VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Ende City, on the island of Flores, East Nusa Tenggara-NTT is where Soekarno, Indonesia’s first President, was banished by the Dutch colonial government for four years. Soekarno arrived in Ende in February 1934 on board Jan van Riebeeck and left the city in February 1938 using De Klerk , a ship belonging to KPM to Surabaya.

Flores itself is a small island in Soenda Kecil periphery, which only attracted the attention of the Dutch East Indies government in the early second decade of the 20th century. Thus Ende was intended as a place that could isolate Sukarno, keep him from his political activities, and from his comrades in Java. His presence in this small town and his good relationship with Catholic missionaries to some extent has brought the history of Indonesia's independence movement into the history of the island's Catholic church. On the contrary, the presence of a national figure with an unrivaled reputation at that time has brought Ende, Flores, and Church history on the island into small chapters or footnotes in Indonesia's national history.

In addition to historical reasons, according to the Head of the NTT Tourism Office, Marius Ardu Jelamu, the facts that June 1 is the birthday of Pancasila, June 6, the day of Soekarno's birth and June 21, the day of Sukarno's death, are why the month of June is set as the month of Soekarno. He explained a number of collective activities between agencies will be held during the month of Soekarno in Ende. Starting from tree planting, trivia contest, wage and anti-narcotics socialization, tracking race to anti-drug activists training.

Besides, the East Nusa Tenggara Provincial Tourism Office (NTT), in collaboration with the Ende Regency government are also holding two activities in May and June 2018. Namely, the National Charm Parade and Soekarno Month Festivals. The Parade was, held on 20-31 May 2018 and the peak was on June 1, 2018. While Soekarno Month is being held from 1-21 June 2018.

The Soekarno Month series of activities in Ende further highlight the nuances of national tourism, especially on the history of the life of Soekarno during his exile in Ende. Head of Tourism Office of East Nusa Tenggara Marius Ardu Jelamu explains, Soekarno Month held from 1-21 June 2018 wants to reflect Bung Karno’s journey as who proclaimed and unearthed Pancasila , the national philosophy and ideolody. This is displayed in the form of a diorama scene of Indonesia's first president journey during his exile in Ende in 1934-1938.

Soekarno Month is also colored with various tourism activities that have begun May 24 with he archipelago intercultural performance e and interethnic choir competition. There is also a photography completion, cultural expo, sailboat race, tracking on Meja Mountain, fun cycling around the city of Ende and surrounding tourist destinations.

Marius added that Soekarno Month festival is held annually in Ende especially in June since this activity was declared in 2016.