Puan urges modest Independence Day celebrations after NTT quake

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2 hours ago

..the Indonesian nation is mourning following the earthquake that has just struck NTT..

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Puan Maharani, Speaker of Indonesia’s House of Representatives (DPR), urged Indonesians to mark the 81st anniversary of the country’s independence with modest celebrations amid a major earthquake that struck East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

“On this Independence Day, the Indonesian nation is mourning following the earthquake that has just struck NTT,” Maharani said in Jakarta on Monday.

She urged Indonesians to pray for the victims of the disaster and expressed hope that recovery efforts in the affected areas could begin as soon as possible.

At the Independence Day ceremony, Maharani wore a modern white kebaya paired with a red traditional cloth and a black woven shawl from NTT, as a symbol of mourning for the victims of the earthquake.

“A modern kebaya. This (woven shawl) is from NTT,” she said.

Maharani sat alongside People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Chairman Ahmad Muzani and Regional Representatives Council (DPD) Chairman Sultan Bachtiar Najamudin. Their podium was positioned to the right of President Prabowo Subianto’s podium.

The Indonesian government has pledged to accelerate emergency response and recovery efforts following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck the Flores region of NTT.

The commitment was reiterated on the sidelines of the 81st Independence Day ceremony, held at Motang Rua Field in Ruteng, Manggarai Regency, NTT, on Monday.

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Pratikno said that the presence of ministers and heads of government institutions in NTT since the first day of the disaster demonstrated the government’s concern and commitment to supporting affected communities.

“Since the first day of the disaster, we have been in NTT to assess the situation on the ground and discuss ways to accelerate the recovery,” he said.