President: Today’s Struggle is Against Covid-19

SEKRETARIAT WAPRES

President Joko Widodo and Vice President Ma\'ruf Amin pray for heroes and sow flowers on the graves of the heroes at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery, Jakarta, Tuesday (10/11/2020).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The merits of medical workers staking their lives to keep providing health services amid the Covid-19 pandemic were appreciated by various circles during the commemoration of Heroes Day. Their devotion and sacrifice are exactly similar to those demonstrated by national heroes who have made Indonesia solidly survive notwithstanding the ever-emerging tough challenges.

Heroes Day on Tuesday (10/11/2020) was celebrated in a number of cities in spite of the Covid-19 pandemic. Simple ceremonies marked the event by complying with health protocols.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Vice President Ma’ruf Amin observed Heroes Day with a flower strewing ceremony at Kalibata Heroes Cemetery, Jakarta. Present on the occasion were several ministers of the Indonesia Onward Cabinet.

Also read: Indonesia’s Humanitarian Heroes

In a prayer service for national heroes headed by Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi, the President and ministers were also praying for the heroes with their meritorious deeds in the fight to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic.

In Surabaya, East Java, the origin of the Heroes Day celebration that marked the battle against Allied forces on 10 November 1945, the event was observed without parades, festivals or art performances like in previous years. The commemoration was limited to a ceremony at the Heroes Monument. In the evening on the eve of Tuesday, a moment of deep reflection was held at 10 November Heroes Cemetery, Surabaya.

Also read: Dedication to the End

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Funeral officials prepare to unload two bodies from the ambulance which will be buried according to the Covid-19 protocol at Pondok Ranggon TPU, East Jakarta, Friday (18/9/2020) night.

National Heroes

As part of Heroes Day, President Jokowi awarded national hero titles to six figures. Three of the six were the late Sultan Baabullah from North Maluku, the late Machmud Singgirei Rumagesan from West Papua and the late Police General (ret.) Raden Said Soekanto Tjokrodiatmodjo from Jakarta. The other three were the late Arnold Mononutu from North Sulawesi, the late Sutan Mohammad Amin Nasution from North Sumatra and the late Raden Mattaher bin Pangeran Kusen bin Adi from Jambi.

The national hero titles were conferred due to the services of the six figures in the pursuit, defense and substantiation of independence.

Other battlefields

Yesterday, President Jokowi through his official account on social media posted pictures of freedom fighters along with medical workers. The President also noted, “The nation continues to survive and carries on its journey all through the times because of the struggle of heroes. They are present in every period and respond to every challenge. Today, we commemorate the merits of heroes who have died with the determination to continue their struggle in other battlefields.”

The important struggle today, according to the President, is to break the chain of transmission of Covid-19, which has prevailed for eight months in Indonesia.

Also read: Pay Attention to Safety of Health Workers

Vice President Amin also appealed to all elements of the nation to use the Heroes Day commemoration as an opportunity to arouse the spirit of heroism. This is especially the case as the nation is facing the ordeal of the Covid-19 pandemic.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

A number of health workers from the TNI, Polri, civilian volunteers and medical officers attended the Heroes\' Day commemoration ceremony at the Wisma Atlet Covid-19 Emergency Hospital complex, Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, Tuesday (10/11/2020).

Every period has its challenge. But the merits of heroes are abiding.

The appreciation for medical workers was expressed by a number of officials. House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani, for instance, referred to medical workers as present-day heroes. Through her social media account, she uploaded a cartoon depicting a doctor and nurse and put the words, “Every period has its challenge. But the merits of heroes are abiding.”

Presidential Staff Chief Moeldoko on his social media account wrote, “The struggle of medical workers on the frontline to face Covid-19 is no less heroic than that of heroes as they were fighting colonizers. They are heroes in upholding the honor of Indonesia.”

Also read: Improve Protection Healthcare Workers

Several residents interviewed by Kompas also held the view that medical workers were today’s heroes. A student of Muhammadiyah University, Jakarta, Nur Hafizah, 21, for example, said medical workers kept offering their services while most people were working from home. They’re also far from families and ready to stake their lives for the safety of patients.

Results of a Kompas public opinion poll on 3-5 November 2020 indicated that over half of 522 respondents chose medical workers as heroes during the Covid-19 pandemic. So far, a total of 323 medical workers in the country have died from Covid-19.

(INA/BRO/LAS/FAI)