Indonesia marks 81st Independence Day in Doha amid solidarity with earthquake victims

The Indonesian Embassy in Doha commemorated the country’s 81st Independence Day with a flag-raising ceremony at UDST.The Embassy of Indonesia in Doha marked Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day on Monday with a flag-raising ceremony attended by more than 200 members of the Indonesian community in Qatar.Held at the multipurpose hall of the University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST), the ceremony featured the raising of Indonesia’s Red and White flag by 14 Indonesian youths and students. Indonesian Ambassador to Qatar Syahda Guruh Langkah Samudera served as the inspector of the ceremony, while Indonesia’s Defence Attaché in Doha Col. Tengku Sony served as the ceremony commander.The celebrations continued with a thanksgiving gathering at the Indonesian Embassy, including the traditional cutting of tumpeng, a ceremonial rice dish commonly featured during important Indonesian occasions. The event brought together ambassadors, ASEAN diplomatic representatives and Friends of Indonesia in Doha.The anniversary was marked against the backdrop of a devastating earthquake in Indonesia. On August 15, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara, killing at least 68 people and injuring more than 200, according to reports.The quake triggered landslides, widespread damage and more than 1,500 aftershocks, while thousands of residents were forced into temporary shelters. “The commemoration of independence should serve as a moment to strengthen our unity, compassion, and solidarity as fellow Indonesians. Let us pray together for our brothers and sisters who are facing these disasters and provide the best support that we can,” the Indonesian ambassador said in a statement. Beyond commemorating independence, the event highlighted the importance of unity, compassion and solidarity among Indonesians abroad. The embassy also reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening people-to-people ties and the longstanding friendship between Indonesia and Qatar, which marks 50 years of diplomatic relations in 2026.