Hillary Clinton warmly welcomed in Yogyakarta

Hillary Clinton warmly welcomed in Yogyakarta

By Rita A. Widiadana

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Thousands of Yogyakartans greeted American
First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton yesterday as she visited a
school, a community health center and two renowned temples.

They shouted "Hillary, we love you," and a villager waved a
towel bearing the American flag.

During the day long visit Mrs. Clinton remained fresh and
relaxed, apparently enjoying the entire tour though her hosts
were unable to hide their fatigue.

Though insisting on an informal tour and taking a bus instead
of a prepared limousine, heavy security arrangements were
inevitable and even school children got pushed around by security
personnel.

Central Java military commander Maj. Gen. Sujono told The
Jakarta Post that he did not want to take any chances while the
American first lady was in town.

The command deployed 6,000 military and policemen to safeguard
Mrs. Clinton and her entourage. Several roads were closed
temporarily.

Dressed in a red suit, Mrs. Clinton emerged from a Pelita Air
Service airplane at the Adisucipto airport at 9:15 a.m. and was
welcomed by Yogyakarta Governor Sri Paku Alam.

Mrs. Clinton was accompanied by Minister of Social Affairs
Inten Suweno, Minister of Population/Head of the National Family
Planning Board Harjono Sujono and the wife of the Minister of
Education and Culture, Atik Wardiman.

The choice of Yogyakarta was decided two months ago by a White
House team who came to the city in advance, though all visits
were confirmed just two weeks ago.

The first stop was the Barbasari state-run elementary school
in Sleman, where hundreds of students cheered the American first
lady. Some wore traditional dresses from the country's 27
provinces and together they sang the English version of Selamat
Datang di Yogyakarta (Welcome to Yogyakarta).

In one classroom Mrs. Clinton had a warm conversation with the
children. A fifth grader asked her about the purpose of her
visit, to which she said, "I really wanted to see a health center
and clinic here, because education and health is very important,
and these two subjects are rapidly developing in your country."

Mrs. Clinton, 47, has supported children's development
programs since she her days at Yale Law School. She developed a
strong concern for the protection of children and family and,
while her husband served as Arkansas governor, she was involved
in various children's programs. She chaired the Arkansas
Education Standard Committee and founded the Arkansas Advocate
for Children and Family.

She also introduced a pioneering program for preschoolers
which trained parents to work with their children in preschool
preparations.

To another student who asked Mrs. Clinton what her parents
wanted her to be, she said that her parents wanted her brother
and herself to be good persons who could achieve anything if they
worked hard.

"That is why I studied hard and read many books. So I want you
to work hard as I did," Mrs. Clinton said.

To a girl who posed a question on her birthplace, Mrs. Clinton
said "...a long, long way from here, in Chicago."

At the community center Mrs. Clinton held a baby and gave the
seven-month-old infant a polio injection.

After changing into a beige colored pallazo, or wide trousers,
Mrs. Clinton then left for the Borobudur temple. No journalists
were allowed on the trip because Mrs. Clinton wanted it to be a
personal tour. A local archeologist accompanied her during the
walk from the parking lot to the temple.

From Borobudur the group left for the Yogyakarta palace. The
American first lady was received by Sultan Hamengku Buwono X and
his wife, Ratu Gusti Hemas. Mrs. Clinton seemed impressed by the
Sultan's explanation of the leather puppet show performed in her
honor. Two dances, Perang Garuda and Lawung, were also presented.

Mrs. Clinton ended her tour of Yogyakarta by visiting the
Prambanan temple.