Indonesia Independence Day 2025;
“Retreat and Climate Crisis Versus The Walls That Remain in the Submerged Village”
The series of commemorations for the Indonesian Independence Day on 17 August 2025 was carried out by the community of Timbulsloko together with a network from 16 August to 17 August 2025.
It began with a coastal community meeting discussing how residents are striving to survive and adapt to their long-submerged village, which has been affected by unequal development processes, the climate crisis, and other issues.
The residents emphasized that the primary cause of the village’s submersion was not solely due to the climate crisis, but rather the unequal management of coastal areas and infrastructure development prioritizing capital expansion, such as the Semarang-Demak Sea Wall Toll Road (Tol Tanggul Laut Semarang-Demak/TLSD), port construction, reclamation activities, and coastal industrial projects.
Coastal management prioritizing the interests of the wealthy over environmental protection and the needs of the poor has drastically altered the village’s ecosystem, deprived community from their living space, and ultimately forced the community of Timbulsloko to live amidst rising seawater levels which continue to rise each day.
A series of independence day celebrations by the community of Timbulsloko also included video mapping and theatrical performances depicting the condition of the Timbulsloko village from before the tidal flooding began until it is now submerged, as well as people’s ceremonies and various competitions organized by the community.
On Sunday, 17 August 2025, the community of Timbulsloko commemorated Independence Day amidst the long-submerged conditions of their village due to tidal flooding. The community commemorated Independence Day by holding people’s ceremony on wooden planks and on the submerged village. Despite the limitations, the residents performed the various ceremonial processes with great devotion from start to finish.
In this Timbulsloko People’s Ceremony, the residents also recited the declaration of the people’s struggle of Timbulsloko as follow:
People’s Proclamation!
“We, the community of Timbulsloko, Sayung District, Demak Regency, declare that we have the right to a decent life free from tidal flooding. All forms of actions, policies, or activities causing our village to be submerged and depriving us of our living space must be immediately halted.
With all the strength, courage, and determination we possess, we are fighting to save ourselves from the growing threat of tidal flooding. We will not surrender to the injustice which is slowly submerging our village.
We call for all efforts to restore the environment and save coastal villages to be carried out fairly, participatively, and in accordance with human values.
We reject any form of neglect, discrimination, and injustice toward coastal communities.
Timbulsloko, Demak, Central Java, 17 August 2025
On behalf of the Community of Timbulsloko
Contact Person:
Masnuah, Secretary General of PPNI and KIARA