Rehabilitation of Sukarno's status

JAKARTA: The middle daughter of Sukarno, Rachmawati Soekarnoputri, called on the government on Sunday to revoke a 1967 decree of the Provisional People's Consultative Assembly (MPRS), which declared the founding president a political prisoner.

"Despite all the controversy, the status of Sukarno as a political prisoner should be revoked," Rachmawati said, while addressing a seminar here, as quoted by Metro TV television station.

She was referring to MPRS Decree No.33/1967, issued immediately after Sukarno was unseated from the presidency by the MPRS following the abortive coup by the now defunct Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

Her call was supported by a number of political observers.

"As the proclaimer of the country's independence, Bung Karno's good name should be rehabilitated. Regarding his alleged involvement in the coup attempt, I think we should let the (judicial) authorities deal with the matter," politician Din Syamsuddin said, as quoted by the television station.

"And the existence of the MPRS decree should be reviewed," he added. -- Metro TV