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efense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu appointed 124 school-aged youths as state defense program recruits in Skouw-Wutung, located at the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea border on Tuesday.

The appointment of the defense program recruits was made official by attaching pins on them.

“State defense awareness is very important as a state force for the sake of keeping the Republic of Indonesia intact as well as protecting the nation from threats, be they from outside or inside the country,” said Ryamizard.

He added that global development was increasing at a rapid and uncontrolled pace, so the young generation must be equipped with the values of nationalism and statehood.

The border area in eastern Indonesia was chosen because Jayapura is an entrance to Indonesia from the east. The government is seeking to infuse the region’s young generation with a sense of nationalism to meet challenges from the outside world.

Skouw Mabo village leader Yans S. Mallo welcomed the appointment of the state defense program recruits, saying that it showed the government was paying attention to the region.

During the occasion, Ryamizard was also declared a native son, marked by Mallo placing a traditional Papuan hat on his head and Papua New Guinea’s Wutung village leader Stenly Tanva placing a noken traditional bag around his neck