Indonesia to Celebrate Independence Day in Modest Way Amid Pandemic

Minister of State Secretary accompanied by Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy delivers press statement in Jakarta, Monday (6/7). (Photo: BPMI)

The Government has announced that the country will celebrate its Independence Day this year on a smaller scale as the country is still battling to contain the spread of COVID-19.

“The Independence Day celebration this year must still be carried out solemnly. However, we will celebrate it in a much simpler way while still maintaining the spirit, excitement, and creativity of the people and of course by following strict health protocols,” Minister of State Secretary Pratikno said in Jakarta, Monday (6/7).

The Minister also urged the public to participate in the celebration by decorating the roads, public facilities and the surrounding environment with festive decoration starting July.

He also said that the flag-hoisting ceremony tradition will still be carried out despite the current situation but with very limited number of invitations and participants. For example, there will only be three flag officers from the usual dozens of them, he added.

Pratikno further said that the public is not allowed to attend the ceremony live around the State Palace and urged them to watch it virtually at home instead.

“The excitement and solemnity of the independence day will be maintained throughout Indonesia virtually,” Pratikno said, adding that the people will also be introduced with a new tradition in which when the national anthem Indonesian is sung during the ceremony, the people are expected to stop their activities and stand up straight to sing the anthem. (BPMI/EN)

Translated by: Estu Widyamurti
Reviewed by: M. Ersan Pamungkas