H.E. Mr. I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia. Indonesia Flag Ceremony 2018 By Roy Lie Atjam. The theme for the 2018 Independence celebration is: “Our Work on National Achievement”(Kerja Kita Prestasi Bangsa). Wassenaar 17 August 2018, flag hoisting ceremony to commemorate the 73rd Anniversary of the Independence of the Indonesian Republic. The venue chosen was the Sekolah Indonesia Den Haag (SIDH) Indonesian School Den Haag in Wassenaar. However, it was by no means an ordinary flag hoisting ceremony. Prior to the hoisting of the flag, students of the Indonesian school, clad in immaculate white uniforms re-enacted the Independence Proclamation ceremony of 73 years ago. It has been a most impressive phenomenon! Those of Indonesian descent must have taken much pride to be Indonesian while watching the dazzling spectacle. The ceremony was under the auspices of H.E. Ambassador I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja. The Indonesian diaspora, the staff of the Indonesian Mission in The Hague and friends of Indonesia, turn out in their hundreds to join in the celebration on this bright summer morning. The Indonesian Ambassador H.E. I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, heartily welcome and thanked the many guests for responding to the invitation. Indonesia is a young nation of just 73 years. The country has made great strides and could be proud of her achievements.  

Ceremony of Merrits The Satya Lencana Award, a medal for Civil Services, has been awarded to Mr. Sudarman and Mr. Noorman Effendi. They received the medal from the President of the Republic of Indonesia President Joko Widodo for their 30- and 20 years of government service respectively. The Ambassador also presented Tokens of Appreciation to four individuals/agencies for their dedication to the Indonesian Embassy in The Hague for over 20 years. Ambassador Puja delivered a comprehensive speech highlighting the many achievements of the young Indonesian republic. Hereto attached are highlights from the speech delivered by H.E. Ambassador I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja. “For 73 years, Indonesia has been able to make achievements in various fields. Since the wake of Indonesia’s reformation in 1997, Indonesia has become the third largest democratic country in the world whilst having a more mature democratic process. Indonesia also becomes one of the largest economies in the world and is a member of G20, thus enjoying an equal standing with developed and economically large countries.

In this regard, my distinguished guests, allow me to convey excerpts from Indonesian President’s speech during the Joint Session of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia and the Regional Representatives Council of the Republic of Indonesia, which was held yesterday, the 16th of August 2018, as follows: For 73 years, we have demonstrated ourselves to be a strong and resilient nation, a nation eager to succeed in achieving triumphant and advancement. In its 73 years of age, we continue to work, to endure more efforts, and to struggle to reach our achievements for the nation, because we have to admit that there are other countries that have advanced faster than our country. However, we also have to be grateful that we fare better than many other countries. We are grateful that we have Pancasila as a force of Indonesia’s nation ideology that guides all the people in realizing their dreams of independence. Pancasila is a star that directs, moves, becomes a source of inspiration and becomes a unifying force of all Indonesian people with its Bhinneka Tunggal Ika. Despite of those achievements, we cannot afford to become complacent. Indonesia has to catch up with other nations that have advanced more than what we are now in pursuit of progress. Indonesian economy continues to grow at around 5 percent per year, amidst the ongoing global economic uncertainty. Inflation hovers around 3.5 percent. This has been an extraordinary achievement to maintain people’s purchasing power. We have managed to curb the inflation rate in June 2018 at 0.59 percent (month-to-month) or the lowest compared to the inflation during national religious festivities in the past seven years. The unemployment rate has also been reduced by 5.13 percent in February 2018. For the first time, Indonesia’s poverty percentage has dropped to a single digit, into 9.82 percent in March 2018. We managed to reduce the poverty rate from 28.59 million or 11.22 percent in March 2015 to 25.95 million or 9.82 percent in March 2018. Economic justice receives our utmost attention, especially serving justice for the 40 percent of the underprivileged. We are grateful for having achieved the lowest disparity level in the past six years as our Gini ratio dropped to 0.389. The recognition speaks volumes on, 8 June 2018, Indonesia was elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2019-2020. We have to uphold the trust we have earned from the community of nations. Indonesia’s concept is to prioritize ASEAN centrality, cooperation, habit of dialog, and respect to the international laws. Equally important, Indonesian diplomacy strives to focus on the protection for Indonesian citizens living abroad, including setting up a Safe Travel and Smart Embassy mechanism. Bear in mind that tomorrow, Indonesia will have a golden opportunity to show to the world our excellence and achievement through Asian Games 2018, the biggest sports event in Asia. After 56 years, for the second time, Indonesia will host the Asian Games, followed by the Asian Para Games. Indonesia is going to host delegates from 45 countries, more than 11,000 athletes and 5,500 officials, the biggest in the history of the Asian Games, while the Asian Para Games will involve 5,000 delegates. Indonesia, as a big nation and one of the most beautiful jewels in Asia and the world, must make use of the Asian Games and the Asian Para Games to show the world that Indonesia is a gracious host, a winning nation, a triumphant nation, that upholds a fair play. We have to show that Indonesia is ready to be at the forefront to boost Asia’s position in the world. Distinguished guests, allow me to cite the achievements and progress of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia to the Kingdom of the Netherlands as part of our accountability to the people of Indonesia, In 2018, stronger relations between our two countries was marked by the recent visit of Queen Maxima, in her capacity as UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA), to Indonesia and met President Joko Widodo in February 2018.

