MURI records longest flag

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: A giant red and white flag unfurled here on Tuesday to mark Youth Pledge Day has broke the national record, says the Indonesian Museum of Records (MURI).

The flag, measuring six meters in width and one kilometer in length, was the brainchild of the Red and White Defense Front (FPMP), led by former East Timor pro-Jakarta militia leader and convicted human rights violator Eurico Gutteres.

It was unfurled by 3,000 students and young people in the provincial capital of Kupang during a parade outside the local administration offices. The flag will now be kept in a museum there.

MURI founder Jaya Suprana presented awards to Eurico and representatives of the East Nusa Tenggara administration in recognition of their feat.

"The idea behind making the longest flag in Indonesia is to arouse the spirit of nationalism and patriotism, especially among the younger generation," Eurico said.

Suprana said the making of the flag was part of a drive to encourage Indonesian young people to learn to love their country. "Don't look only at how big the flag is. The MURI sees it as a sign of the resurgence of nationalism," he said.

The largest flag previously recorded by the MURI was the work of the Jawa Pos publishing company. However, it was only 40 x 20 meters in size. --JP