Former VP Umar Wirahadikusumah dies at 79

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Umar Wirahadikusumah, Indonesia's former vice president known for his calmness and integrity, died on Friday at the age of 79 from heart complications in Jakarta.

He died at 7:53 a.m. at Gatot Soebroto Army Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment for the past two weeks for his heart problem.

The retired general was vice president from 1983 until 1988 under then-president Soeharto. He also served as chief of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad), as well as chief of the Indonesian Army from 1969 to 1973.

Umar was buried at the Kalibata National Heroes' Cemetery and is survived by his wife Karlinah, his two daughters, Rina Ariani and Nila Santi, and six grandchildren.

The burial ceremony was presided over by Try Sutrisno, who also served as vice president under Soeharto.

Former strongman Soeharto was seen paying his last respects to his former deputy at the hospital, Antara reported.

Former coordinating minister for political and security affairs Soerono described Umar as a man of high integrity.

"While he was vice president, he was a figure of integrity and firm in upholding the law," said Soerono as quoted by Antara when he expressed his condolences to the family at the hospital.

Former secretary to the president on military affairs Syaukat Banjarsari agreed, "He really hated officials who did not follow the rules."

"He was also a man who preferred to work rather than to speak. He was humble and did not really have much of a sense of humor," he added.

Syaukat said that Umar had been reluctant to leave his small house on Jl. Agus Salim in Menteng to move into his official residence at Jl. Teuku Umar 61 when he was appointed vice president. He also had to be talked into using the vice president's official car.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri and her husband Taufik Kiemas witnessed as Umar's family handed over his body to the government as part of his burial ceremony.

Army Chief Ryamizard Ryacudu led the ceremony and represented the government in accepting Umar's body. Representing the family was Umar's younger brother, Sadikin Wirahadikusumah.

Also present were a number of ministers, senior government officials and former ministers and officials.

Earlier, Vice President Hamzah Haz, former President B.J. Habibie and Umar's successor former vice president Sudharmono also paid their last respects. --JP