Make Sukarno memorial national event: PDI

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)