JAYAPURA - As many as 1,500 residents of Jayapura City and its surroundings participated in enlivening a fun walk organized by the Papua Provincial Government in collaboration with Bank Indonesia and related stakeholders, in commemoration of the 78^th of Indonesian Independence Day, Saturday (5/8/2023) morning.

The fun walk takes the starting point at Trisila Lantamal X Hamadi Field, heading to Jl. Kelapa Dua, and finishing at PTC Entrop, Jayapura City, where the day before became the venue for the Coffee Festival.

Head of the Committee for the 78th Anniversary of Indonesian Independence, Suzana Wanggai appreciated the public interest which this year was crowded with the fun walk event. The number of participants boomed 50 percent of the target so the committee was overwhelmed in distributing door prize coupons.

"An estimated 1,000 people participated, but those who came were over 1,500. So this is extraordinary. We really appreciate the people who came to enliven this independence event".

"Therefore, I appreciate and express my gratitude to all parties who have attended to enliven it, including sponsors who participated in supporting this event," explained Suzana.

In the future, Suzana added, the Papua Provincial Government will hold a fun bike event in the framework of the Indonesian Independence Day. This activity is planned to start from Lukas Enembe Stadium, Jayapura Regency and finish at the Autonomous Office, Kotaraja, Jayapura City.

"But we are setting a date. There will also be an agenda for men's and women's friendly football matches between Indonesia Selection and teams from neighboring PNG. The match will be at Lukas Enembe Stadium on August 18."

"Here let me invite the residents of Jayapura and surrounding areas to watch with IDR 100,000 for entrance tickets that will be used for the maintenance of the Papua Bangkit Stadium venue," she said.

One of the fun walk participants, Elfira Kurniawan, welcomed the independence agenda. Because apart from being a friendly event between fun walk participants consisting of the community, civil servants, the National Armed and Police Force, private sector, it is also a form of love for the Republic of Indonesia.

"We are here to celebrate the Indonesian Independence Day, we also can meet friends and family from other institutions here. We are here to be healthy and fit and also want to get door prizes," said Elfira shyly, who despite bagging five door prize coupons but had to go home with nothing. ***