Megawati Is Obstructed To Attend The 80th Anniversary Of Indonesian Independence Ceremony At The Merdeka Palace
JAKARTA - The 6th President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) and the 7th President Joko Widodo attended the procession of the Commemoration of the Seconds of the Proclamation of Independence of the Republic of Indonesia at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Sunday morning.
Minister of State Secretary (Mensesneg) Prasetyo Hadi, who is currently serving as Chair of the Committee for the Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia, said that the 6th President and 7th President were confirmed to be present, while the 5th President Megawati Soekarnoputri was unable to attend.
"God willing, the 6th President of Mr. SBY, the 7th President of Mr. Joko Widodo, God willing, will attend. The 5th President, the last confirmation, is unable to attend the Proclamation Seconds Ceremony at the Merdeka Palace, because he does have a routine agenda of August 17 leading a special ceremony at the PDIP DPP," said Prasetyo ANTARA, Sunday, August 17, 2025, morning.
During the moment of the 80th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia at the Merdeka Palace, Prasetyo wore traditional West Sumatra clothes, complete with his signature head covering.
Pras, as he is popularly called, explained the reason for choosing the traditional clothes from West Sumatra as a form of respect for Bung Hatta, the Proclaimer of Independence of the Republic of Indonesia from West Sumatra.
"Of course we respect our Proclaimer Bung Hatta from West Sumatra, then I am from Java, so that in Javanese philosophy, Padang, it means this light, prayer and hope that Indonesia will be bright-flagged," said Pras.
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After a brief interview with reporters, Pras and Deputy Minister of State Secretary Juri Ardiantoro continued to check several points around the courtyard of the Merdeka Palace.
The series of ceremonies took place at around 08.00 WIB, starting with the Red and White Heritage Flag carnival and the text of the Proclamation of Independence of the Republic of Indonesia from the National Monument to the Merdeka Palace. The two Indonesian heirlooms were brought by two members of the 2024 National Paskibraka retired, both of whom headed to the Merdeka Palace by train.
In the procession, Paspampres motor forces, equestrian troops, and troops dressed in the kingdoms of the archipelago also escorted the running of the train to the Merdeka Palace.
At the Merdeka Palace, the arrival of the train was greeted by all the ceremony participants who stood up waving the Red and White flag.
A total of 8,000 ceremony participants, mostly consisting of the general public, have filled the right and left sides of the courtyard of the Merdeka Palace to attend the procession of the Commemoration Ceremony of the Seconds of the Proclamation of Independence of the Republic of Indonesia. The ceremony is scheduled to take place at exactly 10:00 WIB led by President Prabowo Subianto as the ceremony inspector.