Nation's three presidents share common birth month<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): What do Indonesia's three presidents -- Sukarno,
\nSoeharto and B.J. Habibie -- all have in common? They were all
\nborn in June.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's first president was born on June 6, 1901, his
\nsuccessor Soeharto was born on June 8, 1921 and Habibie was born
\n62 years ago today.<\/p>\n
However Habibie is a Cancer, while his two predecessors fall
\nunder the zodiac sign of Gemini.<\/p>\n
These are just some of the comparisons people are suddenly
\nmaking of Habibie since he replaced Soeharto as president on May
\n21.<\/p>\n
While Habibie has been in the public eye since being appointed
\nstate minister of research and technology in 1978, his ascendency
\nto power has turned life upside down for him.<\/p>\n
But the Habibie family, particularly his wife Hasri Ainun
\nBesari still tries to maintain a climate of normality.<\/p>\n
\"Pak Habibie just wants to celebrate his birthday strictly
\nwith his wife, two sons, daughters in law, and his two
\ngrandchildren,\" a palace official said yesterday when asked what
\nthe President would be doing to mark the occasion.<\/p>\n
Born in Parepare, South Sulawesi, Habibie has inherited a
\nnation on the brink of economic ruin and seen his name rubbished
\nalmost daily in street protests by people dissatisfied with his
\nrule.<\/p>\n
Whether intentionally or not, he has nevertheless maintained
\nan aura of amiability which officials say was unheard of in the
\npalace compound over the past few years.<\/p>\n
\"He acts just like he did when he was a minister. He wants his
\nold friends to come to his home as his family's guests,\" said a
\npalace official.<\/p>\n
Protocol officials have been cringing regularly as the German-
\neducated President continues to frequently break palace taboos --
\nstudents meeting the president in T-shirts, three-wheeled bajajs
\nwizzing by him during a market visit.<\/p>\n
\"Protocol is made to make my duties easier and not to make
\nthem more difficult,\" Habibie insisted.<\/p>\n
It has yet to be confimed, however, whether today he will
\nbreak his Javanese mother's tradition that he follows of fasting
\non Mondays and Thursdays. On other days he makes his own coffee
\nand cooks instant noodles at the Bina Graha presidential office.<\/p>\n
The President's main anxiety seems not about protocol, but his
\nwife, a doctor, who has kept him on a strict diet since he
\nunderwent heart surgery a few years ago.<\/p>\n
\"Sometimes he quietly approaches his adjutants' desks and
\npretends to look for something. But actually he just wants to
\ntake their food, like cassava or peanuts,\" a palace official
\nrecently confided. (prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nations-three-presidents-share-common-birth-month-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}