# Hai Tanahku Papua

Hai Tanahku Papua ("Oh My Land Papua") was an anthem of Netherlands New Guinea and of the unilaterally declared Republic of West Papua.

## History

The anthem was composed by the Dutch missionary Rev. Izaak Samuel Kijne during the 1930s.
After the Dutch-supervised election of a regional parliament, the New Guinea Council (Dutch: Nieuw Guinea Raad), a group was formed on 19 October 1961 to elect a national committee. The committee drafted a manifesto for independence and self-government, a national flag (the Morning Star Flag), state seal, selected "Hai Tanahku Papua" as a national anthem, and called for the people to be known as Papuans. The New Guinea Council voted unanimously in favour of these proposals on 30 October 1961, and on 31 October 1961 presented the Morning Star flag and manifesto to Governor-General Pieter Johannes Platteel. The Dutch recognized the flag and anthem on 18 November 1961 (Government Gazettes of Dutch New Guinea No. 68 & 69), and these ordinances came into effect on 1 December 1961. The anthem went out of public use after Operation Trikora and handover of West Papua to Indonesia in 1963.

## Current status

The anthem is currently a prominent symbol of independence activists, including Organisasi Papua Merdeka (Free Papua Movement), and use of the anthem within the province is prohibited. The song has also been proposed as a symbol of the province of Papua.

## Lyrics

Lyrics to "Hai Tanahku Papua" in several languages :
| Old Indonesian Spelling | New Indonesian Spelling | Dutch translation | English translation |
| Hai tanahku Papoea, Kaoe tanah lahirkoe, Koe kasih akan dikaoe sehingga adjalkoe. Koekasih pasir poetih Di pantaimoe senang Di mana laoetan biroe Berkilat dalam trang. Koekasih goenoeng-goenoeng Besar moelialah Dan awan jang melajang Keliling puntjaknja. Kukasih dikaoe tanah Jang dengan boeahmoe Membajar keradjinan Dan pekerdjaanku. Koekasih boenji ombak Jang poekoel pantaimoe Njanjian jang selaloe Senangkan hatikoe. Koekasih hoetan-hoetan Selimut tanahkoe Koesuka mengembara Di bawah naoengmoe. Sjoekoer bagimoe, Toehan, Kaoe brikan tanahkoe Bri aku radjin djoega Sampaikan maksud-Moe. | Hai tanahku Papua, Kau tanah lahirku, Ku kasih akan dikau sehingga ajalku. Kukasih pasir putih Di pantaimu senang Di mana lautan biru Berkilat dalam terang. Kukasih gunung-gunung Besar mulialah Dan awan yang melayang Keliling puncaknya. Kukasih dikau tanah Yang dengan buahmu Membayar kerajinan Dan pekerjaanku. Kukasih bunyi ombak Yang pukul pantaimu Nyanyian yang selalu Senangkan hatiku. Kukasih hutan-hutan Selimut tanahku Kusuka mengembara Di bawah naungmu. Syukur bagimu, Tuhan, Kau berikan tanahku Beri aku rajin juga Sampaikan maksudMu. | O mijn land Papoea Mijn geboorteland Jou zal ik liefhebben Tot mijn levenseinde Ik hou van het witte zand Van je fijne stranden Waar de blauwe oceaan Blinkt in het licht Ik hou van de bergen Groot en verheven En de wolken die zweven Om hun toppen Ik hou van je grond Die met je vruchten Mijn ijver betaalt En mijn werk Ik hou van het geluid van de branding Die op je stranden slaat Een lied dat steeds Mijn hart verheugt Ik hou van de bossen Het dekkleed van mijn land Ik mag zo graag zwerven Onder je schaduw Dank zij u Heer Gij hebt mij het land gegeven Laat mij ook ijverig zijn Om het te laten beantwoorden aan Uw doel | Oh Papua, my land Where I was born and raised Thee I shall always love Till' my day of eternal rest comes I love the whiteness of your sands On your beaches, joyful Where the azure seas Sparkle bright in the day Your high peaks I adore Majestic and grand Sublime clouds, surrounding Around the tops, they do I love this land of mine Naturally abounding with bounty That shall pay me off and my labour in full Thy roaring waves, I am smitten with Ever crashing against your white, sandy beaches A melody that shall eternally In my heart remain I love the sprawling forests That this land is built upon 'Tis rapture to traipse Under its benevolent shade Thank you, oh Lord on high This land of mine, Thine creation Task me to labour ceaselessly too To spread Thy cause, far and wide. |