

The former name of the settlement was ''Kapaur'' and it is still in use by biologists.
Historically Fakfak was a significant port town, being one of the few Papuan towns that had relations with the Sultanate of Ternate, being bound to it.
The Sultanate later granted the Dutch colonial government permission to settle in Papua, including in Fakfak. The Dutch began settlement in 1898. The town still has some colonial buildings remaining from this settlement.

The Japanese 1st Detachment landed in Fakfak on April 1, 1942. The small Royal Netherlands East Indies Army garrison surrendered without a fight and later a small garrison of 67 men of the 24th Special Base Unit occupied the area and used it as a seaplane base. Between April 1943 and October 1944, the town was attacked several times by allied bombers. Japanese forces occupied the town until the end of the war in September 1945.

Fakfak is now an isolated town, not often used for the import and export of goods.

Geography

Fakfak is located in West Papua, Indonesia, on the Bomberai Peninsula at the foothills of the Fakfak Mountains, near Tambaruni Bay. It is situated in an area with many limestone hills, rivers and caves. As such, the streets twist and turn.

Demographics

Fakfak has a small community of Muslim, Arab and Indian Indonesians, descended from traders who came to Papua in the 19th century; this minority population has decreased recently due to Fakfak's diminishing role as a port town. It is the only place in West Papua with such a community.

Cultural identity

There is a popular local philosophy called “Satu tungku tiga batu” which means a stove/cauldron with three stones/legs. The ethnic groups of the area called Mbaham Matta Wuh used to cook with three stones so that stove/cauldron will be stable on top of them. The stove is to symbolises live, while the three stones symbolizes You, Me, and They.
Another saying to reflect this is “Ko, on, kno mi mbi du Qpona” which means you, me, and they are related. This form a basis for tolerance in the area as Fakfak is a majority Muslim area while also having a sizable Christian minority. Whatever the religion the people are still family. There is a monument symbolizing this philosophy located in the center of Fakfak to commemorate its multiculturalism and tolerance.
Due to historically being under the control of Ternate but being located in Papua, Fakfak is torn between being pro-Indonesian or supporting the Free Papua Movement.

Tourism

Fakfak has of white sand beaches, located approximately half an hour from the town. Nearby there are also rock paintings. It is served by the Fakfak Airport.

References

Bibliography

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*{{cite book , title=Indonesia, last=Ver Berkmoes, first=Ryan, year=2010 , publisher=Lonely Planet, location=Footscray, Victoria, isbn=978-1-932728-26-2 , oclc=61748548, url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4GMBFsaFNN4C&q=Fakfak+papua+-wikipedia&pg=PA785, access-date=13 July 2011

Populated places in West Papua
Regency seats of West Papua (province)