Quarantine Complete! Jokowi's First Event Is Meeting Prabowo To Inaugurate The Fire Monument Of The Spirit Of Indonesia

Jokowi's photo via Twitter Setkab

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo has completed his quarantine period after traveling abroad. After the quarantine period ended, the first thing he did was inaugurate a monument at the Ministry of Defense.

The name of the monument is quite long, the Fire Monument of the Spirit of Free Indonesia Never Goes Out. The location is at the National Defense Field, Ministry of Defense, Jakarta, Tuesday, November 9, 2021.

Jokowi said the existence of this monument would add a reminder to all Indonesians to continue to ignite the spirit, namely the spirit to maintain Pancasila, the spirit to maintain national unity, unity and harmony, and the spirit to continue to innovate to advance the country.

"Bung Karno once stated: inherit the fire, not the ashes. Inherit a burning passion, a passion for fighting for independence, a passion for independence, and a passion for building advanced Indonesia," said President Jokowi in his remarks.

As a great nation with a great history, the President said, we must show the world that Indonesia is important for the world, can do much for the benefit of the world, and deserves to be one of the leaders in the dynamics of the world. According to him, the key is that the fighting spirit of the Indonesian people must never be extinguished and must always be burning.

"The existence of the Fire Monument of the Spirit of a Free Indonesia that Never Dies is one of the reminders of our passion, the spirit to continue the struggle of the founding fathers and build the advanced Indonesia that we aspire to," he said.

Along with the fire monument, a statue of President Soekarno was also built to honor Bung Karno's services as a pioneer of the independence of the Republic of Indonesia.

In his report, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto explained that the statue depicts Bung Karno riding a horse while carrying out an inspection of troops at the Commemoration Ceremony of Army Day, October 5, 1946, in Yogyakarta.

"The fire never goes out as a symbol of the spirit, hope, courage, and passion of the Indonesian people to always love the country, be willing to sacrifice for the sake of upholding the sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia, and the spirit to continue to build the nation and state for the realization of a sovereign, just and prosperous Indonesia based on Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution," said the Minister of Defense.

Also attending the event were the 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia as well as Bung Karno's daughter, Megawati Soekarnoputri, who was virtually present, Bung Karno's sons Guntur Soekarnoputra and Guruh Soekarnoputra, leaders of state institutions including Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Anwar Usman, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Muhammad Syarifuddin , and Chairman of the Judicial Commission Mukti Fajar Nur Dewata.

In addition, the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, Commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, National Police Chief General Pol. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Yudo Margono, and Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal TNI Fadjar Prasetyo.