Bagong still alive

Had I not read an article Butet Kartaredjasa dreams of a saner Indonesia in The Jakarta Post's June 13, 1999 edition (page 10), I would not have known that the Post made one small but intolerable mistake and another small mistake which was tolerable.

"The fifth child of a noted dancer, choreographer and painter, the late Bagong Kussudiardjo..." (column 1, paragraph 6).

"He credited... Butet is now a proud father of three daughters, Giras Basuwondo, Suci Senanti and Galuh Pasca Magma", (column 4, paragraph 1).

I would like to first comment on the tolerable mistake. Butet has three children: one son (Giras Basuwondo) and two daughters (Suci Senanti and Galuh Pasca Magma).

Careful editing should have caught the other fatal mistake. Mr. Bagong Kussudiardjo is not dead. He is still alive, teaching dancing at his padepokan (residence) in Kasihan, Bantul, painting and performing colossal dance once in a while. It is Mrs. Bagong Kussudiardjo who died two years ago.

I am no one to Mr. Bagong Kussudiardjo's family. I am not defending his family. Anyway, a correct statement, especially on his state of mortality, will please Mr. Bagong Kussudiardjo's family, won't it? An apology should be addressed to Mr. Bagong Kussudiardjo's family.

TJITA SINGO

Yogyakarta

Note: We apologize for the errors and for any anguish they may have caused.

-- Editor