the region was formerly a kingdom of the netherlands colony part of the dutch east indies and in 1949 was known as dutch new guinea. the dutch had planned to withdraw by 1970 and began "papuanization" to prepare for independence. in february 1961, the dutch organised elections for the new guinea council a papuan representative body to advise the governor. the council appointed a national committee to prepare a political manifesto for the future state. on 1 december 1961, an inauguration ceremony was held for the morning star flag raised outside the council building in the presence of the governor, also the national anthem "hai tanahku papua", the birds of paradise coat of arms, motto and the name of papua barat (west papua) for the proposed new state. the dutch had accepted the manifesto except the denomination of the flag recognising it as a territorial flag not a national flag.