This year’s celebration is themed “New Nusantara, Advanced Indonesia.”
The main ceremony will be held at the IKN, while the Merdeka Palace will host some form of public entertainment.
President Joko Widodo will lead the flag ceremony at the IKN directly, accompanied by President-elect Prabowo Subianto. This historic ceremony will be held outside Jakarta for the first time.
Meanwhile, at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin, accompanied by Vice President-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka, will virtually follow the ceremony at the IKN before some shows from national musicians for the public.
The government continues to make various preparations for the successful holding of the first independence ceremony at the IKN.
On July 11, 2024, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono stated that water, electricity, and internet networks would be ready for use during the Independence Day ceremony at IKN.
Several buildings of the coordinating ministries will also be ready to operate and accommodate Heritage Flag Forces (Paskibraka), ceremony officers, and other guests.
As for accommodation, the Nusantara Hotel in IKN, with a capacity of 190 rooms, will also be ready for use in August.
According to the minister, the toll road infrastructure to the IKN had been built up to Balang Island. However, matters related to land acquisition had earlier hampered the construction of the toll road to IKN.
Meanwhile, the construction of IKN Airport, with a 2,200-meter runway, is expected to be completed soon and be ready for use on August 17, 2024.
In keeping with the preparations for the Independence Day ceremony, Hadimuljono, concurrently serving as Acting Head of the IKN Authority (OIKN), will temporarily stop outdoor construction activities at the IKN starting August 10, 2024, to clear the roads and ensure smooth mobilization of vehicles carrying items and supplies to meet the ceremony's requirements.
The Task Force for IKN Infrastructure Development Planning also remarked that the State Palace at IKN will be functional by the end of July 2024.
"We can see that the State Palace will be functional by the end of July," the Task Force's head, Imam Santoso Ernawi, noted.
He stated that most of the rooms in the State Palace, especially the main rooms, can be functional by the end of this month.
The ceremonial field, with a capacity to accommodate eight thousand people, is fully functional and ready for use for the Independence Day ceremony.
Historic celebration
The Independence Day celebration this year at two locations at the national level will be historic.
DKI Jakarta Acting Governor Heru Budi Hartono stated that his side is preparing an event to welcome Independence Day, starting on August 10, with various activities.
"Starting from August 10 and onwards, the local government will facilitate everything needed for the Independence Day event,” he revealed.
As the committee, he stated that the Independence Day ceremony at two locations has been carefully prepared.
The military ceremony (TUM) will also be held at the IKN, with an estimated five thousand to 10 thousand troops.
Hartono stated that the Independence Day ceremony this year will mark the change of status of DKI Jakarta to the Special Region of Jakarta (DKJ), no longer a nation’s capital that moves to IKN.
Later, a special ceremony will be held to inaugurate the change in status of Jakarta and the IKN, such as removing the flag and duplicate proclamation text from Monas to the Palace in Jakarta and thereafter to the IKN Palace.
On August 18, 2024, President Jokowi also plans to inaugurate the IKN Mosque and commence government activities from IKN.
Invitees and Paskibraka
In his interview in mid-June, Jokowi stated that Indonesian presidents and ambassadors of friendly countries would be invited to attend the Independence Day ceremony at the IKN.
The government will also arrange the mechanism and technicalities of VIP guests.
Regional Secretary of East Kalimantan Province, Sri Wahyuni, stated that one thousand people representing residents and elements of the East Kalimantan community leaders will also receive special invitations to attend the ceremony at the IKN.
To strengthen the implementation and security on the D-day of the Independence Day ceremony, the regional government held a follow-up meeting with the VI Mulawarman Military Command, the East Kalimantan Regional Police, and the Presidential Secretariat or the Ministry of State Secretariat.
Furthermore, to prepare Paskibraka's readiness, the Pancasila Ideology Development Agency (BPIP) stated that 76 Paskibraka candidates are undergoing training at the Wiladatika Recreation Park, Cibubur, Depok, West Java, from July 12 to August 10, 2024.
During the training, they learn and practice Pancasila, including Indonesia's diversity within the framework of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, preparing themselves to carry out the task of maintaining the consensus of Pancasila, the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, maintaining the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika.
The BPIP stated that President Joko Widodo will inaugurate Paskibraka candidates before leaving for IKN Nusantara.
The inauguration usually takes place on August 15 or two days before the ceremony. However, the BPIP is considering that the inauguration can be carried out earlier to facilitate the mobilization of Paskibraka to the IKN.
The Independence Day celebration this year will be a historic event. The support of all national elements will ensure the successful holding of the ceremony at IKN that carries the spirit and ideals of the nation in realizing Advanced Indonesia.
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Translator: Rangga Pandu A J, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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