At the press conference here, the minister stated that this year's Independence Day commemoration will be one of the most memorable since it will take place in the new capital, Nusantara, and the current capital, Jakarta.
"The Month of Independence agenda, as usual, will be opened by the national thanksgiving and collective prayer," he remarked.
The opening of the series of events will take place on Thursday evening and be attended by President Joko Widodo and three thousand other participants, he noted.
In addition to the national thanksgiving, he said, the president will present national awards and decorations to their recipients at Jakarta's State Palace and convey the annual budget statement at the Parliament Complex.
A replica of the Heirloom Red-and-White Flag and the Indonesian Independence Proclamation manuscript will be transported from Jakarta to Nusantara in a special ceremony several days before Independence Day.
Meanwhile, on the eve of Independence Day, a reflection night will be held at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery in Jakarta and the Kusuma Bangsa Memorial Park in Nusantara.
During the Independence Day ceremony, President Jokowi will be in Nusantara, while Vice President Ma'ruf Amin will be in Jakarta. They will preside over the processions from their respective places.
Pratikno also revealed that the Independence Day flag-raising and flag-lowering ceremonies, taking place both in Jakarta and Nusantara on August 17, will follow the Jakarta time (GMT+7).
"The ceremony in the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta will then follow the military procession in Nusantara City," he remarked.
Apart from formal ceremonies and processions ahead of Independence Day, the state secretariat minister stated that an exhibition on presidential archives and artifacts related to the nation's capital would be held at Jakarta's Ismail Marzuki Park on August 8-20, 2024.
On the same occasion, Pratikno encouraged all Indonesians and public organizations to commemorate this year's Independence Day positively and joyously.
"Let us all fly the red-and-white national flag for the whole month until August 31 as well as decorate our buildings, streets, and the neighborhood to welcome Indonesia's Independence Day," the minister said.
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Translator: Rangga Pandu AJ, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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