Blitar set for anniversary of Sukarno's death
Blitar set for anniversary of Sukarno's death
JAKARTA (JP): The presence of first president Sukarno was felt
on Sunday in the East Java town of Blitar, where he was buried 31
years ago.
Banners painted with Sukarno's most memorable words, such as
"Put your dreams high in the sky", "I entrust this country and
nation to you", were seen at the three entry points to the town.
Huge pictures of Sukarno stood at three places that will be
the centers of Wednesday's celebration: his ancestral family home
on Jl. Sultan Agung, known as Rumah Gebang, his grave on Jl.
Slamet Riyadi and the town square
Hundreds of thousands of Sukarno's admirers are expected to
flock the three places, where they will pay homage to the
founding president, who died in disgrace on June 20, 1970.
Sukarno, who proclaimed Indonesia's independence on Aug. 17,
1945 with Mohammad Hatta, was forced to step down following an
upheaval in 1965.
A committee member, Ruhadi, told Antara on Sunday Yusuf
Hasyim, who runs the renowned Tebu Ireng Islamic boarding school
in Jombang, will lead the prayers at Rumah Gebang.
President Abdurrahman Wahid, who is also Yusuf's nephew, and
one of Sukarno's daughters, Rachmawati Soekarnoputri, will attend
the gathering at Blitar square, which will cap the huge
commemoration. Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Sukarno's
eldest daughter, has yet to confirm her participation, although
in the past she usually joined the event.
Ambassadors of Yugoslavia, India, Cuba, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
and Egypt are also expected to attend the gathering. Sukarno and
leaders of those countries declared the Non-Aligned Movement in
1956.
Also invited to the event are ambassadors of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries, Cabinet
ministers, leaders of the House of Representatives and People's
Consultative Assembly and other VIPs.
This year's commemoration of Sukarno's death coincides with
the centennial celebration of his birth anniversary, which took
place on June 6.
Antara reported that 25,000 people visited Sukarno's tomb
every day over the past week. The local government last month
opened the glass wall that surrounds the grave.
The dramatic increase in the number of visitors has also been
seen in Rumah Gebang, with an estimated 5,000 people registered
every day over the last two weeks.
A huge stage is being built at the town square, where a mass
prayer and a religious musical performance will be held.
Separately, Blitar Police deputy chief Comr. Boediono said 900
officers would be deployed to maintain peace and order during
Wednesday's celebration.
The organizing committee has also asked state oil company
Pertamina for additional fuel supplies for fear of disturbance
resulting from the government's decision to raise fuel prices.