The Embassy of Indonesia in Belgrade organized a reception in honor of the 80th anniversary of the Independence Day and Armed Forces Day of the Republic of Indonesia
The host of the evening was His Excellency Ambassador Andreano Erwin.
When Sukarno and Hatta read the Proclamation on August 17, 1945, the sea ceased to be a divider of islands and became the thread that unites them into a single story — Indonesia.
Four years of perseverance and negotiations followed until the formal transfer of sovereignty in 1949, but the date of the Proclamation remains the foundation of Indonesia’s modern identity. Every August, the courtyard of the Istana Merdeka becomes a ceremonial stage: the Proclamation is read, Paskibraka raises the red-and-white flag, and the streets of the archipelago flutter with umbul-umbul flags. Then come the lomba tujuhbelasan — panjat pinang, sack races, and eating krupuk without using hands.
Sharing the same commemorative horizon is October 5 — Armed Forces Day: parades, concerts, and gratitude to soldiers and veterans. All of it stands under the umbrella of Pancasila and the motto “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” — unity in diversity put into practice.
The celebration in Belgrade served as a reminder that freedom is nurtured through ceremony, togetherness, and joy — and that friendships grow when great stories are shared sincerely.
