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.