PLBN Aruk Holds Independence Day Ceremony, Affirms Border Area Development

The Aruk Cross-Border Post (PLBN) held a ceremony to commemorate the 81st Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia. The ceremony was held at the PLBN Aruk Area Field, Sambas Regency, West Kalimantan.

The ceremony served as a momentum to strengthen the spirit of unity while affirming the importance of border area development as part of equitable national development, including border areas as the nation’s front porch.

The Rector of the Institute of Home Affairs Governance (IPDN), Halilul Khairi, emphasised that independence must be realised through equal opportunities for the people. The state must also be able to protect and serve the public and ensure that development reaches all regions of Indonesia.

Halilul stated that the commemoration of the 81st Anniversary of Indonesian Independence is not merely a ceremonial agenda, but also a momentum to reflect on the nation’s journey while strengthening unity.

This is in line with the theme ‘A Sovereign, Just, and Prosperous Indonesia’, which affirms the commitment to safeguarding the territory, protecting the people, and ensuring every citizen has the opportunity to grow and develop.

He explained that state sovereignty is not solely realised through the ability to protect the territory. Sovereignty is also reflected in the state’s ability to deliver public services, provide infrastructure, develop the economy, protect the people, and open up equitable access to development.

“Therefore, we are not only building the infrastructure. We must also build the region and, at the same time, build its people,” said Halilul in his statement on Monday (17/8/2026).

He made the remarks while reading the mandate of the Minister of Home Affairs and Chair of the National Border Management Agency (BNPP) of the Republic of Indonesia, Muhammad Tito Karnavian.

In line with the development direction, the government has prepared the Grand Design for the Transformation of State Territorial Boundary and Border Area Management 2026-2045 as the direction for border management for the next 20 years. The policy is directed towards building more integrated, focused, and sustainable border governance.

In his mandate, Halilul also conveyed three important points in border area development as directed in the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) 2025-2029.

First, strengthening the regional economy through downstreaming to form new domestic supply chains that reach border areas. Second, improving service quality at PLBN through the implementation of quality management standards in the supervision and service of cross-border travellers, both Indonesian citizens (WNI) and foreign nationals (WNA). Third, strengthening the role of border communities in maintaining unity, integrity, and love for Indonesia.

Halilul affirmed that communities in border areas hold a strategic position as representatives of the nation and part of the state’s strength in safeguarding sovereignty in the frontier regions.

“Borders are a shared concern. Ministries and agencies, regional governments, the TNI, the National Police, businesses, universities, and the public must move in a single orchestration of border development,” he asserted.

For information, the 81st Indonesian Independence Day ceremony at PLBN Aruk was also attended by a number of central and regional government officials, including the Head of the Bureau of Finance, General Affairs, and Public Relations of the BNPP RI, the Regent of Sambas, the District Military Commander 1208 Sambas, the Resort Military Commander 121/ABW of the XII/Tanjungpura Regional Military Command, the Head of the Regional Border Agency of West Kalimantan Province, the Head of the Regional Border Agency of Sambas Regency, the Chair of the Sambas Regency Regional People’s Representative Council, the Head of PLBN Aruk, and the Head of Sajingan Besar Sub-district.

In this ceremony, the Rector of the Institute of Home Affairs Governance (IPDN), Halilul Khairi, acted as the Ceremony Inspector, while Captain Arm Anugrah Sakti was entrusted as the Ceremony Commander. The raising of the Red and White Flag was carried out by the Heritage Flag Hoisting Troop (Paskibraka) from SMA Negeri 1 and SMK Negeri 1 Sajingan Besar.

The activity also involved elements of the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda), vertical agencies, CIQS elements of PLBN Aruk, sub-district and village governments, community leaders, traditional leaders, and communities in the Sajingan Besar border area. The series of activities was also filled with art and dance performances as well as activities involving the community and relevant agencies.