To mark Indonesia’s 80th Independence Day, a public discussion titled “80 Years of Freedom: Time to Speak Up, Be Brave to Fight Corruption” was held on Sunday, August 17, 2025, at the AVI Gesuri Room, Proclamation Library of Bung Karno in Blitar City.
The event took place from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM and became a powerful forum where academics, activists, librarians, and anti-corruption campaigners exchanged ideas about one of the nation’s most urgent issues: corruption.
The discussion was organized in collaboration with the Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), MissJune Cultural Center, and the Proclamation Library of Bung Karno.
Speakers included Abdullah Dahlan, a political corruption researcher formerly with Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW); M. Ridwan Affan, an expert counselor from the KPK; Juni Rachmawati, founder of the Free School for Street Children under the Pijar Untuk Negeri Foundation; and Budi Kastowo, a librarian from the Bung Karno Library.
The session was moderated by senior librarian Indrawan Gambiro. Also present was Ahmad Fahrizal Aziz, co-founder of Insight Blitar and literacy activist, who highlighted the importance of the event as an inspiration for the younger generation.
Each speaker brought unique perspectives that captivated the audience. Abdullah Dahlan explained how political corruption in Indonesia has grown more sophisticated, citing high-profile cases such as former parliament speaker Setya Novanto and ex-Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL).
According to him, corruption today is not only about budget manipulation but also involves political networks, regulations, and even technological tools. M. Ridwan Affan from KPK emphasized that fighting corruption requires collective effort. It cannot be left solely to state institutions; society must play its part.
“Anti-corruption culture must start at home, in schools, and in everyday life, not only in government offices,” he said firmly.
Juni Rachmawati offered a deeply human angle. She shared her experience running a free school for street children and described how corruption directly hurts vulnerable communities.
“Corruption is not just about the political elite. It’s about how poor children lose their right to education, food, and a brighter future because public funds are stolen,” she told the audience.
Meanwhile, librarian Budi Kastowo connected the theme to the thoughts of Bung Karno, Indonesia’s founding father. He reminded participants of Sukarno’s emphasis on social justice and independence from oppression, linking it to today’s struggle to free the nation from corruption.
One of the most touching moments was the screening of a short documentary by June Levesque of MissJune Cultural Center. The video depicted her struggle to maintain a small business in the face of pressure from global capitalist giants, offering a metaphor for how ordinary people fight against structural injustice.
The cultural dimension was further enriched with poetry readings by the community group Suara Sastra, which brought emotional weight and artistic beauty to the serious discussion.
The timing of the event, held on Indonesia’s Independence Day, made the atmosphere particularly meaningful. Participants reflected not only on past struggles for political freedom but also on the urgent need to achieve freedom from corruption.
The discussion was marked by an engaging exchange between speakers and audience members, who posed critical questions and contributed their own insights.
Ahmad Fahrizal Aziz of Insight Blitar praised the event, calling it a vital space for clarity and education.
“In an era when information is often biased or manipulated, we need forums like this to remind us of the truth. Corruption has been a long-standing disease of this nation. I hope events like this will continue to enlighten and empower young people,” he said.
As the three-hour session came to a close, participants united in the belief that corruption must be fought at every level of society.
Whether through research, activism, education, or cultural expression, everyone has a role to play. From Blitar, the city that holds the legacy of Bung Karno, the call was clear: true independence can only be achieved when the people are free not just from colonialism, but also from the chains of corruption.
The message resonated deeply, eighty years after independence, Indonesia’s real struggle is to ensure justice, integrity, and dignity for all. And in Blitar, that struggle continues with voices determined to keep the spirit of freedom alive.
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