ABRI to accept city's decision on Blok P

JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) will not interfere in the Jakarta administration's plan to relocate the Blok P public cemetery, especially the remains of Ade Irma Suryani Nasution.

Spokesman Brig. Gen. A. Wahab Mokodongan said yesterday that the Armed Forces headquarters "will support the planned relocation if the Jakarta administration considers it to be the best decision".

However, he suggested that the city administration first consult the people about whether it had their support.

Wahab said ABRI would share its opinion about the grave relocation of Ade, a national hero, with the administration but he insisted that he could not disclose it publicly.

The one-star general was referring to the controversy surrounding relocation of the remains of Ade, the youngest daughter of former House speaker and respected senior military member Gen. (ret.) Abdul Haris Nasution.

The girl was shot dead by rebel members of the presidential guard corps (Cakrabirawa) in the early hours of Oct. 1, 1965. She was five years old at the time. The title of national hero was later bestowed upon her.

Members of the presidential guard corps were believed to have been involved in an abortive coup attempt blamed on the outlawed Indonesian Communist (not Democratic as mistakenly mentioned in yesterday's report) Party.

The girl's body was one of 4,626 buried at the Blok P cemetery.

Despite objections from city councilors, the Jakarta administration has started relocating the remains -- including 3,724 Moslems and 902 Christians -- to two public cemeteries also in South Jakarta to make way for the construction of the mayoralty's new office.

On Thursday, Ade's mother, Johana Sunarti Nasution, condemned the plan.

"Does not the Jakarta administration pay any respect to history anymore?"

Earlier, the government offered to bury Ade at the Kalibata National Hero Cemetery in South Jakarta. But Nasution rejected the offer because she wanted Ade buried at a public cemetery to maintain her closeness with the people.

According to a member of staff at Nasution's residence, a meeting with the family and city officers was scheduled for early next week to further discuss the relocation plan at the request of Governor Surjadi Soedirdja.

On Wednesday, Gen. (ret) Abdul Haris Nasution visited Ade's grave and prayed for his daughter. The following day, a number of city councilors followed his move and prayed for the girl.

Councilors urged the administration not to relocate Ade's remains but build a monument for her at the grave. The monument could be incorporated in the planned South Jakarta mayoralty office, they said.

In another related development yesterday, Aji Achmad, head of the city's Order and Illumination Subdivision Agency said that the relocation of remains at the cemetery had actually begun in 1975 when the administration started rejuvenating the land as part of the city's property.

Since then, some 1,600 graves have been moved to other cemeteries, such as Tanah Kusir and Srengseng Sawah, both in South Jakarta, he said.

"Actually the plot of Blok P cemetery was planned years ago to become open land so the city can meet its needs to build public service facilities," Aji said.

He said he was surprised when the plan became a controversial issue.

"It's been going on for years and, of course, the administration always notifies any related party or family involved," he said. "I hope that the matter (of Ade Irma's grave) will be discussed and solved properly."

Even in 1977, the remains of Indonesian heroes -- such as Arief Rachman Hakim, Hendrik Edward Lontoh, Rene Louis Comrad, Ichwan Ridwan Rais and Nur Qomar -- were removed from the cemetery, he said.

According to a tentative schedule, the bodies of former South Jakarta mayors, Mohammad Kahfi and HME. Rasma, will be relocated tomorrow, he said.

"I don't see why the press is making such a big fuss about this relocation. I think it has to be explained clearly so there's no misunderstanding."

When the removal is completed, construction of the Rp 54.8 billion ($20.67 million) office will start. It is expected to be completed by 2001.

The project includes a 16-story building for the mayoralty's main office and two four-story buildings for public services.

Separately, the head of the city's Arrangement and Renovation Agency, M. Pasaribu, said yesterday that the old mayoralty office was no longer safe.

"Some parts of the buildings are too old. It is not suitable anymore. Moreover, the office needs a bigger parking lot and more land," he said.

The current South Jakarta mayoralty office on Jl. Trunojoyo will be torn down and used for other city offices, he said. (imn/07/bsr)