Aug. 17 celebration at palace marred by rally

Aug. 17 celebration at palace marred by rally

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid led on Thursday a
solemn commemoration of Indonesia's 55th anniversary on the
grounds of the official residence, Istana Merdeka, as students
staged noisy demonstrations in the Monas Square nearby the
palace.

Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri assisted the President
during the ceremony, including handling of the country's first
official flag, made by her mother the late Fatmawati.

Some 5,000 guests, including members of the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR), former vice presidents, veterans,
and foreign envoys, joined the celebration.

The 45-minute ceremony began at 10:00 a.m., four minutes
before the founding fathers, Sukarno, and Muhammad Hatta,
proclaimed Indonesia's independence in 1945.

The ceremony was opened with a siren and a 17-gun salute.
Sounds of bells from the nearby Catholic Cathedral and drum beats
from the Istiqlal Great Mosque could be heard clearly at the
palace.

Assembly Speaker Amien Rais read the text of the Proclamation
and the flag was raised. A minute of silence was then observed to
honor the nation's heroes.

It was unfortunate that as Minister of Religious Affairs
Tolchah Hasan led a prayer for guidance, a group of students
could be heard demonstrating at Monas Square, a short walk from
the venue.

When the minister prayed, "Forgive the sins of our leaders",
the students were heard shouting, "Bring the corrupt leaders to
court".

The President then handed over the duplicate flag to Desiani
Victoria, a member of a group of selected senior high school
students from across the country to perform the flag raising. The
original flag has not been used since 1968.

Then president Soeharto kept the original flag at his
residence until his resignation in 1998. The original and
duplicate flags are now kept in Sukarno's former bed room at
Merdeka Palace.

A senior Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) leader, Ali Maschan Moesa,
suggested the President throw away the duplicate flag saying he
is convinced the flag has been the source of all the troubles
faced by Gus Dur, as the President is popularly called.

Besides Megawati, the ceremony was attended by five other of
Sukarno's children, including Guntur Sukarnoputra, Sukarno's wife
Hartini, and siblings of the country's first vice president
Muhammad Hatta.

Conspicuously absent were former president Soeharto and B.J.
Habibie.

According to palace officials, the two former presidents were
invited, but had informed the President that they could not come.

"Regarding Soeharto, we thank him for not coming as his
presence here could cause a problem," said a palace official.

Guests left the ceremony with a stronger spirit of patriotism
and a complimentary bag of souvenirs containing several products
of the giant food company PT Indofood.

Foreign diplomats, including British Ambassador Robin
Christopher and Singapore's Ambassador Edward Lee, also accepted
the gifts.

For many, particularly businessmen, the event was also an
opportunity to meet with their favorite ministers.

Two ministers tipped to retain their Cabinet posts, Minister
of Law and Legislation Yusril Ihza Mahendra and Minister of Mines
and Energy Lt. Gen. (ret.) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, were the
most popular of the guests.

Cabinet Secretary Marsilam Simanjuntak laughed when a reporter
told him that "The more people ask you to pose with them the
stronger your chance to remain in the Cabinet".

Following the ceremony, The President and Vice President
jointly hosted a lunch with independence fighters and veterans at
the State Palace.

During the ceremony, the President handed over the legal
documents for Sukarno's land and building in Bogor, the Batutulis
Palace, to Sukarno's eldest son Guntur.

Soeharto's regime seized the property not long after replacing
Sukarno in 1967. Soeharto buried Sukarno in Blitar, East Java,
despite Sukarno's request to be buried near his home in Bogor.

"Alhamdulillah (Thanks God)," Guntur whispered after receiving
the document from the President, while his sister Megawati tried
hard to hide her emotions.

In the evening the President presided over the lowering of the
flag.

The protesters, a group of a few thousand people claiming to
be students from several major universities in Java, such as ITB
in Bandung, IPB in Bogor, and ITS in Surabaya, expressed their
disappointment with the government's progress implementing the
reform agenda.

The students began the demonstration at Hotel Indonesia
roundabout in Central Jakarta at about 8:00 a.m. before marching
the few kilometers to Merdeka Palace.

During the march, the students were escorted by hundreds of
police under the watchful eyes of Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen.
Nurfaizi.

The protesters repeatedly chanted the word "disappointed". The
rally ended at about 1:00 p.m. with the students dispersing
peacefully. (prb/jaw)