Independence fighter Rasjid dies

Independence fighter Rasjid dies

JAKARTA (JP): Sutan Mohammad Rasjid, one of Indonesia's
independence fighters, died on Sunday after being treated for
three days at the private Pondok Indah Hospital in South Jakarta.

He was 89 and is survived by four sons. His wife died two
years ago. His youngest son, Arwin Rasjid, is deputy head of the
Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency.

The body of Rasjid was buried at Tanah Kusir Cemetery later in
the day, next to the grave of his colleague and the country's
first vice president Mohammad Hatta, as he requested.

Born in Pariaman, West Sumatra, on June 22, 1911, Rasjid was
actively involved in the independence movement.

Among key posts under his belt were minister of security
affairs, development, manpower and youth and social affairs
during the Padang, West Sumatra-based emergency government under
Syarifuddin Prawiranegara in 1948; Central Sumatra governor
between 1947 and 1948; secretary-general of the foreign ministry
from 1953 to 1954; before being appointed the first ambassador to
Italy, a job he held between 1954 and 1958.

President Abdurrahman Wahid paid a visit at the hospital on
Friday evening.

On Saturday, former Indonesian armed forces chief/minister of
defense Gen. (ret) Maraden Panggabean was admitted to Cipto
Mangunkusumo Hospital after having symptoms of a stroke.

A member of the medical team treating Panggabean, Togar
Sibarani, told The Jakarta Post on Sunday that the condition of
the 78-year-old figure was improving.

"His condition is better than last night," said Togar, who is
also an internist and cardiologist.

Togar said Panggabean was under the supervision of four
doctors led by neurologist Teguh A. S. Ranakusuma.

The last top state post Panggabean held was chief of the
Supreme Advisory Council between 1983 and 1988. (01)