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.