Heroes skeletons removed

JAKARTA (JP): Almost 50 skeletons of national heroes of the 1945 Independence are being moved from the Karet Bivak public cemetery, Karet Tengsin, Karet Pasar Baru to the Tanah Kusir cemetery in South Jakarta.

Relatives witnessed the exhumation and relocation of some of the dead, which is scheduled to be completed on March 7.

The head of the Karet Bivak cemetery, Thamrin, said the 48 skeletons were of, among others, HM. S. Suhaimi, Abdul Somad bin Abdul Azis, H. Abdus Somad Ys, Moh. Ali Naimah, Djes Soediardjo, Sidik Syamsi, Oni Syahroni, Waska Slam, Ridwan Latief, Soeratno, Hasan Abas, Mat Saleh and Abdul Hakim, a former reporter of Antara news agency and editor of Pos Kota morning daily.

No official statement explained why the skeletons were removed.

The Karet Bivak and Karet Tengsin cemeteries cover a 22.1 hectare plot, Antara reported. (sur)