PANGKALPINANG -- PT Timah Tbk supports the commemoration of State Sovereignty Enforcement Day which was held at the Indonesian Tin Museum (MTI) Pangkalpinang, Bangka Belitung Islands Province, Wednesday (1/3/2023).
The activity, which was held by the Culture, Tourism, and Sports Office of the Bangka Belitung Islands Province in collaboration with the Yogyakarta Culture and Tourism Office and the West Sumatra Culture and Tourism Office, is an effort to revive the fighting spirit of the heroes.
The commemoration of the Day for Upholding State Sovereignty was filled with talk shows, theatricals, and book launches with the theme 'Golden Bridges in Three Regions: Yogyakarta-Bangka-West Sumatra Upholding State Sovereignty (1948-1949).
In this activity, a theatrical performance was also shown which told about the exile of state leaders such as Soekarno Bangka, and how the people of Bangka at that time stuttered with joy in welcoming his presence and providing support to state leaders for Indonesian independence.
Not only that, the book launching of Yogyakarta-Bangka Upholding State Sovereignty, 1948-1949 was also held, written by Akhmad Elvian and Ali Usman.
Acting Head of the Culture, Tourism and Sports Office of the Bangka Belitung Islands Province Herwanita said the Commemoration of Day for Upholding State Sovereignty was the first time after Indonesian President Joko Widodo designated the General Attack on March 1, 1949, as State Sovereignty Upholding Day through Presidential Decree No. 2 of 2022.
Herwanita said that the theme of this three-regional golden bridge is a series of struggles of the Founding Fathers of the Indonesian state in fighting for Indonesian Independence.
"We hope that through this activity, the enthusiasm of the younger generation and the community will surge again, especially for upholding state sovereignty. This will also be a momentum to remember the struggles of the heroes," she said.
She also appreciated PT Timah Tbk for supporting this activity and facilitating the implementation of activities at the Pangkalpinang Indonesian Tin Museum which is a historical place.
"PT Timah Tbk has provided a lot of support, starting from funding for organizing activities and also facilitating its location at MTI Pangkalpinang. We hope that this synergy and collaboration can continue," she said.
Meanwhile, Bangka Belitung historian Akhmad Elvian said this activity was a place for education and to remember the struggle of the nation's heroes in fighting for independence.
Bangka Island became one of the places of exile for state leaders at that time, to be precise in Muntok, West Bangka. While exiled on Bangka Island, the country's leaders carried out diplomacy.
For 197 days starting from 22 December 1948 - 6 July 1949, the country's leaders were exiled to Bangka Island.
"State sovereignty is not only prioritized through physical armed struggle but also through diplomacy and physical armed struggle. Physical armed struggle was carried out in Java and Sumatra, the diplomatic struggle was carried out in Bangka," he said.
"The important message from this activity is that we study history properly so that historical awareness grows in the younger generation, that the republic was formed through physical armed struggle and diplomatic struggles," he stated.
This activity was also attended by humanists, artists, students, and various groups of people. (**)
