Family, friends observe Hatta's 93th birthday

JAKARTA (JP): Family members and friends of Mohammad Hatta, the late Indonesian first vice president, observed Hatta's 93th birthday at his grave in Tanah Kusir cemetery yesterday.

Attending the event were Hatta's widow, Rahmi Hatta, chairwoman of Indonesian Democratic Party Megawati Sukarno Puteri, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar Anas, ex-cabinet minister Emil Salim, human rights activist Adnan Buyung Nasution, Sri Bintang Pamungkas, Hatta's foster son Des Alwi and a number of veterans of the Indonesian war for independence.

An Islamic ritual was performed at the beginning of the gathering, followed by a speech by Emil Salim reflecting on Hatta's views and attitude. The commemoration ended with the scattering of flowers on the grave.

The idea to hold the event reportedly came spontaneously from youths belonging to a group calling itself the Young Generation of Indonesia, said the commemoration committee's chairman Syahrul Effendi. The event, which was also intended to mark Indonesia's 50th anniversary, is to be followed up by a discussion and seminar on Hatta's views as an economist and statesman, he said.

Hatta, who is also known as "Bung (Brother) Hatta", together with Indonesia's first president, Sukarno, proclaimed the country's independence and signed the text of the Indonesian proclamation of independence. The text was read out by Sukarno on Aug. 17, 1945, and broadcast to the world.

Hatta died on March 14, 1980, at the age of 78.

Sri Edi Swasono, who represented the Hatta family, thanked the youths who sponsored the event. Edi, Hatta's son-in-law, said that their participation in the event proved that nationalism among the younger generation was not on the decline.

Edi also cited Hatta's will, which asked to be buried in a public cemetery instead of at the Heroes Cemetery in Kalibata.

Meanwhile, Emil Salim said that Hatta's views should become guidelines for the leaders of the state, particularly Hatta's commitment to morality and his concern for the people.

Hatta was one of the few Indonesian leaders to have relinquished a top government position on grounds of conflicting principles. In his 1956 letter of resignation, Hatta said it was time for him to quit because the House of Representatives and the Constitution had been set up.

This, however, was not the real reason for his resignation.

Political analyst Deliar Noer, the author of Mohammad Hatta's political biography, has reported that Hatta decided to quit because the position of vice president didn't give him the authority to curb irregularities in government, especially rife corruption. Hatta was upset because he did not have the power to challenge the disorder.

The anguish was exacerbated by Hatta's aversion to Sukarno's polygamous private life.

Apart from that, he also disagreed with some of Sukarno's decisions and ideas, such as the dismissal of some high-level officials that were carried out without consulting him.

According to Emil, championing human rights was one of Hatta's strongest merits. Hatta struggled for human rights long before people were talking about it in the United Nations or even before Indonesia existed, Emil said.

"He claimed human rights during Dutch colonization by demanding the people's right to independence, to gather and to determine their own fate," Emil said, adding that Hatta was the man who included Article 28 in the Indonesian Constitution which affirms the people's right to gather, assemble and express opinions. (01)