81st Independence Day Advisory: Public Asked to Stand at Attention at 10.17 WIB Tomorrow
The commemoration of the 81st anniversary of Indonesian independence on 17 August 2026 will feature a series of activities. The public has also received a number of appeals to help enliven and give meaning to the independence moment.
The guidelines for the 81st Independence Day commemoration are set out in State Secretariat Minister Letter Number B-13/M/S/TU.00.03/08/2026 dated 11 August 2026. So what are the appeals for the public on 17 August 2026?
Follow the Independence Ceremony Broadcast
The public is urged to follow the series of events marking the 81st anniversary of independence, including watching the Proclamation Seconds Commemoration Ceremony and the Lowering of the Red and White Flag Ceremony centred at the Merdeka Palace courtyard.
Under the guidelines, regional heads or the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda) are also encouraged to provide large screens at locations that can accommodate many participants. This facility is intended to allow the public to watch the live broadcast of the ceremony together.
Stand at Attention When Indonesia Raya Is Played
There is also a special appeal for the public across Indonesia on 17 August 2026. From 10.17 to 10.20 WIB, the public is asked to pause their activities for a moment while the national anthem Indonesia Raya is played and the Red and White Flag is raised at the Merdeka Palace courtyard.
“On 17 August 2026, from 10.17 to 10.20 WIB, all members of the public throughout Indonesia are urged to pause their activities for a moment to: a. Stand at attention while the national anthem Indonesia Raya is played and the Red and White Flag at the Merdeka Palace courtyard is raised,” the guidelines state.
There Are Exemptions for Certain Activities
The appeal to pause activities for a moment has exemptions. Members of the public who are carrying out activities that could endanger themselves or others if stopped do not need to halt their activities.
Exemptions also apply to public services that cannot be left unattended. The State Secretariat guidelines state that TNI and Polri personnel in each region will help ensure the smooth implementation of the appeal, among other things by sounding sirens or marker sounds shortly before the national anthem Indonesia Raya is played.
People’s Festival at Monas and the HI Roundabout
The public is also encouraged to take part in and enliven the People’s Festival to be held on 17 August 2026. The event runs from 07.00 to 22.00 WIB in the area of the National Monument (Monas) and the Hotel Indonesia (HI) Roundabout, Jakarta.
In the main series of events listed in the appendix to the guidelines, the People’s Festival at Monas features a number of activities, such as a children’s play area, traditional 17 August competitions, free Nusantara cuisine, and a carnival.
With these various appeals, the public can help enliven the 81st Independence Day anniversary in a variety of ways. From watching the ceremony series, pausing activities for a moment at the designated time, to enlivening the People’s Festival in Jakarta.
The 17 August 2026 moment is also an opportunity for the public to commemorate independence together while paying attention to safety and the continuity of public services.