Govt won't appoint minister to take over Soesilo's post

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto will not appoint a new minister to replace Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman who died Thursday, a senior minister said yesterday.

Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono said that ministers under Soesilo's supervision would take turns presiding over a monthly limited ministerial meeting on political and security affairs.

"One meeting may be chaired by the Minister of Home Affairs, the next meeting by the Minister of Defense and Security and so on," Moerdiono said after meeting with Soeharto at the latter's residence on Jl. Cendana, Central Jakarta.

The cabinet will end its term in March. Soesilo's office oversees the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, the Armed Forces, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Defense and Security, the Attorney General's Office, and several other state agencies.

A monthly ministerial meeting is usually held one week before the monthly cabinet meeting on the economy, finance and trade.

"The President also ordered to raise a flag half-mast for three consecutive days to mourn Soesilo's passing away," Moerdiono said.

Soeharto paid his last respects to Soesilo yesterday morning, a few hours before the funeral at the Kalibata National Heroes Cemetery in South Jakarta.

The ceremony, a full military procession with salvo gunfire, was presided over by Minister of Defense and Security Edi Sudradjat.

"The full military procession is given to the late Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman in honor and appreciation of his services to the state and the nation," Edi said in his eulogy.

He said that Soesilo's death was a shock to the nation.

"We have lost one of the nation's best children, who upheld the 1945 heroic spirit all his life," he said, "However, as religious people, we are all ikhlas (accepting with heart and soul) that God wanted to call him 'home'," Edi said.

Present at the ceremony were Chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council Sudomo, Chief Justice Sarwata, Minister of Justice Oetojo Oesman, Minister of Transmigration Siswono Yudohusodo and Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave. Soesilo was also former minister of tourism, post and telecommunications.

Also present were Chief of the State Intelligence Coordinating Body Moetojib, Deputy Governor of the National Resilience Institute Juwono Sudarsono, Secretary for Development Operations A.M. Hendropriyono and some high ranking military officials, both active and retired.

Soesilo is survived by his wife, Widaningsri, two sons, a daughter and six grandchildren. (imn/prb)