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Most Independence Day palace guests 'ordinary people', says minister
A modest celebration: Indonesia's President Joko Widodo salutes during a flag raising ceremony for Independence Day at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday
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A modest celebration: Indonesia's President Joko Widodo salutes during a flag raising ceremony for Independence Day at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday. Indonesia is marking the 70th anniversary of its declaration of independence from Dutch colonial rule. (AP/Achmad Ibrahim) (AP/Achmad Ibrahim)
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span class="caption">A modest celebration: Indonesia's President Joko Widodo salutes during a flag raising ceremony for Independence Day at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday. Indonesia is marking the 70th anniversary of its declaration of independence from Dutch colonial rule. (AP/Achmad Ibrahim)
State Secretary Pratikno said that most of those invited to the 70th Independence Day ceremony at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Monday were ordinary people.
'We invited everyday people, including farmers, fishermen and orphan children. We distributed 1,000 invitations. Only 30 percent of [those] were for officials while most of those invited were ordinary people,' he said as quoted by Antara in Jakarta on Monday.
President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo officiated the ceremony, accompanied by Vice President Jusuf Kalla. Accompanying the President and Vice President were First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo and Mufidah Jusuf Kalla.
Former president Megawati Soekarnoputri was seen at the commemoration ceremony for Indonesia's proclamation of independence. It was the first time for 10 years that Megawati has attended the event. Meanwhile, former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was absent from the ceremony as he attended Independence Day celebrations at his hometown in Pacitan, East Java.
Also present at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta were former vice presidents Boediono, Hamzah Haz and Try Sutrisno, all current Cabinet ministers, Indonesian Military commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo, National Police chief Badrodin Haiti, Attorney General M. Prasetyo, National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Sutiyoso and a number of representatives of foreign countries.
The commemoration of Indonesia's proclamation of independence started at 10 a.m. local time with a 17-shot military salute and the reading out of the proclamation of independence by House of Representatives speaker Setya Novanto. (ebf)(++++)
