Indonesia Expands Presidential Palace Independence Day Guest List Amid High Demand

Indonesia's government is expanding the guest list for the nation's 81st Independence Day celebration at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta. Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi announced on Tuesday that an additional block of invitations will be issued to accommodate the overwhelming public interest. Initially, the government planned for around 3,400 attendees, but the surge in demand, with approximately 336,000 people registering, necessitated the increase. Prasetyo Hadi stated that the government is considering adding tents to accommodate spectators who may gather outside the palace grounds. Preparations for the August 17th ceremony have led to traffic disruptions, with roads like Jalan Veteran III and Jalan Medan Merdeka Utara closed. The government has apologized for any inconvenience caused by these closures, which are necessary for security and logistical arrangements during the event's rehearsals.

“

We decided to add one block to increase the number of invitations for the public who have registered. We estimate around 3,400 people who we will likely divide between the morning and afternoon events.