The Collapse of a Maritime Nation's Pride: Reflections on 81 Years of Indonesian Independence

Pengibaran Bendera di Istana Negara (foto: UMJ)

On one occasion, in 1993, I met Capt. Gita, after he returned home from his great mission sailing 11,000 nautical miles from Jakarta to Vancouver, then continued to San Diego for 1,250 miles, to join Indonesia's pavilion at the World Expo '86 in Canada.

He said: _"I have delivered the ship to be preserved well. I will not touch it again."_

The Beautiful Phinisi Nusantara
(photo: Tempo/Bondan Winarno) 

Years later, the Phinisi Nusantara — which had survived 67 days at sea, during which the Commander of the USS Constellation gave them a formal salute, a distinction rarely afforded to any vessel — finally sank. The crew and Marines lined up on deck, greeting the Indonesians with thunderous applause. It was a moment when a traditional wooden ship from Indonesia was deeply respected by the US Navy and drew massive public attention at the Canada Expo '86. Truly a testament to human resilience.

But it finally sank in Kepulauan Seribu.  It hit a reef and ran aground on a sandbar. With neither adequate attention nor proper help arriving in time, the historic ship — once saluted by the US Navy — finally sank in "safe" waters, only 30 miles from Jakarta. A truly tragic ending.

The Real Heroes,
Capt. Gita and Crew
(private doc)

Having led from the front and managed to weather countless crises, Capt. Gita looked toward the horizon, but he found no silver lining in the dark clouds. On July 11, 2022, the Captain who had left an indelible mark on the waves passed away, finding his final sanctuary in history.

Now, I am thinking again and again. Is there any proper way to commemorate Independence Day today?

A few minutes before the Phinisi Nusantara arrived in English Bay, Canada in 1986, one of the crew raised the red and white flag on the forward deck of the sailboat.  

The Tragic Ending
(photo: ANTARA)

That successful voyage raised the sense of pride of the Indonesian nation. 

And now, every year we raise the same flag as the crew did. But instead of on the forward deck of the ship with pride, we do it in front of our house. We feel nothing.

Since our founding fathers, Soekarno-Hatta, declared Independence Day in 1945, the nation's pride has been sparking and rising everywhere.

The month of August has been a special moment every year, especially on August 17th. No work, no offices open, except for important and emergency services such as hospitals, disaster response agencies, and the fire department.

Most Indonesians celebrate Independence Day every year and everywhere with enthusiasm. The atmosphere is full of cheers and joy.

But even in the middle of the joy, laughter, and celebration, there is one thing that always distracts me.

Lately, I have found so many officials doing dishonorable things — disrespect and even destroying the heart and spirit of Independence Day with their greed, abuse of power, bribery, nepotism, collusion, and corruption at every level of government. It is still disappointing, not only for me but also for those who know how the government is supposed to serve its people.

At 81 years old, Indonesia should be a great nation, far exceeding many countries in Southeast Asia. There is no excuse, because we have a lot, from human resources to natural resources.  Just look at how rich Indonesia is: mining, gold, gas, oil, and the wealth of our forests and seas.

But all of these precious things haven't been managed well. As a result, most Indonesians still live below the poverty line.

Sadly, many Indonesian ruling elites in political parties and those who hold power in their hands are drowning in this euphoria of freedom through collusion and corruption.

How tragic is what Capt. Gita did with his Phinisi compared to our condition now.

Life feels more difficult and is getting worse: more unemployment, prices in the market rising sharply, livelihoods becoming unaffordable, and the management of health and education in ruins. I hope I do not see the wealth of the nation sinking like the Phinisi.

Farewell, Captain. Happy Independence Day.