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)