The merah putih soaring high. Photo: Twitter (@MIdotcom)
A gigantic merah putih flag can now be seen waving high at full mast with the National Monument (Monas) acting as its flagpole. The flag was put up there to commemorate the 8th annual Hari Bela Negara (roughly translated: defending the nation day).
“The flag is a preparation for the Ministry of Defense’s Bela Negara event on December 19 to 21,” said Head of the Monas park maintenance, Hariyani, as quoted by Detik today. So the flag will stay up on Monas until then.
In 2006, former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono issued a presidential decision that December 19 would be Hari Bela Negara. The special day commemorates the Sjarifuddin Prawiranegara’s declaration of an emergency cabinet in December 19, 1948.