In July 2018, H.E. Stephanus Abraham Blok, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands visited Indonesia and held bilateral talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, and other related Indonesian high rank officials. In the economic field, the Netherlands is one of our most important partner in Europe. In 2017, for the first time in the last five years, the trade value between our two countries reached USD 5.06 billion, or a growth of 27% compared to 2016 which was USD 3.98 billion. In the field of social and cultural relations, both nations have been running well. The Indonesian Embassy will continue to promote the New Indonesia, especially a modern, positive and advanced Indonesia through culinary, fashion, film, and many others. The close connection between the peoples of the two countries also contributes to the dynamics of consular and public service provided by the Embassy. Protecting and serving 15,600 Indonesian citizens as well as 1.7 million Indonesian diasporas in the Netherlands makes the Indonesian Embassy a friendly Indonesian home. In quoting President Joko Widodo: From the Minang region, together we learn: ‘Bareksamodipikua, ringansamodijinjiang’. If we work together, we can make our job easier From Tatar Pasundan: ‘Sacangreudpageuh, sagolekpangkek’. We need to work together with a sense of commitment and consistency. From BumiAngingMamiri: ‘Resotemma-ngingi, nama-lomo, nale-tei, pammasedewata’. Let us work together hand-in-hand and let our faith carry us to attain our goals. From Bumi Gora: ‘Barengbejukung, barengbebose’. We work together and enjoy the fruits of our labour. From Banua Banjar: ‘Wajasampaikaputing’. We work together with conviction that neither of us will give in nor quit. And from the Netherlands, we learn: ‘If you want to walk fast, walk alone. But if you want to walk far, walk together”.

Korean Ministry of Patriots and Veteran Affairs (MPVA) hosts Korean War Veterans’ Descendants Network Program in the Netherlands The grandchildren of the soldiers who were attached to the Dutch battalion during the Korean War will attend the Descendants Network Program to meet their grandfathers’ fellow veterans, express their gratitude, and establish friendship with the fellow veterans’ descendants Participating students, Korean and Dutch alike, will prepare a luncheon for the veterans with various programs and special performances to  increase the Netherlands’ awareness on the Korean War through a flash mob. The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (Minister Pi Woo-Jin) will organize the Korean War Veterans’ Descendants Network Program for Descendants from Thursday August 23rd  to Wednesday 29th  for the first time in the Netherlands where Korean and Dutch students will participate together to promote the friendship with the UN sending states and continue cooperation. The students will engage in various activities during the week, including the visit to the Yi Jun Peace Museum and the military regiment that participated in the Korean War. Why the Netherlands? The MPVA has annually hosted Youth Peace Camps in Korea, but this will be the first time for the ministry to host a program for the Korean War descendants outside the country. The ministry says it chose the Netherlands to be the first country other than Korea to host this program since the Dutch descendants of the veterans successfully inherited a veteran’s organization and therefore can be a good example to be learned by descendants of other UN sending states. Who will participate in the camp? Among the 32 participants, 16 are Korean college students and 16 are Dutch participants who are grandchildren of the UN veterans of the Korean War. Among the Korean participants, 2 are the grandchildren of the soldiers who were attached to the Dutch battalion during the Korean War. They hope that it can be a meaningful experience that allows them to express their gratitude to their grandfathers’ fellow veterans in the Netherlands. What are major features? In the afternoon of Sunday August 26th the participants will assemble in the Amsterdam square to perform a flash mob to express their respects and gratitude to the veterans of the Korean War. The flash mob will last around four minutes, featuring the participants dancing to K-pop and holding a sign expressing gratitude towards the veterans to show the Dutch public that Korea did not forget the veterans who helped them. Moreover, the participants will host a luncheon with the veterans invited as distinguished guests on Tuesday August 28th. During the luncheon, the students will report their activities of the week and representative participants will speak while the Korean students share their grandfathers’ war stories. The lunch will also feature Korean traditional instrument performance, singing, and dancing. The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs plans to develop varied programs and expand the network with the descendants of the UN veterans. ——————————- Park, Chunghontap, Korean War Monument.

• Embassy of India to Luxembourg (resident in Belgium, HE Ambassador Gaitri Issar KUMAR): https://www.indianembassybrussels.gov.in
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