Russia and Indonesia Redecorate The S-79 Pasopati Submarine Monument In Surabaya
Russian and Indonesian officials redecorated the S-79 Pasopati Submarine Memorial at the Submarine Monument (Monkasel) in Surabaya, East Java as a form of bilateral greeting.
A commemorative plaque was placed on the Soviet-built Pasopati Submarine on Monday in the presence of top military officials from Moscow and Jakarta along with Russian diplomats.
The Russian Embassy in Indonesia reported that the ceremony began with the sound of the Indonesian and Russian national anthems.
Also present at the event were Chief of Naval Staff (KASAL) Admiral TNI Muhammad Ali, Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Lyudmila Vorobieva, and Deputy Commander in Chief of the Russian Navy Igor Mukhametshin.
They gathered around the “S-79 Pasopati” - a Soviet-made submarine, which is now a memorial to Indonesia's struggle for independence.
The plaque that was installed reads in three languages, namely Russian, English and Indonesian which reads, "In the memory of friendly relations between Indonesia and Russia in the struggle for the territorial integrity of the Republic of Indonesia."
The Pasopati submarine is one of 12 Indonesian Navy submarines given by the Soviet Union to Indonesia in 1962 when this nation was struggling to get rid of Dutch colonial rule and fight against extremist and separatist groups in various regions.
The ship was used by the Republic of Indonesia Navy to transport weapons and Marine troops to West Irian Province in 1962.
Subsequently the submarine was dismantled in 1994 and reassembled as a memorial near the central mall in Surabaya.
While the site is quite popular with locals and tourists alike, the Soviet-origin submarine is only mentioned briefly by tour guides, with no official signage anywhere in the vicinity.
According to Vorobieva, the fact that the ceremony was held on June 12 is a privilege for Moscow.
"It is important that this happens on Russia Day and becomes another symbol of the strong ties, friendship and cooperation that bind our two countries," he said.
It is very important that in the current difficult geopolitical conditions, our Indonesian friends do not seek to rewrite history.
But instead remember those events, remember how our country helped Indonesia to ensure independence, gain territorial integrity and build Indonesian statehood, he continued.
In the 1950s and 60s, the Soviet Union provided Indonesia with a great deal of military assistance, including several naval warships, oil tankers, fighter planes and bombers, and assisted the nation in its struggle for independence from the Dutch colonialists, as well as in its struggle for independence.
Against separatists and extremist groups in areas such as Sulawesi and Sumatra.
Despite pressure from the West. Indonesia has opted for an independent policy on the Ukraine issue.
Refusing to impose economic sanctions on Moscow or severing ties with Russia.
As well as rejecting Western attempts to exclude Russia from the G20 when Indonesia becomes Chair in 2022.
