{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1377876,
        "msgid": "sound-bites-1447899208",
        "date": "1998-09-17 00:00:00",
        "title": "Sound bites",
        "author": null,
        "source": "JP",
        "tags": null,
        "topic": null,
        "summary": "Sound bites I sincerely hope that lawyers are able to help Soekardjo Wilardjito, the adjutant of first president Sukarno. It is indeed a sad story and I do not believe he is an opportunist for publicity, as claimed by the main protagonists. He merely wants to restore his good name in his old age. E.H. Carr, the historian, claimed that history was biased in favor of those recording the events.",
        "content": "<p>Sound bites<\/p>\n<p>I sincerely hope that lawyers are able to help Soekardjo<br>\nWilardjito, the adjutant of first president Sukarno. It is indeed<br>\na sad story and I do not believe he is an opportunist for<br>\npublicity, as claimed by the main protagonists. He merely wants<br>\nto restore his good name in his old age.<\/p>\n<p>E.H. Carr, the historian, claimed that history was biased in<br>\nfavor of those recording the events. The official New Order<br>\nversion of March 11, 1966, is that Sukarno willingly signed the<br>\nSupersemar document to transfer executive powers. Soekardjo's<br>\neyewitness account challenges this version and we should listen<br>\nto his side of the story for the following reasons.<\/p>\n<p>Firstly, Soekardjo was imprisoned without trial for 12 years<br>\nas an alleged \"communist\" and subsequently denied his pension<br>\nfrom the Armed Forces. At the age of 71, he has surely suffered<br>\nenough.<\/p>\n<p>Secondly, the historic Supersemar letter, or material<br>\nevidence, has mysteriously \"disappeared.\"<\/p>\n<p>Thirdly, the documentary footage of Sukarno's handover of<br>\npower is enlightening to the case. Sukarno, the superb linguist<br>\nand orator, is surrounded by several people. He speaks<br>\nconfidently in perfect English: \"I, Sukarno, President of the<br>\nRepublic of Indonesia, do hereby appoint... (there is a pause)...<br>\nMajor General Soeharto.\" At this point he appears to comically<br>\nfeign absent-mindedness. He looks over his shoulder domineeringly<br>\nand bellows authoritatively, \"Where is the fellow?\"<\/p>\n<p>To those who understand the subtle nuances of the English<br>\nlanguage, as Sukarno obviously did, this short news footage<br>\nspeaks volumes. It demonstrates that the hand-over was enforced<br>\nand shows his lack of respect for the \"successor\" as he spits out<br>\nthe word \"appoint.\" Furthermore, it dispels the myth that Sukarno<br>\nresigned for reasons of ill-health, as he looks strong and<br>\nhealthy for his age.<\/p>\n<p>The news footage is a classic; long may it survive as a<br>\nhistorical reminder.<\/p>\n<p>S. STEELE<\/p>\n<p>Jakarta<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sound-bites-1447899208",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}