Indonesian Scouts to Fly Giant RI Flag in Sebatik Island

Balikpapan, East Kalimantan - More than a thousand Indonesian boy-scouts will fly a 20 x 50 meters RI flag in Sebatik Island, Nunukan, East Kalimantan to remark a National Nautical Sailing and Camping, said Kingkin Suroso, the Chairman of Nautical Unit of National Scout, here Tuesday (Jan 3). "There will be more than a thousand of boy-scouts of 16 to 25 years old from all over Indonesia. The 1.000 meters square flag will be flown on top of flagpole which has been erected," he said. He also said that the 60 kilograms flag would be easy for the scouts to be hoisted. "Therefore, it is a symbol of togetherness and unity, meaning that nothing is impossible to be done together," he explained. The flag raising would be the top event of National Nautical Sailing and Camping which with the participation of 5,000 Indonesian and 50 scouts from other ASEAN member states. Of the total, 1,032 scouts from all regions in Indonesia, including 50 from ASEAN member countries, would arrive at Sebatik Island by an Indonesian warship, KRI dr. Soeharso. The warship has started the journey from Jakarta on December 28 2011, carrying 224 scouts from western Indonesia and a crew of 245 . Afterward, the ship which was used to contain a tank and helicopter sailed to the northeast to take 140 scouts from all provinces in Sulawesi and eastern Indonesia. On Wednesday (Jan 3), the ship arrived at Balikpapan and carried 256 boy-scouts from South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan, to continue the journey to Sebatik Island before released officially by Farid Wadjdy, the Vice Governor of East Kalimantan. "We expect the participants would arrive at Sebatik Island on Saturday (Jan 7). Before that, we would like to visit Derawan Island for diving and admire the beauty of Indonesia underwater. Later on, we will promote it to the world," said Kingkin Suroso, who was also the Head of Maritime Development Department in the Indonesian Navy Headquarters. The scouting would include several social activities, such as renovating worship houses, school buildings, roads, as well as developing local infrastructures to distribute power and water. (*)