National figures pay tribute to economics guru Sumitro<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A long list of the country's dignitaries paid
\ntribute and saw off Indonesia's economic guru Sumitro
\nDjojohadikusumo to his final resting place on Friday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Sumitro, 84, died peacefully at Dharma Nugraha Hospital in
\nRawamangun, East Jakarta, at 00:02 a.m. He had been treated there
\nfor sometime over a heart problem.<\/p>\n
He was laid to rest in the afternoon at Karet Tengsin public
\ncemetery in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Affectionately called Pak Cum by his colleagues, he is
\nsurvived by his wife Dora Djojohadikusomo and four children:
\nBiantinigsih, who is married to former Bank Indonesia Governor
\nSudradjad Djiwandono; Marjani Ekowati Le' Maistre, Prabowo
\nSubianto who was married to former president Soeharto's daughter
\nSiti Hediyati and Hashim Sujono Djojohadikusumo.<\/p>\n
In an occasion befitting a national hero, the family's house
\nin Pondok Indah, South Jakarta was inundated with national
\nfigures.<\/p>\n
Many forgot their own political bickering for a few brief
\nmoments to pay homage.<\/p>\n
Among those present were President Abdurrahman Wahid, People's
\nConsultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais, House of
\nRepresentatives speaker Akbar Tandjung, the Minister of National
\nEducation Yahya Muhaimin, the Minister of Defense Mahfud M.D.<\/p>\n
Also seen were close relatives and associates of the family
\nsuch as former vice president Try Sutrisno, and former ministers
\nSoebroto, Emil Salim, Fuad Hasan, and Ali Alatas, and Bank
\nIndonesia governor Sjahril Sabirin.<\/p>\n
\"He was a great man,\" the President said.<\/p>\n
\"He was a savior of this nation during difficult times and we
\nmourn this loss,\" he added.<\/p>\n
No less gracious in his praise was Amien Rais who described
\nSumitro as \"a brilliant economist and thinker.\"<\/p>\n
\"This nation was very lucky to have him,\" Amien remarked.<\/p>\n
Former Mines and Energy Minister Subroto lauded Sumitro for
\nhis consistent conviction for a socialist economy who, despite
\nthe odds, not only survived but thrived.<\/p>\n
\"He was a fighter who never backed down from any situation. He
\nalways managed to survive in difficult situations during his time
\nas a statesman, a politician, an economist, a businessman and as
\na father,\" Subroto said.<\/p>\n
Try Sutrisno highlighted his deep passion and love for the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
\"He had this great passion about Indonesia, but unfortunately
\npart of his dream and concept about an economy for the people was
\nnever achieved,\" Try said.<\/p>\n
Before being taken to the cemetery, his family accorded
\nSumitro with a traditional Javanese blobosan ceremony, in which
\nmembers of his family walked under the coffin, including Prabowo,
\nhis wife and their son Ragowo Hedi Prasetyo.<\/p>\n
Mourning<\/p>\n
The loss of Sumitro was obviously very hard on the family.<\/p>\n
\"I cannot explain my feelings right now. I wished to do so
\nmany things in life to make him proud of me. He is my mentor and
\nhe taught me so many things,\" Prabowo said.<\/p>\n
\"I was just getting my life back together again because of
\nhim. Papi always had confidence in me,\" Prabowo whispered with
\ntears in his eyes.<\/p>\n
Close relatives recalled his habit of calling his
\ngrandchildren \"princes\" and \"princesses\".<\/p>\n
\"We used to call him Caesar,\" said one of Sumitro's relatives,
\nreferring to the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar.<\/p>\n
The funeral procession commenced after Friday prayers. The
\nline of accompanying cars to the cemetery was over one-kilometer
\nlong.<\/p>\n
Officially representing the government were Coordinating
\nMinister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo
\nBambang Yudhoyono and Coordinating Minister for the Economy Rizal
\nRamli.<\/p>\n
\"Throughout his life, Pak Sumitro was someone who held strong
\ndiscipline and was productive. More than 130 books and papers
\nhave been written by him,\" Rizal said during a brief eulogy.<\/p>\n
\"As a bureaucrat, Pak Sumitro also dedicated himself to two
\nadministrations, one under Sukarno and the other under Soeharto.
\nNo one will doubt his services,\" Rizal said.<\/p>\n
Prabowo in his parting words at the funeral expressed hope
\nthat the nation will remember his father's guidance in life, \"to
\nmaintain a concept of the economy for the people and to preserve
\nthe unity of this state.\" (edt\/02)<\/p>",
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