Trails Are Starting To Close, Road Users Are Reminded To Avoid The Palace Area During The Commemoration Of The Republic Of Indonesia's Independence Day

Director of Traffic Polda Metro Jaya Kombes Latif Usman. ANTARA/Fianda Sjofjan Rassat

JAKARTA - The Traffic Directorate of Polda Metro Jaya has appealed to road users to avoid the Merdeka and State Palace areas because there will be road closures around the area during the commemoration ceremony for the 77th Indonesian Independence Day.

"We will inform you that on August 17, especially around the Palace, we will close several roads," said Traffic Director of Polda Metro Jaya, Kombes Latif Usman, as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, August 16.

Latif said the police would close the road and carry out sterilization in order to secure the location of the independence commemoration ceremony.

There are also roads that are closed, namely Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat - Jalan Majapahit, Jalan Medan Merdeka Timur which leads to the Presidential Palace and Jalan Veterans.

Road closures will be carried out tonight starting at 21.00 WIB until the end of the Red and White Flag Lowering Ceremony.

The Red and White Flag Lowering Ceremony is scheduled to take place on Wednesday afternoon (17/8) at 16.00 WIB.

This year, the Palace held an open ceremony for the general public with a quota of 4,000 invitations which was divided into two sessions, namely the Commemoration Ceremony of the Proclamation of Seconds and the Lowering of the Red and White Flag Ceremony.

The Presidential Secretariat also opened a quota for virtual invitations of up to 77 thousand participants.

The Presidential Secretariat has announced that it will hold a series of Commemoration Ceremonies for the Seconds of the Proclamation and the Lowering of the Red and White Flag Ceremony under conditions as before COVID-19.

Thus, members of the heirloom flag-raising troops (Paskibraka) will be deployed in full according to the 17-8-45 formation in the two ceremonial sessions.

Then, the Palace also re-organized the procession of Sang Saka Merah Putih and the Proclamation Manuscript from the National Monument (Monas) to the Merdeka Palace.