August 17 is Indonesia’s Independence Day, and this year the country is celebrating 78-years since the proclamation was signed by Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta in 1945. Speaking to Antara News, Indonesian historian Asep Kambali, believes the vision behind the proclamation and the quest for independence did not end with the freedom struggle. Instead, it is a process that needs to continue for Indonesia to prosper.
“So, if someone says that the struggle for independence has stopped because it was proclaimed by Bung Karno and Hatta, that would be wrong,” he explained, adding that efforts are needed to continue to instill the values of heroism, nationalism, and love for the nation through historical and cultural education in order to continue to foster the spirit of independence.
Independence is a process that needs to be cared for, maintained, and fulfilled by all Indonesian people by learning about and contributing to the nation’s achievements. Each individual will need to fulfill their respective role and become a part of the solution and help solve the nation’s problems. This would allow justice and prosperity to be achieved in Indonesia, say Antara News.
The commemoration of Indonesia’s independence needs to be used as a momentum for introspection and remembrance of the nation’s struggle and used by the government to revitalize the nation’s history and culture, as well as encourage the Indonesian people to take a closer look at the country’s history.
In the meantime, every individual in the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) is expected to take care of and uphold independence by continuing to work, innovate, and make their best contribution to the progress of the nation, say Antara News.
This is in accordance with the hopes of the nation’s founders, as stipulated in the Constitution, and the vision and mission to create an Indonesia that is sovereign, just, and prosperous. Asep believes that to maintain this independence, the Indonesian people must unite. And with this unity, they can protect sovereignty. They must also work together and collaborate to create justice and prosperity for all Indonesian people, adding that “being independent, united, sovereign, just, and prosperous is a lifelong endeavour.”
Source: Antara News
Image by Mufid Majnun from Pixabay
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