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)