Former information minister dies
JAKARTA (JP): Former minister of information Vice Air Marshal (ret.) Boediardjo died shortly after midnight yesterday while in a coma at the state-owned Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital.
Boediardjo was information minister from 1968 to 1973 and had undergone intensive medical treatment for prostate cancer since Tuesday.
He was 75 years old. He is survived by his wife and six children.
His body was flown to Central Java for burial in a military procession led by former Air Force chief of staff Air Marshal (ret.) Rilo Pambudi. He was buried at a family cemetery in Tingal village near the eighth century Buddhist temple of Borobudur, Magelang.
Antara reported from Magelang that two other former Air Force chiefs of staff, Vice Air Marshal (ret.) Sukardi and Vice Air Marshal (ret.) Oetomo, also attended the funeral.
Boediardjo lapsed into a coma on Friday after surgery and never regained consciousness.
One of Boediardjo's children, Iwan Wiwoho, said yesterday his father had been admitted to a hospital five or six times in the past year.
Cancer also killed three of Boediardjo's nine brothers and sisters, a relative said.
President Soeharto and several cabinet ministers, former ministers, senior officials and cultural promoters, paid their last tribute to Boediardjo and expressed their deepest condolences at Boediardjo's home on Jl. Teuku Umar, Central Jakarta.
The VIPs included former vice presidents Umar Wirahadikusumah and Soedharmono, Minister of Information Harmoko, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar Anas, Minister of Investment Sanyoto Sastrowardoyo, Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher, Minister of Social Services Endang Kusuma Inten Suweno and Jakarta Governor Soerjadi Sudirdja.
State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie and former Minister of Food Bustanil Arifin were among VIPs who saw off Boediardjo's remains at the Halim Perdanakusuma air base in East Jakarta.
"He was a sincere man who dedicated all his life to the country," Bustanil said. "I was impressed with his leadership when he held the top post in the Ministry of Information."
Titiek Puspa, a renowned singer and relative of Boediardjo, said Boediardjo photographed her when she visited him a few months ago.
"He gave no trace of sadness despite his illness that time." she said. "He's a great photographer whose pictures always move me."
Boediardjo is known for his interest in Indonesian culture, photography, orchids and Javanese leather puppets.
A close confidante of Soeharto in his early tenure, Boediardjo chaired PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur and Prambanan, a state- owned company dealing with the restoration of Indonesia's two most famous temples, between 1979 and 1985. (amd)