Mega worried about state documents

JAKARTA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri expressed concern Monday over the disappearance of thousands of important state documents, including the Surat Perintah 11 Maret (The March 11 Instruction Letter), popularly known as Supersemar.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of an international seminar on archives here on Monday, the President said the disappearance of important state documents demonstrated the state's poor appreciation of many important papers.

"How can such an important document, and thousands of other important papers, disappear? It reflects the level of appreciation of our own history," the President said.

Supersemar, issued by former president Sukarno, served as a legal basis for former dictator Soeharto to assume leadership of the nation in 1967.

Only former Military Commander Gen. Daud Joesoef is believed to have any knowledge about Supersemar, but so far he has refused to talk about the document.

Even after she became President, Megawati, Sukarno's daughter, still could not find the truth or the whereabouts of the important document.--JP