JAKARTA, JAKTIMES.COM – The courtyard of Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, witnessed a new historic moment on Sunday (August 17, 2025). For the first time, President Prabowo Subianto personally led the Proclamation Ceremony of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia to commemorate the nation’s 80th Independence Day.
The ceremony began with a report from the Commander of the Ceremony, Colonel Inf Amril Hairuman Tehupelasury, to President Prabowo as the Inspector of the Ceremony. Moments later, 17 cannon salutes echoed, accompanied by a long siren, marking the beginning of the sacred proclamation proceedings.
The most solemn moment came when President Prabowo read the text of the proclamation, a document first declared by Sukarno 80 years ago. The atmosphere grew emotional, as if bridging today’s generation with the historic moment of Indonesia’s birth in 1945.
The procession continued with a moment of silence, a national prayer, and the hoisting of the Red-and-White flag by the Flag Hoisting Troop (Paskibraka) of the “Indonesia Berdaulat” team. The national flag proudly fluttered in Jakarta’s sky, greeted with salutes from all ceremony participants.
Following the flag hoisting, the final report from the Ceremony Commander to the President officially marked the end of the Proclamation Ceremony. The solemn atmosphere was followed by performances of patriotic and national songs by the Gita Bahana Nusantara (GBN), further enriching the ceremony and stirring the spirit of nationalism.
This inaugural ceremony led by President Prabowo stands as a significant milestone in commemorating Indonesia’s 80th Independence Day, affirming the enduring spirit of nationalism passed down from generation to generation (Marwan)