Composer, freedom fighters declared heroes

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono declared a composer and five freedom fighters national heroes on Wednesday for their contribution to the country's struggle for independence.

In a ceremony marking National Heroes Day, which falls on Nov. 10, Susilo handed official documents over to the descendants of the six to confirm their new status.

High-ranking officials, such as House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Agung Laksono, People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Hidayat Nurwahid, Supreme Court Chief Justice Bagir Manan and Cabinet members also attended the ceremony.

Early in the morning, Susilo led a ceremony marking National Heroes Day at Kalibata Heroes Cemetery in South Jakarta.

The six national heroes were popular composer Ismail Marzuki, cleric Ahmad Rifai, linguist Raja Ali Haji and pro-independence activists Gatot Mangkoepraja, Maskoen Soemadiredja and Andi Mappanyukki.

The six were officially recognized as heroes because of their active participation in the independence process, both through the armed struggle and the arts and science.

Ismail was honored for enlivening the country's culture and portraying the people's suffering during the colonial period through his songs.

Maskoen Soemadiredja from West Java was among freedom fighters who were imprisoned for their activities, along with founding president Sukarno, at Banceuy Penitentiary in Bandung, West Java. He was also acknowledged for his efforts to repatriate Indonesian fighters who sought refuge in Australia.

Another of Sukarno's friends who was imprisoned in Banceuy Penitentiary, Gatot Mangkoepradja, was also declared a national hero for his activities during the independence struggle, and for leading the Javanese and Madurese independence movement from 1948 to 1949.

South Sulawesi leader Andi Mappanyukki was honored for his struggle and sacrifice during the independence struggle from 1945 to 1950 through his leadership of a social organization.

Raja Ali Haji of Riau was honored for his literary contribution to the development of the Malay language. He was also celebrated for his volume of poetry, Gurindam Dua Belas, which he wrote in 1847. It was published in the Netherlands in 1953.

Another local leader from Central Java, Ahmad Rifa'I, was honored for his activities against the Dutch colonialists. He was exiled to Ambon in 1859, and died in Manado, North Sulawesi.