Palace Reveals Reason Behind Giant Prabowo Banner Flying During Independence Day
State Secretary Minister (Mensesneg) Prasetyo Hadi has revealed the reason behind the giant banner depicting President Prabowo Subianto being flown in the air during the 81st Independence Day ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Monday (17/8).
Prasetyo explained that the flying of the presidential banner was a form of gratitude from the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) for the strengthening of defence equipment under Prabowo. This was not only during his time as President, but also when he served as Minister of Defence under President Jokowi from 2019 to 2024.
“We also wish to express our gratitude because it is during Mr Prabowo’s era, although it was already initiated during his time as Defence Minister, that we have truly strengthened our defence equipment,” said Prasetyo after a meeting at the parliamentary complex on Tuesday (18/8).
In the parachute display, the TNI’s pride was also demonstrated by the flight of several Dassault Rafale fighter jets from France. Moreover, according to him, the flying of the presidential banner carried out by Kopassus soldiers was no easy feat.
“That, in my view, in our view, is far more important because it is not something easy,” he said.
On the other hand, the procurement of various defence equipment is now also useful for Indonesia as part of the ring of fire. As evidence, Prasetyo said, the TNI’s equipment has been very helpful in handling disasters in several regions, including in East Nusa Tenggara, which was recently struck by an earthquake.
“In a short time we can send logistics, which we have already used starting from the disaster in Sumatra and recently in NTT,” he said.
The flying of the giant banner or flag of the President had previously drawn attention. The action was part of the series of ceremonies marking the 81st Proclamation of Independence at the Merdeka Palace area in Jakarta.
The banner or flag was unfurled directly in the capital’s sky from an altitude of 10,000 feet through a Victory Jump parachute display carried out by 17 soldiers from the Army Special Forces Command (Kopassus) and the National Police from a CN-295 military transport aircraft.