Statement of President of the Republic of Indonesia during the Launching of “Rumah Digital Indonesia” to Commemorate the 76th Anniversary of Indonesian Independence Day, 1 August 2021, Merdeka Palace, Jakarta

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

May peace be upon us all,

Om Swastiastu,

Namo Buddhaya,

Greetings of Virtue.

Ladies, Gentlemen, and My Fellow Citizens.

Every year we celebrate the Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia in the Independence Month of August. In this current pandemic situation, this year’s celebration is quite different. This year’s celebration will be virtually held in a digital platform called “Rumah Digital Indonesia”.

All Indonesian people, especially the youths who are digital savvy, can actively participate in various activities in the Rumah Digital Indonesia. Traditional games such as sack race can be performed by anyone from anywhere. Regions all over Indonesia can participate in and enjoy the art stage, the country’s tourist attractions, handicrafts, creative works from the nation’s children, and also can contribute to work together and help each other.

The Rumah Digital Indonesia is a digital space which serves as a forum for participation and togetherness in celebrating the Independence Month online.

Ladies, Gentlemen, and My Fellow Citizens.

Participation and togetherness are the main keys of Indonesia’s struggle for independence. The struggle is carried out by the people all over Indonesia to fight colonialism. Now, we must galvanize those spirits to tackle COVID-19 pandemic. People all over Indonesia, from the neighborhood level (RT), community unit level (RW), village level, sub-district level, regional level, city level, provincial level, to the national level, must actively participate and jointly fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

Let us focus our time, mind, and energy to jointly tackle COVID-19 pandemic. Our participation and togetherness will become the biggest driving force to defeat COVID-19, the world’s current enemy.

With the spirit of the independence struggle, we can defeat this pandemic faster and the social, economic activities of the community can be rebuilt as usual. Last but not least, I call on all of you to make the most of the current challenges in order to develop innovations, new works to make a big leap for Indonesia.

I thank you.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

Om santi santi santi om,

Namo Buddhaya. (AP/MUR)