Hartini Sukarno passes away at 78

Hartini Sukarno passes away at 78

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

One of former president Sukarno's wives, Hartini Sukarno, passed
away on Tuesday after being treated for heart failure in a
hospital in Jakarta.

Hartini was rushed to the hospital last Monday evening after
she complained of breathing difficulties, and was confined upon
the recommendation of attending doctors.

"Until 3 p.m. Monday, Ibu was still conscious, but fell into a
coma soon afterwards and remained unconscious until she passed
away at 1:40 a.m. Tuesday," Hartini's son in-law Freddy Tobing
said. She was 78 years old.

Hartini was survived by her seven children and 17
grandchildren. She was buried at Karet Bivak cemetery, near the
grave of one of her sons by Sukarno, Taufan Soekarnoputra, who
died 15 years ago in Jakarta.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Vice President Hamzah Haz
and many high-ranking officials attended the burial, which was
held with full military honors later on Tuesday. The funeral was
also attended by many passersby and ordinary people.

Megawati's husband Taufik Kiemas paid his last respects to
Hartini at her residence on Jl.Proklamsi, Central Jakarta.

Many former officials, including former vice president Try
Soetrisno, former minister of trade and industry Hartarto and
former minister of foreign affairs Ali Alatas also paid their
last respects at the deceased's residence.

State/Cabinet Secretary Bambang Kesowo, Navy Chief of Staff
Adm. Indroko Sastrowiryono, and Air Force Chief of Staff Marshall
Hanafie Asnan were also among those visiting Hartini's residence.

A huge wreath from former president Soeharto was also seen at
the residence.

Born in Ponorogo, East Java, on Sept. 20, 1924, Hartini went
to elementary, junior and senior high schools in Bandung.

Sukarno married Hartini, a divorcee with five children, on
July 7, 1953, and had two children by her, Taufan and Bayu
Soekarnoputra. Taufan died of prostrate cancer in 1986, while
Bayu Soekarnoputra now works in the State Secretariat.

Sukarno's marriage to Hartini caused a feud that led to the
then first lady Fatmawati, Megawati's mother, leaving the
presidential palace in bitterness.

It also strained Hartini's relationship with Megawati. The
last time Megawati met Hartini was during last year's Idul Fitri
festivities, when Hartini visited the State Palace to greet
Megawati, who was also celebrating her first Idul Fitri as
President.

Hartini once claimed that she was the only one who stood by
Sukarno during his isolation after being ousted by former
president Soeharto in 1966. After Sukarno passed away in 1970,
Hartini devoted her time to charity work.