JAKARTA, thekabarnews.com—Several Indonesian ministers and deputy ministers missed the country’s 81st Independence Day ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Monday, August 17. The government assigned them to regional ceremonies and earthquake-response duties instead.

State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi said the absences reflected a division of government responsibilities. The absence was not a withdrawal from the national commemoration.

“Several ministers and deputy ministers from the Red and White Cabinet are holding ceremonies outside Jakarta. For example, the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister is leading the 81st Independence Day commemoration in Southeast Sulawesi Province,” Prasetyo told reporters on the Merdeka Palace grounds.

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono led the commemoration in Southeast Sulawesi. He did this instead of attending the ceremony in Central Jakarta.

The government also deployed senior officials to East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) to monitor the response. The visit followed the earthquake that recently struck the province.

The delegation included Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Pratikno, Home Minister Tito Karnavian and Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo. Deputy Health Minister Benjamin Paulus Oktavianus and Deputy Social Affairs Minister Agus Jabo also joined the mission.

“Several state officials are now in East Nusa Tenggara to monitor the situation and ensure that the government properly handles the recent disaster,” Prasetyo said.

Prasetyo said the central government needed to maintain its emergency response. This was important even as President Prabowo Subianto and other national figures attended the Proclamation Seconds Ceremony at the presidential palace complex.

“While we celebrate independence, we must also ensure that all our brothers and sisters affected by the disaster receive proper assistance,” he said.

The officials went to NTT to coordinate the central government’s response with provincial and district administrations, disaster-management agencies and essential service providers.

Pratikno’s coordinating ministry oversees cross-agency disaster policy, while the Home Ministry coordinates with regional governments.

The Public Works Ministry handles assessments of damaged roads, bridges, water systems and other public infrastructure. Health and Social Affairs officials support medical services, logistics, temporary shelters and assistance for affected residents.

Authorities continued to update casualty, displacement and infrastructure damage figures as this report was prepared. Official impact figures should therefore be checked through the National Disaster Management Agency and BMKG as field assessments continue.

The Independence Day ceremony in Jakarta marked 81 years since Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta proclaimed Indonesia’s independence on August 17, 1945.

The government selected “Indonesia Berdaulat, Adil, dan Makmur” as the official theme for the 2026 commemoration. State Secretariat

By assigning cabinet members to different regions, the government sought to conduct the national celebration while maintaining direct oversight of an unfolding humanitarian response. Prasetyo said helping affected communities remained a state responsibility regardless of the national holiday.