Changing of Palace Guards’ Ceremony is Open to Public Starting 17 July

President Jokowi and President of Serbia Tomislav Nikolic pass the Presidential Security Detail (Paspampres) line in a state ceremony (27/4)

Starting 17 July 2016, Presidential Security Detail’s (Paspampres) changing of the guards’ ceremony to be opened to public and become a new public attraction.

“On Sunday, 17 July 2016 at 08.00 a.m., the public may witness the ceremony at the front yard of Merdeka Palace,”  Chief of Presidential Press, Media, and Information Bureau Bey Machmudin stated in a press release on Friday (15/7), Jakarta.

The changing of the guards is open to the public as in line with a President’s instruction to bring people closer to the Palace and vice versa. It also provides opportunities for the public to enjoy the morning around the Palace that belongs to all Indonesians.

“We are ready to carry out instructions and directives from the President,” Paspampres Commander Maj. Gen. (Marshal) Bambang Suswantono said as quoted in the press statement.

The public can watch the ceremony which contains historical value of the country’s journey on every second Sunday of the month.

“The ceremony is held at the front yard of the Merdeka Palace on every second Sunday of the month at 08:00 a.m.,” Bey added.

For the record, Presidential Palace of the Republic of Indonesia located at Jl. Medan Merdeka, Jakarta is used by the President for administrative role. Everyday, the members of Paspampres who are in charge to secure the Palace conduct a ceremony to change the guards of the Presidential Palace.(UN/ES) (RAS/MMB/YM/Naster)