Khofifah urges youth to use knowledge as a tool for struggle

Malang, East Java — East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa has invited young people to make scientific knowledge a tool for struggle to maintain Indonesia’s independence in the modern era. “In the past, the struggle utilised weapons; today, the weapon of struggle is knowledge. I feel that maintaining independence remains the duty of both them and us,” said Khofifah following a pilgrimage and flower-laying ceremony at the TRIP Heroes Monument in Malang, East Java, on Friday.

She added that the youth must not be afraid to move forward in defending the nation’s interests, much like the actions demonstrated by the Student Army of the Republic of Indonesia (TRIP) in 1947. During that era of struggle, TRIP members fearlessly entered the battlefield to intercept and resist Dutch aggression. These values are what she hopes every young person in the modern era will understand. “In addition to knowledge, our weapons are togetherness and mutual cooperation,” she stated.

At the same location, the Chairperson of the MAS TRIP Association, Destry Damayanti, stated that the spirit of struggle shown by TRIP continues to be ignited so that it can be passed down to future generations. Consequently, the pilgrimage and flower-laying ceremony at the TRIP Heroes Monument is not merely a ceremonial activity, but a collective movement to build awareness among the youth regarding the preservation of independence. “Our generation is still able to obtain or hear stories directly from the elders who were fighters,” she said.

Furthermore, Destry mentioned that materials regarding the TRIP struggle have been implemented as teaching resources for history subjects in schools across several regions. “We are working to ensure this is applied more widely,” said Destry, who also serves as the Acting Governor of Bank Indonesia.