Attending National Heroes Day Ceremony, President Jokowi: Never Tired of Loving Indonesia

President Jokowi had a silaturahmi (amicable gathering) with the family of Bung Tomo, after attending National Heroes Day ceremony, in Surabaya, on Tuesday (10/11)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo called on all national elements to be optimistic, have a strong belief in order to maintain the nation’s unity, to develop the nation and to make progress so that the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia could equally stand  with other countries.

The President reminded all national elements to never tired of loving Indonesia. “Always remember, the sweat and blood of our heroes had opened us a way. This is the time to unite, to take a path of changing the future of Indonesia to be a sovereign and independent country  as well as having a noble personality,” President Jokowi said when giving a remarks on the commemoration of National Heroes Day on 10 November 2015, at Tugu Pahlawan ( Heroes Monument), in Surabaya.

Previously on his remarks, the President said that Indonesia is a country of heroes. A country where every youngsters from Sabang to Merauke, refused to surrender to the colonialists. A country where the youngsters never give up to hoist Indonesian “Merah Putih” flag in the country.

A country where religious leaders (Kiai) and Islamic students (Santri), President Jokowi added, with their own ways, joined all national youth elements and sacrificed their lives to do jihad in the context of Indonesia, a national jihad to fight against the colonialists. A country where all national elements regardless their etnics, religions, races or groups are united to create a sovereign Indonesia, “Indonesia Raya” (Indonesia the Great).

“The spirit must be inherited by us. The responsibility lies on our shoulders to carry on the fight, sacrifice, and dedication of the heroes in order to build the future of the nation and country; a country that  is sovereign, independent and has noble personality,” the President firmly said.

The President reminded all national elements to always remember the message from Bung Tomo who said as long as we still have red blood that can make a piece of white cloth turns into red and white, we will never surrender to anyone.

According to the President, Indonesia is currently in the beginning of a change; a change to strengthen national development foundation, a change to ensure our development would bring prosperity to the people.

“A change that leads to Indonesia-centrism, not Java-centrism. A change to a constructive freedom of speech and could build national unity, not provoking horizontal conflict and cause public hysteria. A change that leads to the respect to human rights, and coruption as poverty erradication,” the President said.

The President believes, the value of the heroes for example their fight, dedication and sincere sacrifice to the nation is our breath of life in implementing those values to our fields of service; for example as a teacher, driver, fisherman, law enforcer, farmer, labor, college student, doctor, and others.

“With the spirit of heroism, we could have new heroes who fight for the nation and country in their own fields,” the President added.

The National Heroes Day ceremony was attended by 3,000 people from several elements, such as, from Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI)/Indonesian Police (Polri), civil servants (PNS), college students, Youth Organization and students, as well as veterans of independence war.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut B. Pandjaitan, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Religious Affais Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, Minister of Social Affairs Khofifah Indar Parawansa and the Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki also attended the event. (JAY/ES) (RAS/MMB/YM/Naster)