Dignitaries gather to mourn Rahmi Hatta

JAKARTA (JP): Rahmi Hatta, the widow of Indonesia's first vice president Mohammad Hatta, died on Tuesday morning at 73 after a two-week hospitalization for heart problems at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital in Jakarta.

Her attending specialist, Nurhay Abdurrahman, said Rahmi suffered from an acute cardiac condition and would not have survived surgery.

President B.J. Habibie and First Lady Hasri Ainun Habibie were among the mourners who paid last respects to the woman who shared Hatta's struggle in leading the fledgling republic following independence.

Sukarno, who later became the first president, and Hatta declared independence in Jakarta on Aug. 17, 1945.

Born in Bandung, West Java, on Feb. 16, 1926, Rahmi is survived by daughters Meutia, Gemala and Halida and four grandchildren.

She lay in state on Tuesday at her residence on Jl. Diponegoro, Central Jakarta, with burial scheduled for Wednesday morning at Tanah Kusir Public Cemetery in South Jakarta.

Two children of Sukarno, politician Megawati Soekarnoputri and her brother Guntur Soekarnoputra, were among mourners at Rahmi's residence. Other visitors included Minister of Social Services Justika Baharsjah, State Minister of Land Affairs Hasan Basri Durin, senior economist Sumitro Djojohadikusumo, political scientist Miriam Budiardjo, Catholic leader Julius Cardinal Darmaatmadja and former Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin.

Sukarno introduced Rahmi to Hatta when she was 17. They were married in Megamendung in Bogor, West Jakarta, on Nov. 18, 1945.

Rahmi's son-in-law Sri Edi Swasono, who is married to Meutia, said Rahmi wanted to be buried under the pendopo, a Javanese structure. According to a presidential decree issued by Soeharto, Rahmi is entitled to be buried on the right-hand side of Hatta's grave at Tanah Kusir Public Cemetery.

Rahmi declined, however, because she said the space was too narrow and would cause difficulty for visitors to the grave.

Hatta died in Jakarta on March 14, 1980.

Burial

Edi said Rahmi's burial was deferred until Wednesday, contrary to Islamic tenets for interment shortly after death, to allow for Halida's return from the United States.

He recounted that Rahmi appealed to Habibie to maintain national unity when the President and Ainun visited her on April 6.

Of Acehnese descent, Rahmi expressed surprise when Habibie had the courage to visit the troubled province in March.

Muslim leader Abdurrahman Wahid, who paid his respects to Rahmi shortly after her death was disclosed, said he felt deep sorrow at the loss of a great figure and close friend.

"We were close although we did not have many discussions," he said.

Julius Cardinal Darmaatmadja described Rahmi as an extraordinary figure who played a noble role in accompanying Hatta after independence.

"Rahmi was one of main witnesses to the nation's history, especially the early years after independence. She contributed a lot to the nation's struggle, and she set a good example for the younger generations," he said.

Anhar Gonggong, director of history at the Ministry of Education and Culture, shared the cardinal's opinion. He praised Rahmi's discretion despite being privy to secrets as the wife of a statesman.

"She knew many things, including reasons why Hatta had once wanted to resign," he said. (01/edt/rms)