For some time many Papuans have claimed or been taught that the name Irian was an Indonesian concoction. It allegedly stood for Ikut (come) Republik Indonesia Anti Netherlands. The word Irian is in fact a Biak word older than Indonesia as a nation.
From one of the old Biak story - poems the word Irian is used to refer to the mainland of Papua Barat (West). It is an excerpt from one of their Manarmakeri stories.
Translated: (Italics indicates Biak language)
"Father Kayan (means rich man)Sanawi (Manarmakeri) stand up, you are holy. You eclipse the sunlight on Mount Yamnaibori, the mountain of the maiden of Biak In order that we may put everything on board and leave for irian the mainland. For my eyes have beheld the morning star (Sampari) rising, which did not stay in Jumamba in the east." 1
The second source is as follows:
"The name of the Island from the beginning has been Irian, which was used by the Portuguese governor of the Moluccas in 1536,...in 1545 governor de Retes uses the name Nuvea Guinea..." 2
Further information can be found at Paul Dinnissen's site which we reproduce here courtesy of Paul.
In June of 2000 an individual submitted the following:
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Dear Sirs, This morning I visited for the first time your site. I read
your opening article on the two names. There is indeed misunderstanding.
I was there at that time, lecturing at the Teachers college Mansurbabo
in Biak. I.R.I.A,N, was daily used by the Indonesian broadcast, which we
could receive undistubed and they themselves mistransformed the papuan
word Irian into the acronym Ikut Republik Indonesia Anti Nederland, which
meant: FOLLOW THE REPUBLIC INDONESIA AGAINST THE NETHERLANDS. It was an
exhortion for rebellion against the Dutch government. There is much
more information which
has to be straightened out in these crucial times. Greetings,
yours Lútzen van der Graaf
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1. Source: Koreri - Messianic movements in the Biak - Numfor Culture Area by Freerk Kamma, 1954 printed by JN Voorhoeve, translated by Mrs. M J van de Vathorst - smit pg.27
2. West Irian and Jakarta Imperialism (pg 34) by Kees Lagerberg Published by St. Martins Press New York, NY