Indonesians Queue from 2 a.m. to Attend Independence Day Ceremony at Merdeka Palace

Indonesians began queuing from 2 a.m. on Monday to attend the 81st Independence Day Anniversary ceremony at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta. Some had even started at 2:00 a.m., according to Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, who observed the long lines while touring the palace. Citizens from South Sulawesi and Kebumen, Central Java, among others, revealed they had arrived at Gambir Station by 1 a.m. before heading to the event.

Upon questioning, one South Sulawesi resident explained they began queuing at 2 a.m., while a Kebumen resident stated they had traveled from their home to Gambir Station at 1 a.m. Teddy then wished the early arrivers good health, encouraging them to "Stay healthy."

The public's enthusiasm for attending this year's commemoration of Indonesia's independence was evident, with citizens willing to travel from diverse regions and arrive early to witness the event firsthand. The government has prepared 16,000 seats for the 80th anniversary commemoration of Indonesia's independence, with 8,000 seats allocated for each of the two ceremony sessions: the Proclamation ceremony at 10 a.m. and the flag-lowering ceremony at 5 p.m. Eighty percent of this capacity is for the general public, while the remaining 20% is reserved for official invitees, state officials, and institutional representatives.