Indonesians mourn Diana's death<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government and public joined the world
\ncommunity yesterday in mourning the death of Diana, Princess of
\nWales.<\/p>\n
\"We are saddened by the news and send our condolences to the
\nbereaved family,\" foreign ministry spokesman Gaffar Fadyl said
\nyesterday on behalf of Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas.<\/p>\n
Shock and regret were expressed by many Indonesians, including
\nthose who met Diana during her visit with Prince Charles to
\nJakarta and Yogyakarta in November 1989.<\/p>\n
Mrs. Muso, in her 80s, who was Diana's guide during her visit
\nto Yogyakarta: \"How could the life of such a lovely princess be
\nso short. One of my unforgettable memories is when she asked me
\nif the 10 dancers were actually mannequins because of their
\nbeauty.<\/p>\n
Fitri, 15, student: \"What a tragic death! I don't know much
\nabout her, but she looked very nice and had beautiful blue eyes.
\nShe also paid great attention to children all over the world. I
\nfeel sorry for her two boys because they are very young and
\nnaturally still need their mother.\"<\/p>\n
Ghea Sukarya Panggabean, a fashion designer and one of 12
\nIndonesian women invited to a lunch for Princess Diana during her
\nvisit here: \"I am deeply grieved at her death and I really miss
\nher. Princess Di is an unforgettable figure to me. Although I
\nonly met her once at the lunch, I was deeply impressed by her
\npersonality as a woman, mother and princess. She was spontaneous
\nand acted the way she really was. She had a troubled life but
\nsomehow she managed to overcome the sorrow. She had such a strong
\nwill. Sadly, she died the way she lived, encircled by the
\npaparazzi. She just did not have a moment of her own.\"<\/p>\n
Astari Harun Alrasjid, an artist, who also attended the lunch
\nfor Diana: \"It is tragic. I'm very sorry. She was very human. I
\ndropped my bag when I stood up after the lunch and Diana picked
\nit up for me. Imagine, a princess doing that for me! She allowed
\nus to take photographs with her although the embassy staff had
\nforbidden it. She had such a simple attitude and she was
\nunpretentious. Unfortunately, she could not get by in her life.\"<\/p>\n
Broto Wasisto, an expert staff member at the Ministry of
\nHealth who accompanied Diana on her visit to the Sitanala
\nleprosarium in Tangerang: \"I feel very sorry at hearing the news
\nand I miss her. She was famous for her initiative to eradicate
\nthe stigma about leprosy. When she visited the Sitanala
\nleprosarium, she sent a message to everyone that people should
\nnot be afraid of lepers. You know, she just sat on the lepers'
\nbeds and shook their hands.\"<\/p>\n
Bill Saragih, a noted jazz musician: \"I was in shock and could
\nnot believe the news. I admit that I cried. She had a kind of an
\ninner beauty which was hard to find in other famous women in the
\nworld. She belonged to the whole world, not just Britain. She
\ndidn't deserve to die that way, but there is nothing we can do.<\/p>\n
Darwis Triadi, a professional photographer: \"She was the most
\npowerful public relations officer for the British government.
\nThat is why the paparazzi always ran after her. Our culture is
\ndifferent. Local photographers might hunger for gossip on public
\nfigures but they would never harass the people -- especially if
\nhe or she has high or royal status like Diana -- like the British
\npaparazzi do. I think she was a rare type of woman, loved and
\nhonored by many.\"<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, British Ambassador D.R.C. Christopher could not be
\nreached for comment yesterday evening.<\/p>\n
An embassy source said the ambassador was on a trip to West
\nJava and was scheduled to return today.<\/p>\n
A duty officer at the embassy who asked not to be named said:
\n\"We don't have any comment at the moment because it's still in a
\nvery early stage. We'll issue an official statement soon.\"
\n(09\/cst\/22\/ste\/bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesians-mourn-dianas-death-1447893297",
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