Ahead of the 77th Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia, Merauke Papua Becomes the Center for the Declaration of the 10 Million Red and White Flag Movement

Welcoming the 77th Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia, the central government will launch the 10 Million Red and White Flag Movement on Friday, August 12, 2022, which will be centered in Merauke Regency, Papua Province.

According to the schedule, the inauguration will be attended by the Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian, who will arrive in Merauke on Friday morning.

The activity of launching 10 million flags gave a special impression to the Assistant I of the Papua Province Secretary, Doren Wakerkwa.
 
According to him, the national agenda for the movement to distribute 10 million red and white flags shows that Papua Province is an integral and inseparable part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

“The distribution of this flag shows that Papua is the Indonesian nation, Papua is for the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. Therefore, we invite the whole community to raise the red and white flag on August 17," said Doren Wakerkwa, after a coordination meeting with representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Forkopimda Papua Province and the Merauke Regency Government on Wednesday, August 10, 2022, as reported by TribunPapua.com.
 
He further assessed that the declaration showed a change in the thoughts and concepts of all elements of society to develop Papua within the framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.

“All people in Papua through this momentum can unite to build their region, both in the southern and mountainous regions and in Papua in general. Let's show Papuan human resources capable of competing with other provinces," he said.

According to Doren, his party is still waiting for direct confirmation from the Indonesian Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian, who will arrive on August 12, 2022.

The Minister of Home Affairs is scheduled to arrive in Merauke Regency, Friday, August 12, 2022 at 07.00 WIT at the inauguration which will be held in the Time Capsule, Merauke Regency.
 
Then, the former Papuan Police Chief returned to Jakarta after the activity was over.

The purpose of the movement to distribute 10 million red and white flags is a form of growing a sense of love for the homeland, as well as increasing the spirit of nationalism of the Indonesian people.

Meanwhile, the Regional Secretary of Merauke Regency, Ruslan Ramli, said that the people of Merauke are ready to make the movement to distribute 10 million red and white flags a success.

Ethnic Nusantara in the Anim Ha customary territory will be involved in this activity.
 
"We hope that through these activities, it will further inflame the spirit of independence," he said.

Previously, the Head of the Papuan Communications and Information Office (Diskominfo), Jeri Agus Yudianto, said the 10 million red and white flag movement was aimed at boosting the regional economy to recover and rise stronger, after being hit by the Covid-19 pandemic for two years.

"So the movement of 10 million red and white flags is a national program that is carried out simultaneously throughout Indonesia," said Yudianto at the Venue, Aquatik, Kampung Harapan, Jayapura Regency, Papua Province, Friday, August 5, 2022.
 
Jeri explained that the activity was part of a series of activities to welcome the 77th Anniversary of Indonesian Independence in Papua Province.

According to Yudianto, Merauke was chosen as the center for launching the red and white flag movement because the city is at the easternmost tip of Indonesian territory.

During the launching, he said, the red and white flags would be distributed free of charge to the public.
 
"We hope that the activities of the 10 million red and white flag movement can spark the spirit of independence and the spirit to recover faster and rise stronger," he said.

1,500 Red and White Flags in Mimika

In connection with the declaration of 10 million red and white flags, the Mimika Regency Government will distribute 1,500 flags to students of SD Inpres SP 2, and SD Tiga Raja in Timika, Mimika, Papua.

"We will distribute 900 flags to students in urban areas. We will distribute the remaining 600 flags to students on the outskirts, namely in Kwamki Narama District and East Mimika District," said Head of the Mimika Kesbangpol Agency, Yan Selamat Purba, to Tribun-Papua.com, Wednesday 10 August 2022.
 
Officers from the National and Political Unity Agency (Kesbangpol) of Mimika Regency distributed red and white flags to elementary school students, Wednesday 10 August 2022. This is part of the Government's efforts to instill a sense of belonging and love for the Republic of Indonesia in children.
 
The activity for the flag is an effort from the Government to instill a sense of belonging and love for the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

"They are the next generation and the hope of the nation, so it is necessary to instill the values of nationalism from an early age," he said.

SOURCE: https://kupang.tribunnews.com/2022/08/10/jelang-hut-ke-77-nkri-merauke-papua-jadi-center-pencanangan-gerak-10-juta-flag-merah-putih? page=3