Jakarta, Aug. 12 -- A total of 16 thousand guests have been invited to join the Seconds to the Independence Proclamation ceremony and the flag-lowering ceremony at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta.

Eight thousand invitees will attend the proclamation ceremony in the morning, and another eight thousand will take part in the flag-lowering ceremony in the afternoon, Minister of State Secretary, Prasetyo Hadi, informed.

"Eight thousand in the morning, eight thousand in the afternoon - and the public is very enthusiastic to attend," he said at the Presidential Palace Complex here on Tuesday.

He added that the invitations have been reserved as per the available capacity, and expressed his apologies for the limited space.

"Many people want to attend ...