Nduga, IDNtribune.com – The enthusiasm and spirit of Papuan students lifts up the atmosphere in welcoming the 78th Indonesian Independence Day.

This time, as many as 500 students and mothers in the Keneyam District participated in the “Stunting” nutrition care event. Where food ingredients are distributed, alongside various kinds of competitions held by Personnel of the 411/Pandawa Raider Infantery Batalyon Task Force to welcome the upcoming 78th Indonesian Independence Day which was celebrated with the theme “I Love Indonesia”, taking place in front of the Kotis Army Post in Keneyam District, Nduga Regency, Papua Mountains, Tuesday (15/8/2023).

This morning, on foot in droves full of elementary and junior high school students accompanied by their teachers went on foot enthusiastically. They all broke the silence at the Kotis Post.

Happy expressions full of spirit can be seen on the faces of Papuan students who can’t wait to take part in various competitions. Which includes putting pencils in bottles, eating crackers, racing marbles, breaking water in plastic and Futsal in welcoming the 78th Indonesian Independance day. This event was held by personnel of the Kotis Post.

Lieutenant Colonel Subandi alias Bang Alex as the Mission Commander said that the 411/Pandawa Kostrad Mechanized Raider Infantery Task Force held competitions to lift up the vibrant atmosphere of independence, especially in Keneyam.

“Today is truly extraordinarily lively, the enthusiasm of students in the Keneyam District in enlivening the lively competition for the month of independence is truly extraordinary, beyond our expectations, there were 500 students early in the morning storming the post, they came accompanied by their teachers,” he said.

He continued, the activities carried out today with the theme “I Love Indonesia” were also packaged with concern for “Stunting” nutrition as a form of real concern for the 411/Pandawa Batalyon Task Force. They placed a sense of nationalism and enthusiasm within the students in welcoming the day of Independence

“The children seem to embody the spirit of the freedom fighters, with their heads tied with red and white ribbons, carrying red and white flags, they are competing to be the best, an extraordinary sight they show a sense of nationalism from the enthusiasm that radiates,” said 2004 Military Academy Graduate.

Kamelia Degei, one of the teachers who accompanied her students, admitted that she was happy and very enthusiastic about the activities carried out by the 411/Pandawa Mechanized Raider Infantery Task Force.

“Today we are all happy, very happy and lively. Events like this are always awaited by school children, it is extraordinary,” he said.

Today’s event is even more special with the presence of the Third Joint Military Command (Kogabwilhan III)’s Chief of Staff Air Commodore Dr. Budhi Achmadi M.Sc., along with his entourage who were visiting the Keneyam District area. They had the opportunity to directly greet the school children present while congratulating the race.

Meanwhile, the Regent of Nduga Edison Gwijangge and his wife who were directly present at the activity, expressed their pleasure at seeing the sights at the event which was held by the Task Force Personnel today, hundreds of students from the Keneyam District came.

In the nutrition care event, the Regent of Nduga and his wife symbolically provided four healthy five perfect nutritious food packages to the children and students who attended the activities carried out today.

The series of “Stunting” and lively nutrition care events to welcome the 78th Indonesian Independance day which was held by the Pandawa Kostrad Knights ran smoothly and safely, even though it was held in the midst of various threats made by the Papuan Terrorist Separatist Forces (KSTP) to disrupt the lively celebrate of the Indonesian Independence Day.

This did not in the least dampen the intentions of the Kostrad Pandawa Knights to inflame the spirit of independence this year from the eastern tip of Indonesia. ***