House supports title for Mrs. Tien

JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives urged the government yesterday to confer on the late Mrs. Tien Soeharto the title of national heroine for her outstanding services to Indonesia.

"The minister of social services, who has the authority to confer the title of national hero or heroine on prominent figures, should give a quick response to the public call," House Commission VIII chairman Akip Renatin told journalists.

House Commission VIII, which oversees social affairs, recommended that the State Ministry of Women's Roles and the Ministry of Social Services accept public appeals to declare her a heroine.

The House's call to confer the title on the First Lady, who died of a heart attack on Sunday, was only the latest. State Minister of Women's Roles Mien Sugandhi was the first to come up with the idea.

Her proposal has since received affirmative responses from several quarters, notably government officials.

Mrs. Tien Soeharto, who died at 72, was the recipient of numerous medals of honor, including Bintang Gerilya and Bintang Mahaputra, high honors which make her eligible for the heroine title.

Akip said Mrs. Tien Soeharto played an outstanding role in the promotion of people's welfare, the health status of mothers and children, the education of neglected children and in helping the disabled.

The First Lady's death has provoked debates on who will accompany President Soeharto to state events as the law on protocol does not require that an Indonesian head of state should be flanked by his or her spouse.

Numerous politicians have thrown their support behind proposals that Soeharto's eldest daughter, Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, better-known as Mbak Tutut, step into her mother's shoes.

For instance, deputy House Speaker Surjadi has said that Mbak Tutut is suitable to accompany Soeharto, because she has ample experience in taking part in both local and international events.

Ben Messakh, a legislator from the ruling Golkar party, argues that the question of who will replace Mrs. Tien Soeharto in state events is not a principle issue because it is not regulated in the protocol law.

Also showing support for Mbak Tutut is Sri Soemantri, an expert on constitutional laws. He said the President's eldest daughter can assume the function in the First Lady's absence.

He was quoted by the Jawa Pos newspaper as saying that there is an international convention that a head of state's eldest daughter can represent the First Lady.

"But I call on the People's Consultative Assembly to discuss this matter to establish its formal legality," he said. (pan)