Weekly Gallery: Unsung heroes

Fri, November 20, 2020 / 03:14 pm

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lham, 39, a caretaker at the Pahlawan Seribu Heroes Cemetery in South Tangerang, Banten, cuts weed around gravestones on Monday, Nov 9. Unlike previous years, the cemetery was closed during National Heroes Day on Nov. 10 due to the COVID-19 crisis. JP/Dhoni Setiawan.
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A man distributes face masks to villagers taking refuge from the possible eruption of Mount Merapi, at Balerante village hall in Klaten, Central Java, on Monday, Nov 9. JP/Donny Fernando
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Motorists drive out of the new Senen underpass extension in Central Jakarta on Tuesday, Nov 10. The underpass is expected to ease traffic congestion in the area. JP/Wendra Ajistyatama
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An artist creates paintings of Indonesian heroes in Jakarta on Tuesday, Nov 10 as the country commemorates National Heroes Day. The National Tourism Association and the Association of Relatives of Indonesian Heroes cooperated with the painters to hold the on-the-spot painting event. JP/ Seto Wardhana
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A visitor looks at posters and face masks displayed at an exhibition at Summarecon Mall Serpong in Tangerang, Banten. Coinciding with National Heroes Day on Nov. 10, the exhibition aims to spread the message that anyone can be a hero by wearing a mask and adhering to health protocols. JP/Seto Wardhana
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A grave worker helps his colleague out of the grave of a COVID-19 patient at Pondok Ranggon public cemetery in East Jakarta on Wednesday, Nov 12 The men had to widen the hole to make room for the coffin. JP/P.J.Leo
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Employees at the Health Ministry in Jakarta clap their hands to show appreciation for healthcare workers during the commemoration of National Health Day on Nov. 12. JP/Seto Wardhana.
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Maria Catarina Sumarsih (second right), the mother of Semanggi tragedy victim Bernardinus Realino Norma Irmawan, visits the Attorney General’s Office in Jakarta on Friday, Nov 13. Maria has demanded that Attorney General ST Burhanuddin respect a Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN) verdict ordering him to retract his statement claiming that the tragedy was not a gross human rights violation. JP/Dhoni Setiawan

This year, Indonesia observed National Heroes Day on Nov. 10 like never before. Heroes’ cemeteries are closed as the pandemic is still gripping the country. In spite of this, many found new ways to commemorate the country’s heroes, such as through a hero-themed exhibition in Tangerang, Banten, and live paintings in Jakarta.

On National Health Day on Nov. 12, the country shed light on a particular kind of hero: healthcare workers fighting on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, which shows no signs of slowing down. The number of daily COVID-19 cases in Indonesia remains high, hitting a daily record of 5,444 cases on Nov. 13.

Not all heroes fight for the country’s independence or save lives at hospitals. There are also volunteers who have helped residents take shelter from the possible eruption of Mount Merapi in Magelang, Central Java.

Yet another type of hero is a mother who is tirelessly seeking justice for her son, who was killed in the 1998 Semanggi tragedy.