President Jokowi : Navy’s War is for Humanity

President Jokowi inaugurates Peace Dove Monument at the Muaro Lasak Park, Padang, on Tuesday (12/4) afternoon

After inaugurating the Opening of the 2016 International Fleet Review (IFR), President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo accompanied by Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI) Commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo and Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Ade Supandi inspected an international battleships parade on KRI Frans Kaisiepo-368, an Indonesian Naval battleship.

President Jokowi inspected as many as 20 battleships of 15 countries participating in the 2016 IFR which were docked at the waters of Bayur Bay. The inspection was enlivened by many attractions, including flying pass, fly board, and a parade of decorative boats.

After the inspection, the President, from the Bridge of KRI Frans Kaisiepo-368 battleship, delivered a statement broadcasted to all participants of the 2016 Komodo Excercise.

“Distinguished Naval Forces, as citizens of the world, we are united by the sea. Therefore, we must maintain our brotherhood at seas, oceans, or bays,” the President firmly said.

The duty of the Navy, the President added, is to participate in a war for the sake of humanity as well as to improve health services.

“Keep improving and developing public facilities. Increase the cooperation with Search and Rescue (SAR) and others. Once again, our war is for humanity,” President Jokowi said.

Afterwards, President Jokowi and his entourage headed to Muaro Lasak Park to inaugurate Peace Dove Monument which is in line with the content of the 2016 Komodo Excercise, that is to focus on Maritime Peace Keeping Operation (MPKO).

President Jokowi marked the inauguration by pressing a siren button and releasing doves as well as signing an inscription. “In the name of the Almighty God, I inaugurate the Peace Dove Monument,” President Jokowi said.

The President also took a group photo with the TNI Commander, Navy Chief of Staff, and the Navy Chiefs of Staff of participating countries.

The Peace Dove Monument symbolizes the commitment of all Navies in the world to materialize world peace.

The eight-meter high monument was designed to resemble origami paper to illustrate that peace is extremely vulnerable. Peace can be fragile as a piece of paper. At the bottom of the monument, there is a globe symbolizing world peace.(GUN/ES) (RAS/MMD/YM/Naster)