Movement Of 10 Million Flags From Sabang To Merauke, Vice Minister Of Home Affairs Distributes Red And White Flags To Acehnese People

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs John Wempi Wetipo (middle red shirt) together with elements of the Banda Aceh and Aceh provinces and community leaders in Banda Aceh (ANTARA/Rahmat Fajri)

BANDA ACEH - Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Wamendagri) John Wempi Wetipo distributed the Red and White flag to community leaders, youth, students and officials in Aceh as a sign of the start of the 10 million flag movement from Sabang to Merauke.

"The movement to distribute 10 million flags in the context of the 77th Indonesian Independence Day was marked by the presence of the Minister of Home Affairs in Merauke, and today I am in Aceh for the same movement," said John Wempi Wetipo, in Banda Aceh, reported by ANTARA, Saturday, August 13.

The movement program for the distribution of 10 million red and white flags was initiated by the Ministry of Home Affairs to celebrate the 77th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia. Starting from three cities, namely Merauke, Banda Aceh and Surabaya.

Wetipo said the program was carried out so that the implementation of the Indonesian Independence Day on August 17, 2022, could later be lively. Therefore, he invites the people of Aceh to continue to inflame the spirit of Indonesian independence.

"Like Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, although we are different, we are still one. I came from eastern Indonesia to the western region because we are one that cannot be separated, the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia is fixed," he said.

Wetipo conveyed that the 10 million flag movement was also an effort to rekindle the spirit of patriotism in the people who for the past two years had not been able to celebrate because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This is also a movement to raise the spirit of the Indonesian people again," said Wetipo.

Meanwhile, the Acting Mayor of Banda Aceh, Bakri Siddiq, said August was a very special month for the people of Aceh. In addition to the commemoration of Indonesian Independence, Aceh also commemorates the day of peace between the Government of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

Where, the peace agreement was signed in the City of Helsinki, Finland (MoU Helsinki) to coincide on August 15, 2005 and marked the end of the armed conflict in Aceh.

"The momentum of August is very important for the people of Aceh. Because this month is not only a symbol of independence, but also Aceh's peace," said Bakri Siddiq.

Bakri conveyed that the enthusiasm of the people for red and white Banda Aceh was very high. To date, 5,550 flags have flown to the corners of the city.

The spirit of welcoming this independence day, said Bakri, is proof that the people of Banda Aceh City really love this country, and there is no need to doubt that.

"We love the country that we built together, and we fight for it with blood, tears, determination, courage, the heroes and all the people of Indonesia," said Bakri Siddiq.