President Joko Widodo commenced the opening of Indonesian Scout Movement national gathering dubbed the “XI National Raimuna” on Monday, 14 August 2017 in the Cibubur Scout Campgrounds, Jakarta. The Indonesian Scouts Movement from the Papua Chapter was able to shine in front of the President, First Lady, several Cabinet Ministers, Indonesian Armed Forces Chief and Police Chief. The Papua Scouts was in the front line receiving President Widodo with their traditional Papuan dances and “stepping the plates” ceremony.
During the height of the event, Rupeka Anita Aruman, a delegate of the scout gathering from Yahukimo, Papua was asked to perform her skills in knitting traditional Papuan bag known as “noken” in front of the President, members of the entourage and guests. According to the Papua Scout Chapter this was their vision to introduce and popularize “noken” to national and international audiences. “I am ready. I have already brought the materials to knit the noken” said Rupeka Anita Aruman speaking with the Head of the Papua Scout Chapter Ita Mano in the Cibubur Scout Campground.
Speaking in unison, the Head of the Papua Scout Chapter Yahukimo branch, Tanthy Muridha admitted she is proud for the opportunity and trust that was given to the Papua Scout Chapter Yahukimo branch during the receiving opening ceremony as well as knitting the noken in front of the President. “This is a good opportunity for us, we as scouts will always be ready” according to Tanthy Muridha.
Later on, the Chairman of the Papua Scout Chapter, Kristin Mano had the honor of putting noken on President Jokowi. While Carolus Bolly as Vice Chairman of the Papua Scout Chapter put noken on the First Lady Iriani Joko Widodo.
Chairman of Papua Scout Chapter Kristina Mano received the jasmine badge award from the National Scout Movement. The submission of the jasmine badge was made by the Indonesian National Scout Movement Chairman Adhiyaksa Dault after the opening ceremony.
Vice Chairman of the Papua Scout Chapter, Carolus Bolly said, the jasmine badge award is a manifestation of the efforts of the Chairman of Papua Scout Movement in building the Scout movement in Papua.
“Surely this award is very remarkable for us all, although pinned to the Chairman of Papua Scout Chapter but also a tribute to the entire family of the Papua Scout movement,” said Carolus Bolly.
The Indonesia national scouts gathering “Raimuna” is held every five years in the form of large camps in Indonesia organized by the Indonesian Scout Movement. Raimuna gathering is organized from the sub-district level to the national level.
The word Raimuna comes from Ambai, East Yapen, Yapen Islands, Papua. The word Raimuna is a combination of two words namely “Rai” and “Muna”. “Rai” means a group of people who gather to achieve certain goals set together. While “Muna” is the power of a person’s soul that is influential both in achieving success. Raimuna has the meaning of a group of people who live in a force imbued by a power that always gives high spirits in achieving goals.
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