National Police Chief Leads Police Day of Struggle Ceremony, Ignites Spirit to Advance the Nation
National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo led the 2026 Police Day of Struggle (Hari Juang Polri) ceremony in Surabaya, East Java. General Sigit said the Police Day of Struggle must be understood as a momentum to continue improving service to the public.
The 2026 Police Day of Struggle ceremony was attended by the Police ranks and 203 invited guests from various elements, including National Police Headquarters, the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda), the Surabaya City Government, religious and community figures, students, academics, veterans, and the extended Police family. This year’s ceremony was held at the Special Police Monument in Surabaya on Friday (21/8/2026).
Police Day of Struggle is commemorated every 21 August, coinciding with the historic event of the Police Proclamation declared in Surabaya on 21 August 1945. The event became a milestone in the steadfast stance of Police members to stand with the Republic of Indonesia and take part in the struggle to defend independence.
History records that on 20 August 1945, Inspector Muhammad Jasin together with members of the Surabaya Special Police agreed on a statement of loyalty to the Republic of Indonesia while drafting the text of the Police Proclamation. A day later, Muhammad Jasin led a parade at the Surabaya Special Police Headquarters and read out the Police Proclamation, which was followed by all its members.
The proclamation was not only a statement of loyalty, but also affirmed the determination of the Surabaya Special Police to fight alongside the people to defend Indonesia’s independence. That spirit was realised through the active involvement of the Police in disarming Japanese forces, distributing weapons to struggle organisations and other regions, and resisting the Allies in the series of struggles to defend independence.
In the ceremony, the National Police Chief, as the Inspecting Officer, led a moment of silence and read out the Police Proclamation text. The re-reading of the historic text served as a reminder that the fighting spirit of the predecessors must continue to be inherited and translated according to the challenges of each era.
General Sigit said that if in the early days of independence the Police struggle was directed at defending the nation’s sovereignty, today the same spirit is realised through efforts to maintain security and public order stability, uphold the law, and provide protection, guardianship and service to the public.
Security stability is one of the important foundations for the continuity of development. Therefore, every execution of Police duties has a strategic role in creating a sense of safety, keeping public activities running, and supporting the creation of a conducive climate for economic growth and national progress.
“The momentum of Police Day of Struggle is also a reflection for all personnel to continue upholding the values of courage, devotion, loyalty, integrity, and the never-give-up spirit inherited from the predecessors. These values are important capital for the Police to answer various increasingly complex task challenges while meeting public expectations for better Police services,” said General Sigit.
He said the spirit of fighting together with the people shown by the Surabaya Special Police remains relevant today. National progress requires unity, stability, and synergy among all elements of society. In that context, the Police continue to take part by maintaining security, building closeness with the public, and strengthening collaboration with all stakeholders.
The commemoration in the City of Heroes affirmed that the Police’s fighting spirit does not stop at the historical record. 81 years after the Police Proclamation was declared, the flame of that struggle continues to be passed on to every generation of Bhayangkara to maintain stability, serve the public, and provide the best devotion to support development and drive Indonesia to keep moving forward.