Preparing the Independence Day ceremony amid Covid-19

BIRO PERS SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN

The national flag-hoisting team (Paskibraka) trained to prepare himself for the Commemoration of the Seconds of the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence on August 17, 2020. In the midst of the pandemic, the ceremony was still held even with very limited troops. People and invitees can take part in the ceremony online.

“Forward, march!” shouted national flag-hoisting team (Paskibraka) member Muhammad Adzan during a drill in Cibubur, East Jakarta, on Friday (7/8/2020). In seconds, Adzan and his two colleagues responsible for hoisting and lowering the national flag in the Independence Day ceremony next Monday (17/8/2020), marched to the flag pole and hoisted the flag.

The drill went on several times under the scorching sun. Other than dealing with profuse sweat, they were also required to wear a mask and face shield, which obstructed their breathing, and were required to keep a distance of 1 meter in between. Trainers must also adhere to health protocols to curb Covid-19 spread.

Paskibraka drill coordinator Maj. (Inf) Suswan said that the Covid-19 pandemic had limited many things. “During the drills, we still need to keep a safe distance [from one another]. We also need to wear masks that obstruct us. We used to be free but now we have to adhere to physical distancing rules,” he said.

Everyone is forced to adopt new habits to curb Covid-19 spread, including for the Independence Day ceremony.

The Covid-19 pandemic has truly changed everything. Since it started four months ago, it has transformed all aspects of state and national life. Everyone is forced to adopt new habits to curb Covid-19 spread, including for the Independence Day ceremony.

A far more modest Independence Day commemoration, without lavish parties, has been planned for this year. “The joy will be found in kampongs and in remote regions, in people’s celebrations,” State Secretary Pratikno told a press conference in July.

Pratikno said, if there was no Covid-19, the State Secretariat would have planned for a mass celebratory event for Indonesia’s 75th anniversary, including for the Independence Day ceremony. The scale of the event would have been larger than those in previous years, including a cultural parade attended by representatives of foreign countries.

BIRO PERS SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN

Commemoration of the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence on 17 August 2020 will still be carried out with a ceremony led by President Joko Widodo from the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta. The community was also asked to stop for a moment from various activities and be perfect at 10:17 a.m. as a sign of their love for the country. Each family is also asked to put up a red and white flag starting August 1, 2020.

As a replacement, the State Secretariat has come up with new protocols to commemorate Independence Day safely. Events have been planned in detail. A solemn reflection session on the eve of the Independence Day commemoration has been prepared. However, a social event with military widows after the Independence Day ceremony and the delivery of congratulatory messages from representatives of friendly countries have been scrapped. “They are now limited and virtual ceremonies,” Pratikno said.

Video conference

The general public and state officials will be given slots of video conference calls to participate in these events from their homes. “Other than through live broadcast, the Presidential Secretariat and the State Secretariat will also provide 17,845 slots of video conference for the public. For state officials, ministers, ambassadors, regional heads and family members of Founding Fathers and heroes, we will prepare 3,800 slots for video conference,” Presidential Secretariat chief Heru Budi Hartono said.

In the Independence Day ceremony. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo as inspector, alongside First Lady Iriana, Vice President Ma’ruf Amin and Second Lady Wury Ma’ruf Amin, will be present at the honorary tribune at 9:30 a.m.

State agency heads, the Indonesian Military commander and the National Police chief will also be present.

Only state ministers with duties during the ceremony will be present, including Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Rozy who will lead the prayer session and People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker Bambang Soesatyo as the reader of the text of proclamation. State agency heads, the Indonesian Military commander and the National Police chief will also be present. “In total, there will be 14 persons,” said Heru. They will attend the ceremony in traditional costumes.

Only five military and police personnel will be present, representing all three military forces and the National Police. The Paskibraka, usually comprising Teams 17, 8 and 45, in line with the number of persons each team has, has also been scaled down. Now, only three flag hoisters will be present at the ceremony.

No more than 24 persons

Heru said that Paskibraka recruitment could not be done this year. Consequently, eight persons were selected out of the reserve team of last year’s Paskibraka to hoist and lower the flag. “There will only be three flag hoisters from the Paskibraka, maybe with one more as reserve,” Heru told a press conference.

In short, the Covid-19 pandemic has forced a scaling-down of the Independence Day ceremony. It will not be attended by hundreds of people like ceremonies in past years. Presidential Secretariat deputy head of protocol, press and media affairs Bey T Machmudin said that no more than 24 persons would attend the Independence Day ceremony this year. “There will be no more than 24 persons to prevent Covid-19 spread,” he said in a press statement.

Persons who will not attend this year include the ceremony troop, the Paskibraka, the music corps, school students performing the aubade and celebrities. Unsurprisingly, during the drills in front of the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, there was never any road closure.

Kompas/Wawan H Prabowo

Children play when it rains the Poklamasi Monument complex, Jakarta, on Sunday (22/12/2019).

Usually, the route between Jl. Veteran III and Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara is closed. During the rehearsal on Sunday (12/7) only 15 persons were present, comprising ceremony attendants and their trainers.

Despite its limited and virtual nature, it is hoped that the joy of the Independence Day celebration this year will still be preserved. Locals and governments across regions are required to support through the sounding of sirens. People are hoped to salute the flag during the flag-hoisting moments.

“Stop all activities for three minutes on 17 August 2020 at 10:17 a.m. Stand upright and at attention in order to commemorate the proclamation,” Pratikno said. (INA/NTA/LAS/HAR)