A Decree of the Chief of Staff of the Army May 27, 1957 established the Maluku and West Irian Regional Military Command (KDM-MIB), with the first Commander being Colonel Herman Pieters and on October 24, 1959 the Maluku and West Irian Military Regional Command was changed to the Maluku West Irian Military Region "Pattimura" (MIB "Pattimura"), the honorific recalling the bravery of the local nakesake hero who in 1817 fought valiantly against Dutch administration in the islands for abuses against the people.