Jakarta, IO – Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto attended the scholarship awarding ceremony for Palestinian students at the Defense Ministry, Jakarta, Wednesday (8/11).
“Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I, Prabowo Subianto, Minister of Defense on behalf of the Republic of Indonesia today, Wednesday, 8 November 2023, at 09:15 WIB received 22 Palestinian students to enrol in Indonesian language courses and undergraduate education at the Indonesian Defense University (Unhan) for five years. And I hereby convey that I have accepted the responsibility for their education and development from the Palestinian Ambassador,” said Prabowo.
“They will undertake several study programs. There are four in (combat) medicine. Two in pharmacy. Some in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and informatics,” elaborated Prabowo.
“And this is just the first stage, we are preparing for the coming years and according to their (Palestine’s) requests, we are ready to increase the number of scholarships,” he added.
Prabowo reiterated that providing this scholarship is part of the commitment of the Indonesian government and the Indonesian people to support the Palestinian struggle in their efforts to gain independence.
“We understand and comprehend the situation of the Palestinian struggle. The Palestinian people have been oppressed and colonized for decades. We will continue to support them until the Palestinian people achieve their independence,” he stressed.
The event marked the fulfilment of Prabowo’s promise to provide full scholarships to dozens of Palestinian students to study at Unhan.
On the same occasion, Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia, Zuhair Al-Shun, expressed his gratitude and appreciation to Prabowo and the Indonesian government.
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“We would like to express our highest respect to Mr. President Jokowi and also Mr. Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto, and also to the Indonesian people who have supported the Palestinian people, especially in Gaza,” Zuhair said.
“This is proof that the Palestinian people and children will see the Palestinian independence. An independent country that will embrace democracy and achieve full independence,” he said.
Also in attendance were special assistant to the Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, secretary general of the Ministry of Defense Air Marshal Donny Ermawan, Unhan rector Lt. Gen. Jonni Mahroza, as well as a number of top officials from the Indonesian Ministry of Defense and Unhan.