Wed, 27 Oct 2004

Mutia buried at Tanah Kusir

Scattered flower petals on the fresh grave and prayers marked the funeral of Mutia Rahmani Amalia, 16, under the scorching sun at Tanah Kusir Cemetery on Tuesday morning.

Dozens of Mutia's classmates of SMU 70 state high school, students of Perguruan Cikini high school, where Mutia's mother Sulisita Prasiwi is a teacher, and students of SMU 6 state high school, where her father Rudi Gunadi is deputy principal, joined in the final congregation for the latest victim of the Sept. 9 bombing.

The blast outside the Australian Embassy in Kuningan, South Jakarta, killed 10 other people and injured more than 180 others.

On that day, Mutia had planned to go to the mall with friends, but changed her mind and decided to visit her grandmother in Karet Kuningan.

As she was just getting off a minibus at the Perbanas stop, the bomb exploded. Mutia fell headfirst onto the asphalt road, with her left leg wedged in the minibus door and her skull fractured.

After being treated for days at different hospitals, the Australian Embassy advised the family to transfer her to Medistra Hospital, where she underwent cranial surgery.

She was discharged on Oct. 15, but her condition deteriorated. She was sent to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore on Oct. 17, but she fell into a coma and died on Sunday. Her remains arrived home late on Monday.

Her brother Mediansyah remembered Mutia, the eldest of three, as a smart person who was diligent with her prayers.

"She was the greatest sister anyone could've had. She was always there whenever I needed her, and taught me many things." -- JP