City will build monument on Ade Irma's grave

City will build monument on Ade Irma's grave

JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta administration backed down yesterday
from its earlier plan to relocate the grave of Ade Irma Suryani,
the daughter of Army Gen. (ret) Abdul Haris Nasution.

It will now build a monument on her grave at Blok P Cemetery
dedicated to the five-year-old girl who died on Oct. 1, 1965,
during a botched communist-backed coup.

Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said: "The administration decided
not to move Ade Irma Suryani's grave.

"Instead, it will be renovated into a monument that will be
integrated into the development of the South Jakarta Mayoralty
office."

He made the announcement after meeting with Nasution and his
family at their Menteng home following weeks of controversy over
the child's grave.

The administration plans to build a new office complex for the
mayoralty on the public cemetery. Most of the graves have been,
or are in the process of being, removed.

Ade Irma died from bullet wounds she sustained when a group of
soldiers, part of the coup movement, visited her house with the
intention of kidnapping Nasution. Her father survived the ordeal.

Last week, Nasution visited Blok P cemetery and prayed and
wept at his daughter's tomb. Then his wife, Johana Sunarti,
called the city's plan "insensitive to history" and reiterated
the assurance -- given by city officials 32 years ago -- that the
Blok P cemetery was permanent.

The controversy took a new twist when City Council Speaker Edy
Waluyo reportedly challenged Johana Sunarti for written proof of
the promises and quipped that she "should have watched her
mouth".

This provoked a public outcry and criticism was leveled at the
insensitivity of the speaker and the administration in its
handling of the affair.

Ade Irma's death, along with seven Army officers in the putsch
32 years ago, brought the nation to tears.

Edy Waluyo, who was present at the meeting, apologized to the
Nasutions for the purported remarks. He denied uttering those
words and blamed the newspapers for misquoting him.

"I never said those words," Edy said. "So I'm sorry for the
inconvenience caused."

Also present were Deputy Governor TB.M. Rais, South Jakarta
Mayor Pardjoko and the head of the city's Building Arrangement
Agency, M. Pasaribu.

Surjadi said the administration had included the plan to build
a monument for Ade Irma within the mayoralty office complex long
before the issue become a controversy.

"You (reporters) made such a big fuss about it." he said.
"Ade's grave is already a monument, but it isn't looked after
properly. So the city proposed to the family to have it renovated
and they agreed."

The monument was essential to the history of Indonesia and the
city intended to maintain it in memory of the nation's struggle
against communism, he said.

Nasution, who was accompanied by Johana and daughter Yanti,
said he was relieved that a decision had been reached.

"I'm grateful to the administration because this is the answer
we had been waiting for," he said. "She is truly at peace now and
will never be disturbed again."

Nasution had refused to have Ade Irma buried in the hero's
cemetery, an offer made 32 years ago, and again this year.

"Pak Nasution wanted Ade to be surrounded by ordinary people,"
his adjutant, Hidayat, said.

Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. A. Wahab Mokodongan also
welcomed the plan to build a monument for Ade Irma as a way of
breaking the impasse.

"The city administration must go on with development but it
should not come at the expense of the Nasution's family," he
said. (07/imn)