1,000 Sleman Students to Welcome Prabowo-Modi
The Sleman Regency Government in the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) has prepared 1,000 students to welcome the arrival of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (8/7).
“We have prepared a thousand primary and secondary school students,” said Sleman Education Agency Head Mustadi when contacted on Tuesday (7/7).
The plan was prepared by his office despite President Prabowo having previously asked all regional heads not to deploy school students to welcome him during working visits. The president made that statement during the inauguration of the Kabanaran Bridge in Bantul, DIY, on 19 November 2025.
Mustadi stated that his office is fully aware of Prabowo’s statement. However, the regency government is merely trying to comply with the instructions from the Presidential Secretariat.
“I do not know [the basis for the welcome], but the reality is that the Presidential Secretariat’s instruction is like that, it has been like that since yesterday,” Mustadi said.
“Then the Regent gave orders yesterday, I was summoned by the Regent, along with colleagues from public relations and protocol, and other regional apparatus organisations, so I prepared it. Since last night, and then today we have prepared it, the point is that it is all under control,” Mustadi explained.
He said the thousand students will be stationed at the exit of Adisutjipto Airport in Sleman. The students are divided into two shifts to welcome and see off the two leaders.
Mustadi explained that 500 students will welcome the arrival of Prabowo and Modi before they head to Prambanan Temple, around 10:00 AM Western Indonesia Time. The remaining 500 students will be stationed for when Prabowo and Modi return to the airport around 12:00 PM Western Indonesia Time. According to the plan, the students will wear traditional Javanese attire.
Mustadi also acknowledged that the welcome ceremony coincides with the school holiday period. Nevertheless, the regency government feels obliged to carry out the instruction from the central government.
“In principle, because it is an instruction from above, and the regional government welcomes the order, we must make it happen. So we coordinate with regional coordinators, school principals, and supervisors so that we can carry it out, that is the essence of it,” he added.