President Jokowi Leads Proclamation Commemoration Ceremony at Merdeka Palace
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo led the 78th Proclamation Commemoration Ceremony of the Republic Indonesia at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Thursday (08/17).
At this year’s ceremony, President wore the Ageman Songkok Singkepan Ageng traditional dress from Surakarta, Central Java province while First Lady Ibu Iriana Jokowi wore Bali traditional dress. On the other hand, Vice President Ma’ruf Amin and his spouse Ibu Wury Ma’ruf Amin wore West Sumatra’s traditional dress.
Prior to the ceremony, a cultural parade was showcased to carry the duplicate of the Red and White heirloom flag and the Proclamation Manuscript from the storage place of the Independence Room in the goblet area of the National Monument to the Merdeka Palace.
The duplicate of the Red and White heirloom flag and the Proclamation Manuscript were carried by the 2022 members of Purna Paskibraka Duta Pancasila, namely Ghania Taufiqa Salma Wibowo, a student from State Senior High School 8 Yogyakarta who carried the duplicate of the flag and Ayumi Putri Sasaki, a student from Taruna Bhayangkara State High School 2 Banyuwangi who carried the Proclamation Manuscript. Both of them rode the Ki Jaga Rasa carriage.
The Ceremony began with 17 cannon shots, followed by one minute of sirens.
Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR RI) Bambang Soesatyo read out the proclamation script read out by the proclaimer Ir. Soekarno 78 years ago.
Afterward, President Jokowi as the inspector of the ceremony led the participants of the ceremony to take a moment of silence. Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas then led the prayer.
Previously, at the press statement before the ceremony Vice President Ma’ruf Amin revealed that this year’s Proclamation Commemoration Ceremony of the Republic Indonesia is a special moment. “This commemoration ceremony is indeed very special, because this is the first time we commemorate the Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia after the pandemic, by wearing various kind of traditional attires. And, I think this shows our diversity as a nation,” he stated.
He also expressed hope that Indonesia could realize the big vision of advanced Indonesia. On this opportunity, the Vice President also said that the 2024 Independence Proclamation Commemoration Ceremony will be held at the capital city of Nusantara (IKN)
“Of course, our hope is that Indonesia will continue to progress towards an advanced Indonesia. Because it is indeed the time for Indonesia, on its 78th Anniversary, we should achieve our great vision of Indonesia. It is also a time for us to make history, that we must be the pride of the Indonesian people in the future, and we start today in this place, I believe. God willing, next year we can carry out this anniversary in the new capital city,” he said.
Earlier, the 78th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony of the Republic of Indonesia was also held within the presidential institutions. The ceremony, which took place in the courtyard of the Ministry of State Secretary, Jakarta, was attended by officials and employees within the presidential institutions. Acting as the ceremony inspector was the Minister of State Secretary Pratikno.
During the ceremony, the honorary marks of Satya Lencana Wira Karya and Satya Lencana Karya Satya were also presented to a number of officials and employees who have shown their services and devotion to the country. (TGH/UN)(RKW/FI)
