Make Sukarno memorial national event: PDI

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) has seized upon the controversy surrounding yesterday's 25th anniversary of the death of former Indonesian president Sukarno to propose that the government turn the June 20 commemoration into a national event.

"Bung (brother) Karno belonged to the nation and the country, so the khaul, (commemoration ceremony) should become a national event, starting next year," PDI Secretary-General Alex Litaay said in Blitar yesterday.

"Such a move would ensure that nobody would be able to claim Sukarno as his own," he said, as quoted by the Antara news agency.

Litaay and several other leaders of the party, which is chaired by Sukarno's eldest daughter, Megawati, were in the mountain town yesterday and on Tuesday to attend the Moslem prayers held to mark the 25th anniversary of Sukarno's death.

Megawati was conspicuously absent after the authorities barred her from speaking about politics at the event.

"We're here in Blitar only as citizens who see Bung Karno as the father of the nation," Litaay said. "Even if Megawati (were present), she wouldn't be here as a member of the PDI, but as a representative of (Sukarno's) family."

Meanwhile, the thousands of people who traveled from various places to Blitar to pay homage to the late leader packed the Karang Mulyo Cemetery yesterday, jostling to spread flower petals on Sukarno's grave.

They also jostled to get a chance to shake the hands of Sukarno's other daughters, Rachmawati and Sukmawati. Sukarno's Japanese-born widow, Dewi, was also present.

On Tuesday evening, more than 10,000 people, including hundreds of supporters of the PDI wearing red jackets, attended the late night prayers held at Sukarno's house.

A number of people reportedly jeered local administration officials regarding the East Java administration's taking control of the event this year.

Then the crowd reportedly began chanting statements against the local government's participation in the proceedings until a local army major took the microphone to deliver his speech.

"Long live Sukarno!" shouted the crowd who thronged the garden in front of the house of Sukarno's elder sister, known as Mrs Wardoyo, and crowded the streets leading to the house.

This year was the first time the administration had taken part in the commemoration of Sukarno's death, previously organized privately by his family and Blitar residents.

Blitar regent Siswanto Adi said the administration's involvement in the event was based on "noble intentions" and that it had no ulterior motives.

"I was moved to help with the khaul after saying my prayers," he was reported by Antara to have said. The agency reported that there was, indeed, proof that the local administration had made a positive contribution to the event in the form of some facilities, such as loud speakers and chairs for the public.

Litaay, however, said the administration's initiative was proof of its "formal and proportional responsibility" towards the proclaimer of independence and the father of the nation.

"We thank the government for paying attention to this event," Litaay said. He denied sensing any political motives behind the administration's move.

Another PDI leader, however, took the opposite view. Sucipto, head of the East Java branch of the PDI, told Reuters during the commemoration that people felt there was something wrong with the administration's participation in the event.

"People are curious why the government now bans them from wearing any political symbols when they attend the commemoration," he said.

Rachmawati, who delivered a speech during the mass prayer, said the government feared the politicization of the event. However, she said the government should not be "afraid" of the PDI, because its existence as a party was consistent with the laws established by the government. (swe)