Ibu Tien's grave now a popular landmark

Ibu Tien's grave now a popular landmark

JAKARTA (JP): The final resting place of the late First Lady
Ibu Tien Soeharto in Central Java has become quite a landmark
with a growing number of visitors, particularly during the first
week of the Moslem Ramadhan month.

Hartono, an official at the Karanganyar regency administration
office, said more than 2,000 people have visited the grave at
Astana Giri Bangun, the family's mausoleum in Solo, Central Java.

"During normal days there are about 2,000 visitors," Hartono
was quoted by Antara as saying.

Hartono said visitors coming to pay their respects to Ibu Tien
Soeharto came not only from Java, but also from other parts of
the country like Bali, Sumatra, Maluku, Sulawesi, Kalimantan, and
West Nusa Tenggara.

Siti Fatimah Hartinah Soeharto, popularly known as Ibu Tien,
died at Army Gatot Subroto Hospital on April 28, 1996 at the age
of 72.

The First Lady was well-known as a social activist.

She and then Lt. Col. Soeharto married in Surakarta in 1947
during a brief lull in the armed revolution, a few days before
Soeharto had to rejoin his battalion in Yogyakarta.

A recipient of several medals of honor, she was the founder of
the famous Taman Mini Indonesia Indah and numerous charity
organizations such as Harapan Kita Hospital and Gotong Royong
Humanitarian Fund.

One of the preoccupations of Ibu Tien -- who admired local
heroes such as R.A. Kartini, Dewi Sartika and Tjoet Nya Dien --
was promoting the role of Indonesian women in development. (aan)