ID :
75743
Mon, 08/17/2009 - 23:12
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/75743
The shortlink copeid
INDONESIA CELEBRATES 64th INDEPENDENCE DAY
JAKARTA, Aug 17 (Bernama) -- Indonesia celebrated its 64th Independence Day
Monday with a special ceremony led by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the
Merdeka Palace here.
The celebration kicked of with a 17-gun salute followed by the independence
proclamation by the Speaker of Indonesia's House of Representatives, Agung
Laksono.
The flag-raising ceremony and parade in front of the palace were also
witnessed by Indonesian Cabinet ministers, including Vice-President Jusuf Kalla
and foreign delegates and diplomats.
A total of 33 students, representing 33 provinces in Indonesia, were given
the honour to be the flag-bearers for the ceremony, which was conducted under
the watchful eyes of the authorities following the bombing on July 17 and
reports that the president was the target of terrorists.
The ceremony was broadcasted live by the local television.
The people of Indonesia, numbering 230 million, celebrated the Independence
Day nationwide with various activities including flag-raising, parades and
telematches like climbing slippery pinang trees and catching ducks.
Meanwhile, Indonesians working in KUALA LUMPUR expressed the hope that the
republic would enjoy peace from the economic and political stability.
Latif Supri, 44, a contractor who has been working in Malaysia for the past
25 years, said that this year's Independence Day celebration meant so much for
the people, especially when they had been deluged with problems, including
terrorism.
"Of course we are hoping for peace. We don't want to live under the shadow
of terrorism anymore. I'm sure the leaders have the best way to tackle the
problems. The people of Indonesia are longing for a more stable economy, so that
they don't have to leave the country anymore," he told Bernama Monday.
His view was shared by Annaba Ghassani, 16, who wished that Indonesians,
regardless of their status, would imbibe the spirit of independence to develop
the country and that the country would be free from threats, both local or
abroad.
Annaba, from West Sumatra, is a student at Sekolah Indonesia Kuala Lumpur,
involved in the flag-raising ceremony in conjunction with the Independence Day
celebration, which was launched by Indonesian ambassador to Malaysia Da'i
Bachtiar.
Over 500 Indonesian nationals in Kuala Lumpur and its surrounding areas
attended the ceremony.
Bachtiar, in his speech, hoped that the Indonesian workers in Malaysia,
totalling 1.2 million, would remember and celebrate the most historical day for
the republic.
"There are 1.2 million Indonesian workers in Malaysia, especially in the
peninsula. It is hoped that relations between the two countries will progress in
every aspect and be strengthened in the future," he added.
-- BERNAMA
Monday with a special ceremony led by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the
Merdeka Palace here.
The celebration kicked of with a 17-gun salute followed by the independence
proclamation by the Speaker of Indonesia's House of Representatives, Agung
Laksono.
The flag-raising ceremony and parade in front of the palace were also
witnessed by Indonesian Cabinet ministers, including Vice-President Jusuf Kalla
and foreign delegates and diplomats.
A total of 33 students, representing 33 provinces in Indonesia, were given
the honour to be the flag-bearers for the ceremony, which was conducted under
the watchful eyes of the authorities following the bombing on July 17 and
reports that the president was the target of terrorists.
The ceremony was broadcasted live by the local television.
The people of Indonesia, numbering 230 million, celebrated the Independence
Day nationwide with various activities including flag-raising, parades and
telematches like climbing slippery pinang trees and catching ducks.
Meanwhile, Indonesians working in KUALA LUMPUR expressed the hope that the
republic would enjoy peace from the economic and political stability.
Latif Supri, 44, a contractor who has been working in Malaysia for the past
25 years, said that this year's Independence Day celebration meant so much for
the people, especially when they had been deluged with problems, including
terrorism.
"Of course we are hoping for peace. We don't want to live under the shadow
of terrorism anymore. I'm sure the leaders have the best way to tackle the
problems. The people of Indonesia are longing for a more stable economy, so that
they don't have to leave the country anymore," he told Bernama Monday.
His view was shared by Annaba Ghassani, 16, who wished that Indonesians,
regardless of their status, would imbibe the spirit of independence to develop
the country and that the country would be free from threats, both local or
abroad.
Annaba, from West Sumatra, is a student at Sekolah Indonesia Kuala Lumpur,
involved in the flag-raising ceremony in conjunction with the Independence Day
celebration, which was launched by Indonesian ambassador to Malaysia Da'i
Bachtiar.
Over 500 Indonesian nationals in Kuala Lumpur and its surrounding areas
attended the ceremony.
Bachtiar, in his speech, hoped that the Indonesian workers in Malaysia,
totalling 1.2 million, would remember and celebrate the most historical day for
the republic.
"There are 1.2 million Indonesian workers in Malaysia, especially in the
peninsula. It is hoped that relations between the two countries will progress in
every aspect and be strengthened in the future," he added.
-- BERNAMA
