Relocation of graves to resume next month

JAKARTA (JP): The authorities have halted the relocation of 4,626 graves from the Blok P public cemetery in South Jakarta until next month.

The head of the City Public Funeral Agency, Sjafril Zainuddin, said in a statement yesterday that his organization had relocated 2,674 remains and would move the remaining 1,952 from Feb. 12. to March 3 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on working days.

Sjafril gave no explanation for the postponement.

The relocation of the graves from the cemetery on Jl. Prapanca was based on a 1997 gubernatorial instruction which stipulates that the area is to be used for a new South Jakarta mayoralty office.

The remains are to be reburied at two appointed cemeteries at no cost to the dead people's relatives. The agency has prepared the Srengseng Sawah public cemetery for Moslems and the Christian Kampung Kandang public cemetery for Christians. Both are in South Jakarta.

The decision to move the remains was strongly opposed by some people as one of those to be moved was Ade Irma Suryani Nasution, the youngest daughter of former House Speaker and senior Army officer Gen. (ret.) Abdul Haris Nasution.

Irma was shot dead by rebel members of the presidential guard (Cakrabirawa) in the early hours of Oct. 1, 1965. She was five years old

The city administration eventually decided to leave her remains alone and build a monument on the site.

Sjafril urged relatives of the dead people whose remains are being moved to contact his office for further information about the removal and postponement.

"The service for the relatives will be available from Feb. 4 to Feb. 11 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the agency's office on Jl. Aipda K.S. Tubun in Central Jakarta," he said.

The agency's telephone numbers are 5735455 and 7393471. (04)