Paskibraka


The Paskibraka is a youth organization in Indonesia which has the main task for raising and lowering the heirloom national flag of Indonesia in Independence day ceremonies commemorating the independence day of Indonesia throughout Indonesia. Its members come from grade 1 or 2 high school students selected from schools regionally. Its mission is to provide flag bearers and escorts for national flag ceremonies commemorating independence day in the city, province, and national level in Indonesia as well as in some international functions at overseas Indonesian installations. It was founded by Major Husein Mutahar and is led by a national organization with its HQ in Jakarta called the "National Paskibraka Council".

Pre-1967

Major Husein Mutahar of the Indonesian Navy was the one who in August 1946, just as the Indonesian National Revolution was raging, oversaw the first national flag raising ceremony on the 17th that month in Yogyakarta in commemoration of the 1st anniversary of national independence, presided by President Sukarno at the Gedung Agung Palace. With 5 other youths with him as the escorts, he raised the Bendera Pusaka just as Indonesia Raya was played by a military band to a joyful populace. It would be repeated again in 1947 and 1949.
With the transfer of the capital to Jakarta, Mutahar did not see any flag raising ceremonies until 1966 at the Merdeka Palace but the flag raising method still remained.

First national appearance

In time for the 22nd anniversary of independence in 1967, Mutahar, at that time retired and in his older years, approached the then President Suharto with a plan to form today's Paskibraka or the "National Heirloom Flag Hoisting Troop", with a ceremonial mission to escort, hoist and lower the national flag during Independence Day ceremony and other national holiday celebrations in the national and regional levels throughout the country. He has chosen the Youth as the Paskibraka to symbolize the importance of their role in the development of the nation in the future. It is to symbolize patriotism and nationalism towards the youth and the people of Indonesia.
His idea of the Flag Hoisting Troop would be a 70-man color troop made up of:
The first official Paskibraka Troop took part in the flag raising and lowering ceremonies on Independence Day 1967, which were also covered on Televisi Republik Indonesia, therefore making their first national appearance while at the background the military band played the national anthem while they raised the national flag.
Starting 1968 flag escort platoons modeled on the one in Jakarta were mandated to be raised in the Provinces and cities of Indonesia for major national holiday ceremonies, it would be the last year the old first sewed national flag would be used in Jakarta. The next year a replica flag took its place in all ceremonies nationwide, and high school students took over the job of providing the color party and the advance platoon, with their red scarf and white dress uniforms and black songkok caps which would become the signature uniform of the Paskibraka troop until today.

Current Tasks

Nowadays, the Paskibraka has the tasks to implement their duties in three levels of state-ceremonial occasions for the independence day commemoration of Indonesia which are at the national level, provincial level, city level and regency level. Students chosen to become Paskibraka personnel are selected from public or private schools and are based on good physical, posture, and academics, the best ones are chosen to serve at the national level usually with two pairs of male and female from each province in Indonesia, and are sent to the national level in Jakarta as the "National Paskibraka", whereas Paskibraka serving in Provincial, City and Regency level are also regarded as best school students serving for their country, but the most prestigious is becoming part of the "National Paskibraka" especially for the female student who will carry the national flag from the honor tribune to the flagpole.
Post conducting their duties, they will become Purna Paskibraka Indonesia and former members have duties to become active in the Paskibraka organization to conduct training, mentoring, and sharing skills to their juniors which are going to become Paskibraka members. Paskibraka members change every year per school, and a paskibraka member will only carry out his/her duty once in a lifetime if chosen by the government unit or directly by the national government to be a part of this unit.

Paskibra

Paskibra refers to an Extracurricular activity which are present in most junior to senior high schools throughout Indonesia. Its activities are mostly Marching, Disciplinary activities, and leadership training. It is also tasked for raising the national flag in schools during Monday-morning ceremonies. Most Paskibraka members come from this extracurricular activity back in their respective schools.