Amirmachmud dies at 72, given hero's burial

Amirmachmud dies at 72, given hero's burial

JAKARTA (JP): Former speaker of the House of Representatives Amirmachmud, who died at the age of 72, was buried yesterday with military honors at the Kalibata Heroes' Cemetery as a reflection of his immense contribution to the nation.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. R. Hartono presided at the ceremony at Kalibata which was attended by House Speaker Wahono, a host of cabinet ministers and a number of senior military officers plus his relatives.

"The nation has lost one of its best sons," Hartono said in his brief eulogy of the deceased. There was not one person in the country who did not know of Amirmachmud and of his services and dedication to the nation, he added.

A retired Army general, Amirmachmud had an illustrious career. He took part in the independence struggle. After independence, he led various operations to put down various rebellions. The operations led to him once being nicknamed "bulldozer".

He was one of three generals that secured the executive order transferring power from President Sukarno to Gen. Soeharto in March 1966. He then served as minister of home affairs for 13 years from 1970 and then as house speaker in 1982-87.

Tributes also poured in from people who paid their last respects at Amirmachmud's house in Jl. Teuku Umar in Central Jakarta, where his body was laid out before the burial ceremony.

Among those who came to pay homage were President Soeharto, Vice President Try Sutrisno and members of virtually the entire cabinet. There were also colleagues from his military days, including Abdul Haris Nasution, Maraden Panggabean and former vice presidents Umar Wirahadikusuma and Sudharmono.

"The President expressed his deepest condolences to the relatives left behind," Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono said.

He disclosed that it was the President who decided to accord a military burial at Kalibata, unless the relatives decided otherwise, Moerdiono told reporters.

There was a brief row among the relatives on where he should be buried. His wife, Shri Hardhani Sadat Siswowijoyo, insisted that his last wish was to be buried at his home village in Cimahi, West Java, but his children from his first marriage said he should be buried in Kalibata Cemetery.

"He asked nothing of the state and the government but permission to be allowed to be buried in front of a mosque in Cimahi," Hardhani said. However, she later agreed on Kalibata.

Sudharmono praised Amirmachmud for his consistency in defending the Pancasila state ideology and the 1945 Constitution.

"He was strict in his principles and was ready to sacrifice everything for the sake of the Pancasila and Constitution."

Moerdiono said Amirmachmud was the most consistent figure in defending the nation and the state ideology.

"Amir never made mistakes when he was home minister," Umar said.

Amir was very strict with military discipline, Nasution recalled.

"We'll miss him greatly," current House Speaker Wahono said. "But that is God's will and we have to accept (his death)."

Maraden Panggabean noted that his colleagues from the days of the independence struggle were now dying of old age. "But I'm proud of them, because they have given their best to the nation. I hope their spirit of fighting is inherited by the younger generation." (rms/29)