The 63rd Anniversary of Indonesia’s Independence

Indonesia celebrates 63 years of independence on the 17th of August this year. The Dutch colonized Indonesia for three-and-a-half centuries and the Japanese colonized Indonesia for three years. It had happened when Indonesia consisted of kingdoms until it had the form of a country of Republic. Through the hard struggle, Indonesia reached the freedom proclaimed by Soekarno and Hatta as pair of the first president and the first vice president of Republic of Indonesia later. Indonesia had exactly surrounding the proclamation of independence on 17th August 1945, which is read as follows :

PROCLAMATION

We the people of Indonesia hereby declare
THE INDEPENDENCE OF INDONESIA Matters relating to the transfer of power and so forth will be executed in an orderly manner and in the shortest possible time. Jakarta, 17 August 1945
On behalf of the people of Indonesia Sukarno-Hatta

(Click Play to listen “Proclamation Announcement” by Soekarno)

As for celebration of the Indonesian Independence Day, is observed by people of many ages, genders, and regions. Many events will be held as in the form to celebrate the day, usually held by schools, offices and neighbourhoods as part of the celebration. These are some popular list of unique events, such as:

(Panjat Pinang, taken from Mohamad Affan)

1. Pinang-climbing (pinang is tree of areca nut) or Panjat Pinang (in Bahasa)

Panjat Pinang is played by the people. The tree, pinang, is well greased with a mixture of clay and oil. Various prizes in the form of bags, radios, TVs, bikes, dispensers, etc are hung at the top, kids and even grownups climb over each other struggling to reach the prizes.

2. Sack-races or Balap Karung (in Bahasa)

People are running using a sack along the race track. This make the race attractively when we see participant having difficulties in running/jumping with a sack.

(Balap Karung, taken from Nie Chan)

3. Kerupuk-eating or Makan Kerupuk (in Bahasa)

Kerupuk is traditional chips made of flour flavored of fish or shrimps. Makan kerupuk is usually played by children. The chips hung from string and, at the count of three, children with hands behind their backs furiously tried to be the first to finish the chips.

(Makan Kerupuk, taken from Irwan Sutjipto)

Over the past few years, Indonesia has quietly undergone a more fundamental political transition from autocracy to democracy than perhaps any other Asian country. No doubt, Indonesia must face any obstacles head on and change if it is to survive.

Last but not least, thank you to all heroes who have struggled for Indonesia’s independence. To indonesian people: let’s make Indonesia -one nation and one language together to build a better future for our country in every aspect of life. Stop corruption, stop drug abuse, stop child abuse and trafficking, stop gender bias, stop haze and forest fires, stop illegal logging, stop poverty.. and many others.

MERDEKA!!! Sekali Merdeka Tetap Merdeka!
(FREEDOM! Once Freedom, Freedom Forever!)Bersatu kita teguh bercerai kita runtuh..