August 17th in Sydney is commemorated not only with flag-raising ceremonies and nasi tumpeng, but also with the voicing of concerns by the diaspora.
Amidst showers in Sydney in the morning of August 17 2026, the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Sydney held an Independence Day celebration at Wisma Indonesia, Rose Bay.
SBS Indonesian chatted with a few guests, including Ivy Octavillia Yunus, who was among the hundreds attending the event. She said it was her second time attending the Consulate’s Independence Day celebration.
Ivy and Rendra Budi Utama, an Indonesian student currently studying at the University of Technology Sydney, expressed concerns regarding the economy and employment issues in Indonesia, a nation celebrating its 81st birthday this year.
Consul General Pendekar Muda Leonard Sondakh said that the theme of this year’s celebration was linked to his office’s duties of building ties with community and to serve the Indonesian community and diaspora.
He added the importance of preserving image amidst multiple issues faced by the country.
The same afternoon, in Sydney’s Town Hall area, a group of Indonesians held a protest to voice their concerns, such as regarding human rights violations and economic discrepancy between classes in Indonesia. Among the signs displayed were slogans about human rights and an image depicting Munir Said Thalib, an activist who died from poisoning in 2004.
Nina Setiawan from Aliansi Gusar said the theme for the protest was ‘Refuse to Forget, Refuse to Look Away’. Fatma L, also from Aliansi Gusar, said that they gathered to commemorate Indonesia’s independence in a more profound and critical way than simply wearing traditional garments.
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