JAKARTA - The Presidential Secretariat (Setpres) has returned the original text of the handwritten proclamation of the 1st President of the Republic of Indonesia Soekarno to be stored and preserved by the National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia (ANRI).

The day before, the historic document was also presented at the pulpit of honor at the Commemoration Ceremony of the Seconds of the Proclamation at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday, August 17.

The head of ANRI, Imam Gunarto, who directly received the return of the original text of the proclamation, welcomed the return of this important document so that it could still be stored, cared for, preserved, and passed on to future generations.

"The original handwritten text of Bung Karno's proclamation is one basis, one main evidence of the founding of our country," said Imam in his press statement, Thursday, August 18.

According to Imam, the existence of the original text of the proclamation in Bung Karno's hand at the Commemoration Ceremony of the Seconds of the Proclamation at the Merdeka Palace was an effort to maintain the spirit of the founding fathers of the nation that Indonesia was built for the sake of independence and the welfare of the common people.

Imam also thanked the Presidential Secretariat and the Ministry of State Secretariat (Kemensetneg) for the opportunity for ANRI to contribute to the commemoration of the 77th Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia.

On the same occasion, the Archives Ambassador Rieke Dyah Pitaloka recalled the importance of the actions of Sayuti Melik, BM Diah, and the founding heroes of the nation who had saved the original text of the proclamation written by Bung Karno.

The member of Commission VI of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia considered that the text was authentic evidence of Indonesia's independence and not just writing.

"If we pay close attention, we can feel that it is not just writing, it is the soul of an independent Indonesia," he said.

According to historical records, the original text of the proclamation was saved and kept by the press figure and freedom fighter, BM Diah, to be handed over to the 2nd President of the Republic of Indonesia, Suharto.

The manuscript was then forwarded to the Minister of State Secretary from 1988 to 1998 Moerdiono, before being handed over to ANRI in 1992 to be kept and maintained until now.


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