Blitar set for anniversary of Sukarno's death<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The presence of first president Sukarno was felt
\non Sunday in the East Java town of Blitar, where he was buried 31
\nyears ago.<\/p>\n
Banners painted with Sukarno's most memorable words, such as
\n\"Put your dreams high in the sky\", \"I entrust this country and
\nnation to you\", were seen at the three entry points to the town.<\/p>\n
Huge pictures of Sukarno stood at three places that will be
\nthe centers of Wednesday's celebration: his ancestral family home
\non Jl. Sultan Agung, known as Rumah Gebang, his grave on Jl.
\nSlamet Riyadi and the town square<\/p>\n
Hundreds of thousands of Sukarno's admirers are expected to
\nflock the three places, where they will pay homage to the
\nfounding president, who died in disgrace on June 20, 1970.<\/p>\n
Sukarno, who proclaimed Indonesia's independence on Aug. 17,
\n1945 with Mohammad Hatta, was forced to step down following an
\nupheaval in 1965.<\/p>\n
A committee member, Ruhadi, told Antara on Sunday Yusuf
\nHasyim, who runs the renowned Tebu Ireng Islamic boarding school
\nin Jombang, will lead the prayers at Rumah Gebang.<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman Wahid, who is also Yusuf's nephew, and
\none of Sukarno's daughters, Rachmawati Soekarnoputri, will attend
\nthe gathering at Blitar square, which will cap the huge
\ncommemoration. Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Sukarno's
\neldest daughter, has yet to confirm her participation, although
\nin the past she usually joined the event.<\/p>\n
Ambassadors of Yugoslavia, India, Cuba, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
\nand Egypt are also expected to attend the gathering. Sukarno and
\nleaders of those countries declared the Non-Aligned Movement in
\n1956.<\/p>\n
Also invited to the event are ambassadors of the Association
\nof Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries, Cabinet
\nministers, leaders of the House of Representatives and People's
\nConsultative Assembly and other VIPs.<\/p>\n
This year's commemoration of Sukarno's death coincides with
\nthe centennial celebration of his birth anniversary, which took
\nplace on June 6.<\/p>\n
Antara reported that 25,000 people visited Sukarno's tomb
\nevery day over the past week. The local government last month
\nopened the glass wall that surrounds the grave.<\/p>\n
The dramatic increase in the number of visitors has also been
\nseen in Rumah Gebang, with an estimated 5,000 people registered
\nevery day over the last two weeks.<\/p>\n
A huge stage is being built at the town square, where a mass
\nprayer and a religious musical performance will be held.<\/p>\n
Separately, Blitar Police deputy chief Comr. Boediono said 900
\nofficers would be deployed to maintain peace and order during
\nWednesday's celebration.<\/p>\n
The organizing committee has also asked state oil company
\nPertamina for additional fuel supplies for fear of disturbance
\nresulting from the government's decision to raise fuel prices.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/blitar-set-for-anniversary-of-sukarnos-death-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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