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Joko Widodo inaugurated as president of Indonesia, calls for maritime prosperity

"The time for us is to return to make Indonesia a maritime nation ... to be as great in the oceans as our ancestors were in the past," said Joko Widodo.

By Matt Bradwell

JAKARTA, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Joko Widodo, a slum-born "man of the people," was inaugurated president of Indonesia Monday, marking the first time a non-military member or someone from Indonesia's political elite was elected to the nation's highest office.

Sworn in on the Koran, Joko, 53, was joined by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot, among other foreign dignitaries.

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"This is a truly historic moment for all of us to be able to work together, and to work and work and work," Joko declared, calling for "fishermen, workers, farmers, bakso [meatball] sellers and street vendors, professionals, scholars, the military, police, businessmen" to rise to the challenge of re-establishing Indonesia as a major maritime economic leader.

"Jales Veva Jaya Mahe," Joko shouted to cheers, which translates to "In the water, we are triumphant," the official motto of the Indonesian navy.

"The time for us is to return to make Indonesia a maritime nation ... to be as great in the oceans as our ancestors were in the past ... As captain of the ship I would like to call everyone to come aboard the ship of Indonesia and to say to them we will sail and we will will face all storms and waves based on our strengths."

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