Megawati pays homage to late father

Megawati pays homage to late father

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri went to Blitar, East Java, on
Thursday to visit the grave of her father, founding president
Sukarno.

Sukarno was born on June 6, and the visit to his grave is an
annual tradition for his relatives, who also hold a yearly
memorial service for him on June 21, the date when he died.

Blitar was the birthplace of Sukarno, and the locals maintain
a strong emotional attachment to the charismatic leader.

The residents of Blitar, however, were disappointed on
Thursday because they were not allowed to get close enough to
greet President Megawati.

Before arriving in Blitar, Megawati opened a ministerial-level
meeting on sustainable development in Bali on Wednesday. During
her speech, she called on her international audience to build the
world anew, echoing her father's famous speech to the General
Assembly of the United Nations on Sept. 30, 1960.

The spirit and principles of that speech are still relevant to
the world's current situation and challenges, said Megawati.

Countries around the world should collaborate in a solid
commitment to ensure the continuation of the world's environment,
Megawati said.

Megawati is scheduled on Friday to install the new commander
of the Indonesian Military, Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, replacing
Adm. Widodo A.S., before leaving on a two-week trip to Europe on
Saturday.

She will be visiting Rome to attend the Food and Agriculture
Organization Summit, London, where she is slated to meet with
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Austria, the Czech Republic
and Slovakia.