Aceh and Irian Jaya in Indonesia

Aceh is a former sultanate in the north-western portion of the island of Sumatra. It was originally a dependency of the neighbouring state, Pedir. Aceh became an independent sultanate during the first quarter of the 16th century. During the 17th century there were rivalries amongst Portugal, Great Britain, and the Netherlands for control of Aceh.
Irian Jaya or Papua as it now known is a province in eastern Indonesia, on the western half of the island of New Guinea. It was formerly known as West New Guinea and later West Irian. It has a population of almost 2 million people and the provinci…