Dignitaries gather to mourn Rahmi Hatta<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Rahmi Hatta, the widow of Indonesia's first vice
\npresident Mohammad Hatta, died on Tuesday morning at 73 after a
\ntwo-week hospitalization for heart problems at Cipto Mangunkusumo
\nGeneral Hospital in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Her attending specialist, Nurhay Abdurrahman, said Rahmi
\nsuffered from an acute cardiac condition and would not have
\nsurvived surgery.<\/p>\n
President B.J. Habibie and First Lady Hasri Ainun Habibie were
\namong the mourners who paid last respects to the woman who shared
\nHatta's struggle in leading the fledgling republic following
\nindependence.<\/p>\n
Sukarno, who later became the first president, and Hatta
\ndeclared independence in Jakarta on Aug. 17, 1945.<\/p>\n
Born in Bandung, West Java, on Feb. 16, 1926, Rahmi is
\nsurvived by daughters Meutia, Gemala and Halida and four
\ngrandchildren.<\/p>\n
She lay in state on Tuesday at her residence on Jl.
\nDiponegoro, Central Jakarta, with burial scheduled for Wednesday
\nmorning at Tanah Kusir Public Cemetery in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Two children of Sukarno, politician Megawati Soekarnoputri and
\nher brother Guntur Soekarnoputra, were among mourners at Rahmi's
\nresidence. Other visitors included Minister of Social Services
\nJustika Baharsjah, State Minister of Land Affairs Hasan Basri
\nDurin, senior economist Sumitro Djojohadikusumo, political
\nscientist Miriam Budiardjo, Catholic leader Julius Cardinal
\nDarmaatmadja and former Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin.<\/p>\n
Sukarno introduced Rahmi to Hatta when she was 17. They were
\nmarried in Megamendung in Bogor, West Jakarta, on Nov. 18, 1945.<\/p>\n
Rahmi's son-in-law Sri Edi Swasono, who is married to Meutia,
\nsaid Rahmi wanted to be buried under the pendopo, a Javanese
\nstructure. According to a presidential decree issued by Soeharto,
\nRahmi is entitled to be buried on the right-hand side of Hatta's
\ngrave at Tanah Kusir Public Cemetery.<\/p>\n
Rahmi declined, however, because she said the space was too
\nnarrow and would cause difficulty for visitors to the grave.<\/p>\n
Hatta died in Jakarta on March 14, 1980.<\/p>\n
Burial<\/p>\n
Edi said Rahmi's burial was deferred until Wednesday, contrary
\nto Islamic tenets for interment shortly after death, to allow for
\nHalida's return from the United States.<\/p>\n
He recounted that Rahmi appealed to Habibie to maintain
\nnational unity when the President and Ainun visited her on April
\n6.<\/p>\n
Of Acehnese descent, Rahmi expressed surprise when Habibie had
\nthe courage to visit the troubled province in March.<\/p>\n
Muslim leader Abdurrahman Wahid, who paid his respects to
\nRahmi shortly after her death was disclosed, said he felt deep
\nsorrow at the loss of a great figure and close friend.<\/p>\n
\"We were close although we did not have many discussions,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Julius Cardinal Darmaatmadja described Rahmi as an
\nextraordinary figure who played a noble role in accompanying
\nHatta after independence.<\/p>\n
\"Rahmi was one of main witnesses to the nation's history,
\nespecially the early years after independence. She contributed a
\nlot to the nation's struggle, and she set a good example for the
\nyounger generations,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Anhar Gonggong, director of history at the Ministry of
\nEducation and Culture, shared the cardinal's opinion. He praised
\nRahmi's discretion despite being privy to secrets as the wife of
\na statesman.<\/p>\n
\"She knew many things, including reasons why Hatta had once
\nwanted to resign,\" he said. (01\/edt\/rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dignitaries-gather-to-mourn-rahmi-hatta-1447893297",
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