TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The commemoration of Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day took a different form in Pati, Central Java, as farmers who have spent more than two decades defending the Kendeng Mountains against karst mining held a “People’s Ceremony” at Selo Montro Hill on Monday, August 17, 2026.
The ceremony brought together residents and farmers from the Kendeng Mountains, members of the Network of Communities Concerned for the Kendeng Mountains (JMPPK), representatives of the Shadow Cabinet, academics, legal aid groups, and other civil society organizations.
Led by Gunretno, a prominent figure in the Sedulur Sikep community of the Kendeng Mountains, the ceremony was held in Kedumulyo Village, Sukolilo District, Pati Regency.
For more than 20 years, Kendeng residents have opposed karst mining in the mountain area, which they consider essential to their environment and livelihoods.
“This ceremony exists to bring Pancasila to life, ensuring it does not remain merely a text,” Gunretno said.
The gathering sought to offer a broader interpretation of independence, with participants emphasizing the right of citizens to protect their living spaces, fulfill their basic needs, and determine their own future.
Shadow Cabinet and Civil Society Groups Join Ceremony
The People’s Ceremony was also attended by members of the Shadow Cabinet, a civil society initiative that monitors government policies through criticism and evidence-based counter-narratives.
Among those present were Bhima Yudhistira, who serves as the Shadow Cabinet’s Minister of Finance and Budget Governance; Media Askar, Minister of Economy; Nabiyla Risfa Izzati, Minister of Social Affairs and Basic Services; and Isnawati Hidayah, Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty.
“Our presence is intended to connect the various nodes of the people’s movement,” Media Askar said.
The Konferensi Republik (Republic Conference) was represented by Yanuar Nugroho. Academics from the Interdisciplinary Intellectual Forum (FIAD), including Zainal Arifin Mochtar and Bivitri Susanti, also attended.
Susanti said solidarity among civil society groups was increasingly important as various policy and economic issues continued to affect citizens.
“In a national situation that places great hardship on citizens, all groups must unite in every struggle undertaken by the people,” she said.
Nugroho said joining the People’s Ceremony was part of an effort to give independence a more substantive meaning.
“Engaging in citizens’ initiatives means interpreting independence as the courage to envision and realize their own future,” he said.
Mochtar similarly emphasized that independence should not be understood solely from the perspective of the state.
“We need to bring to life the people’s perspective on independence, rather than just the state’s view,” he said.
Dandhy Laksono, author of Reset Indonesia, attended as a representative of the Koperasi Indonesia Baru (New Indonesia Cooperative). The Semarang Legal Aid Institute (LBH Semarang) and administrators of the Nurul Asri Mosque also supported the event.
Independence From the People’s Perspective
The People’s Ceremony served as a gathering point for groups seeking to highlight issues they believe affect citizens’ ability to exercise their rights and shape their own future after 81 years of Indonesian independence.
Participants raised concerns affecting rural communities, including the allocation of up to 70 percent of village funds to the Merah Putih Village/Urban Village Cooperative (KDMP) program, food-poisoning cases associated with the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, issues surrounding the workload and income rights of civil servants, and shortcomings in disaster management and environmental protection amid budget constraints.
For the Kendeng residents and participating civil society groups, independence extends beyond national sovereignty. They argued that it should also be reflected in people’s ability to protect their environment, maintain their livelihoods, access basic services, and participate meaningfully in decisions affecting their lives.
The gathering in Pati thus became a forum for reaffirming the idea of people’s sovereignty, with participants emphasizing that the government holds a mandate from citizens and should remain accountable to their interests.
About the Shadow Cabinet
The Shadow Cabinet is a civil society coalition that monitors the government through criticism and evidence-based counter-narratives. Its stated aims include serving as a sparring partner for the government, educating the public about policy governance, and strengthening citizens’ role in overseeing the administration.
More information is available at kabinetbayangan.id.
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