The complex of Jakarta Presidential Palaces is located on Jl. Merdeka Utara, near the park of National Monument (Monas), at the heart of the capital city, approximately 6.8 acres and 5 metres above sea level. The Jakarta Presidential Palaces consists of two palaces: the Merdeka Palace, which faces Monas, and the Negara Palace (State Palace), accrross Ciliwung River and Jl. Veteran. Several other buildings are also located in the complex of the palaces. They are the Presidential Office, the House of State, Baiturrahim Mosque and the Museum of Presidential Palaces. In the garden grow big old shading trees with long dangling roots as well as grasses covering the land like a green carpet and all these succeeds to make the Jakarta Presidential Palaces a shady cool place. Mainly functioning as a place to convene presidential events, the Jakarta Presidential Palaces also serve as the Office of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, the centre of governmental activities and a place to hold state events, to have Indonesian Armed Forces’ junior officers sworn in, to receive state guests, a place for ambassadors from other countries to submit their credentials to the President of the Republic of Indonesia, a place to hold the opening ceremony of national meetings and workshops, national or international congresses and a place for commemorating the moment of proclamation of independence of the Republic of Indonesia every August 17.
Negara Palace
Negara Palace is a witness of numerous historical events, among them are the moment when General de Kock laid out his scheme to bring to an end Prince Diponegoro’s fight and formulate his strategy to deal with Tuanku Imam Bonjol to Governor General Baron Van der Capellen, and the time when Governor General Johannes van de Bosch applied the cultuurstelsel system, which forced the colonized people to cultivate land without payment. Subsequent to the independence of the Republic of Indonesia, on 25 March 1947, the building also witnessed the signing of Linggarjati Agreement by Sultan Sjahrir from the Indonesian side and Dr. Van Mook representing the Netherlands.
Merdeka Palace
Merdeka Palace was built in 1879 and it recorded many important events, which are influential to Indonesian governmental stance, hence, it owns a special place at the heart of Indonesian people. One of them is the history of the title of the place itself: “Merdeka” (Independent). The word “Merdeka” is truly significant, it is a symbol of hope that emphasizes the end of colonization on Indonesian land as well as the beginning of life as an independent nation. On 27 December 1949, Merdeka Palace witnessed the historical event concerning the Netherlands’ recognition of the independence of the United Republic of Indonesia proceeded through a series of ceremony conducted both in Amsterdam, the Netherlands at 10 a.m. and in Jakarta and Yogyakarta, Indonesia at 4 p.m. That day, the whole country was waiting for the radio broadcast from Jakarta announcing the tremendous news, the news on the signing and the submission of the text conveying the Netherlands’ recognition of the United Republic of Indonesia’s independence. At the same time, the Red and White Flag rose before the Independence Palace, taking over the place of the Netherland flag, the Indonesia Raya anthem was sung and people all over Indonesia shouted “Merdeka!, merdeka!, merdeka!” As a result, the palace is called Merdeka Palace. The commemoration of the independence of the Republic of Indonesia was first held on 17 August 1950 in Merdeka Palace. The State Palace.
