Jakarta (ANTARA) – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on Monday inaugurated the complete formation of the Flag-Raising Troop (Paskibraka) for the flag-raising and flag-lowering ceremonies at the Presidential Palace on August 17, 2022.
The Flag-Raising Troop comprises 68 male and female high school students from Indonesian provinces, who were selected through a strict and rigorous process.
“By asking the blessing from the Almighty God, today, I officiate all of you as the Flag-Raising Troop that will perform the duty at the Merdeka Palace on August 17, 2022. May the Almighty God bless you,” Widodo said during the Flag-Raising Troop’s inauguration ceremony, as observed on the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube channel on Monday.
During the ceremony, head of the Pancasila Ideology Education Agency (BPIP), Yudian Wahyudi, read the Paskibraka oath, with all inducted personnel repeating the oath.
According to Presidential Regulation No. 13 of 2021 on nurturing Pancasila ideology in the young generation through the flag-raising troop education program, the young Paskibraka personnel will receive Pancasila ideology education from BPIP.
After the inauguration ceremony, the President and Vice President Ma’ruf Amin greeted all personnel of the Paskibraka.
Earlier, head of the Presidential Secretariat, Heru Budi Hartono, informed that members of the Flag-Raising Troop will be arranged in the 17-8-45 formation during the 77th Independence Day ceremony this year.
“We will (do) the 17-8-45 (formation of) troops. During practice (they will) wear masks, and on (ceremony) day wear masks,” Hartono said at the Presidential Palace complex on Friday (August 12).
This year marks the first time the Independence Day ceremony will be conducted at the Presidential Palace with the general public in attendance since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.
During the ceremony, the Presidential Palace will impose strict health protocols, Hartono added.
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