Medal bestowed on Fatmawati

JAKARTA (JP): The government has bestowed the Mahaputra Adipradana medal on the late Fatmawati, the first wife of Indonesia's first President, for her extraordinary services to the nation.

The medal was handed over yesterday by President Soeharto to Guntur Soekarno Putra, representing the heirs of the late Fatmawati.

The medal was presented to the late Fatmawati under the Presidential Decree No. 057/TK/94.

During the medal presentation ceremony held at the Merdeka Palace yesterday, the President was accompanied by Madame Tien Soeharto, Vice President Try Sutrisno and his wife Mrs. Tuty Try Sutrisno, House Speaker Wahono, Chairman of the Supreme Advisory Agency Sudomo and Chairman of the State Audit Agency J.B. Sumarlin.

As soon as the presentation of the medal was over, the President congratulated Guntur, the first of the Fatmawati- Sukarno children, and Guntur's wife, Henny, as well as Guntur's younger sisters and brother: Megawati, Rachmawati, Sukmawati and Guruh Soekarno Putra.

Other guests followed the President to congratulate Guntur and his sisters and brother. Mrs. Tien Soeharto was seen kissing the cheek of Mrs. Henny later.

Guntur told reporters after the presentation of the medal that on behalf of the late Fatmawati, his sisters and brother and the Soekarno family, he thanked President Soeharto and the government for the bestowal of medal.

"It is an honor for us because the government was willing to honor our late mother," Guntur said.

"Frankly speaking I was moved when the President pinned the medal on me but I tried to control myself so as to prevent tears from falling from my eyes," he said.

Guntur said that the medal presentation reminded him of his late mother's figure. "She was a tough woman who was consistent on women's rights, emancipation and on the fight against polygamy." He also recalled the hardship faced by the Soekarno family after independence until the aborted communist coup d'etat on Sept. 30, 1965.

Commenting on Heroes Day, to be commemorated nationwide today, he reminded the people not to see the day as only a ceremony. Instead they should teach its spirit to the current and future generations, in an effort to intensify unity among the Indonesian people, he said.

"I was deeply moved and cried as I remembered how my mother cared about me and other children after the separation of my mother and father," she said.

The ceremony was ended with a luncheon at which the President sat together with Madame Tien and Guntur at one table while the Vice President with chairman of the Indonesian Veterans Association Ahmad Tahir. Megawati, Rachmawati, Sukmawati and Guruh were grouped on another table. (hhr)