REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, ACEH - People of North Aceh sang the national anthem of Republic of Indonesia, Indonesia Raya to commemorate 68th Anniversary of Independence Day on Saturday. They sang in a ceremony in an open field at Cot Kafiratun village, Seunuddon district, North Aceh.
Thousands of Seunuddon residents flocked to the venue to participate in the celberation. When choir team sang Indonesian national anthem, automatically the residents followed suit and sang together.
"It has been years we do not commemorate the independence day so glorious like today. We aal are happy so we sing together," Bellawati (22 years), a resident, said.
The gesture demostrated their patriotism to Indonesia in the midts of the spark of separatism issues. It was a demonstration of loyalty to their motherland.
"We cannot openly talk about security here, but now we observe the Independence Day especialy because the moment is right after Eid al Fitr. It the day of glory," Bellawati added.
Regent of North Aceh, Muhammad Thayib said Aceh people missed Independence Day celebration. He said that Chief of Army Strategic Reserve Command (Pangkostrad), Let Gen Gatot Nirwanto who attended the celebration, pumped the spirit to the people of Aceh.
"Our special thanks to military for entrusting one of its commanders to celebrate Independence Day here, so that our sense of security are stronger," Thayib said.