Heaptalk, Jakarta — The National Border Management Agency (BNPP), in collaboration with the National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia (ANRI), inaugurated the Border Archive Gallery at the Entikong Border Crossing Post (PLBN) in West Kalimantan on Wednesday (09/25).
The inauguration of the Border Archive Gallery was carried out by Acting Secretary of BNPP, Inspector General of Police Makhruzi Rahman, along with the Deputy for Rescue, Preservation, and Protection at ANRI, Dr. Kandar, marked symbolically by the cutting of the inauguration ribbon.
On behalf of the Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, who serves as the Head of BNPP, Makhruzi stated that the Border Archive Gallery was established as a follow-up to the Cooperation Agreement between BNPP and ANRI, outlined in documents numbered HKM.36.00/1483/IX/2024 and KE.00/111/2024, signed on September 17, 2024. “This cooperation includes the management of border archives, the development of the Archive Gallery at PLBN, the organization of archives within BNPP, and other agreed-upon collaborative activities,” Makhruzi explained.
Makhruzi further elaborated that the Border Archive Gallery features archival documents and audiovisual materials showcasing national heroes from the Kalimantan region and the history of the island of Kalimantan, reflecting the values of the nation’s struggles. “This collaboration aims to comprehensively present the historical journey of Indonesia in border areas, with diorama displays depicting the existence and integrity of the Republic of Indonesia,” he said.
The essence of this gallery is the agreement between BNPP and ANRI to concretely implement efforts to preserve, protect, and safeguard Indonesia’s archival memory, ensuring it is well-managed and immortalized in the border regions. “In the future, border crossers can take a moment, while waiting for immigration checks and services, to visit this archive gallery,” he added. Makhruzi hopes that in addition to serving as an archive storage facility, the gallery will also function as a source of information, education, and entertainment and help foster public awareness of the importance of Indonesia’s historical archives.
Meanwhile, representing the Head of ANRI, Deputy for Rescue, Preservation, and Protection, Dr. Kandar, expressed gratitude to Minister Tito as the Head of BNPP for the positive response and support in realizing the gallery at PLBN Entikong. “This collaboration on the archive gallery aims to disseminate the information contained in the archives and raise historical awareness and nationalism, especially for those crossing the border and the people in the border areas,” Kandar concluded.
He also explained that this gallery is the second of its kind, following establishing a similar gallery at PLBN Skouw, reflecting the Indonesian government’s full attention to accelerating development in border areas. “Through the launch of the second Border Archive Gallery at PLBN Entikong, it is hoped to complement the government’s physical development efforts with non-physical ones, such as information and education, through the role of archives as the collective memory of the nation that must be preserved,” Kandar concluded.
