AIESEC

75 years of Indonesian Independence Day!

Independence Day 

Independence day is probably the most prestigious day for a country as it marks the foundation of a free and independent nation. In Indonesia, it is a day that celebrates the anniversary of Indonesia’s proclamation of Independence which took place on 17 August 1945. It is also a day that signifies Indonesia’s victory over Dutch’s colonial rule. Now that we have known what Indonesia’s independence is about, let’s take a further look at its detail. 

At this point, you must be wondering how this special day is celebrated and what are the events that take place on this particular day. Firstly, Indonesia’s citizens are obliged to hoist the red and white flags in virtually every place, starting from their homes up to public and private institutions. Citizens are also required to place flags in their vehicles. The second and the most crucial event is the flag hoisting ceremony which is hosted by the current president at the Merdeka palace, which is one of the six presidential palaces. It is done to reenact the proclamation of independence by Indonesia’s first president, Soekarno. Furthermore, the ceremony is broadcasted via television and radio so that the entire nation can witness/hear it. Lastly, after the ceremony, a joyful ambience is created as people in the cities and villages celebrate the independence day by playing traditional games and participating in competitions. Carnivals and parades are also held in the cities. 

In the midst of worries about its spread as well as limited mobility and resource mobilization, the commemoration of this year’s Indonesian Independence Day is still being held. Even with the limitations, it is believed that the commemoration this time is still solemn and festive. Nevertheless, the commemoration of the Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia this time is different from previous years because of the presence of this pandemic. This time a flag ceremony will also be held, however, still adhere to the established health protocols; meaning that it is done in a limited manner and also online to avoid crowds. According to the Head of the Presidential Secretariat Heru Budi Hartono, this year’s ceremony still uses the Heritage Flag Raising Troops (Paskibraka), but those who are being recruited again are the alumni who will appear in 2019 (Flora, 2020). 

The solidarity of the people in the mutual cooperation action was also seen when the people began to make preparations for the Indonesian Independence Day in accordance with the appeal of the Minister of State Secretary. Moreover, this year’s celebration has a number of new things implemented as well. First, citizens are obliged to raise the national flag starting from August 1, 2020. Next, the Head of the Presidential Secretariat also appealed to all Indonesian citizens, even those who currently reside outside the country, to have sikap sempurna at 10.17 WIB during the commemoration of Indonesia’s 75th Anniversary on August 17, 2020. 

Apart from this, we should take independence day as a reminder for us to strive to achieve more for the development of this country. We, the citizens of Indonesia, should collaborate to make this country a prosperous one and try our level best to convert Indonesia from a developing nation to a developed one. We must ensure that the efforts of the heroes who fought for our country’s independence do not go in vain. 

Together, Indonesia can flourish! 

Writers: Fathimah Nur Shabrina, Naman Vohra

References 

  • https://www.antaranews.com/berita/1644574/tetap-merdeka-meski-ada-virus-corona 
  • https://www.liputan6.com/news/read/4324252/sederet-hal-baru-tentang-peringatan-h ut-ke-75-ri-di-tengah-pandemi-covid-19 
  • https://www.tripsavvy.com/indonesia-independence-day-1458339