Maksum Nur Fauzan
Sumilir valley in Karanganyar, Central Java, witnessed a grand display of nationalism on Aug. 1.
Students, members of Nahdlatul Ulama’s (NU) Barisan Ansor Serbaguna (Banser) youth wing, the Indonesian Military (TNI), the police and Karanganyar administration officials gathered in the valley to celebrate Independence Day by hoisting a giant national flag. Fifty members of Banser were seen carrying the 30-meter-by-40-m flag from Kemuning Terminal to the top of the valley.
During the month of August, the flag will wave high above the valley to express residents’ love for Indonesia. “The red-and-white flag must unite all elements of the public. There will be no room for segregation,” said Karanganyar Regent Juliyatmono.
Dadang, a resident, said he hoped the event would encourage the public to guard the country’s unity.
At the end of the event, a dance titled “Treasuring the Country” was performed by students from SMP 1 state junior high school from Ngargoyoso. [wng]