Thousands join freedom celebration with Soeharto

JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of invited guests gathered at Merdeka Palace yesterday to celebrate the country's 52nd independence day in a solemn ceremony presided by President Soeharto.

The one-hour ceremony started at 10.00 a.m., the precise time Indonesia's founding fathers, the late President Sukarno and Vice President Muhammad Hatta, proclaimed the country's independence.

The ceremony, commanded by Col. Wahyono Sudjadi, was opened with a siren and 17-gun salute followed by the reading of proclamation text by House Speaker Wahono. It was followed by a minute of silence to recall the nation's heroes.

Given front row seats at yesterday's ceremony were Sukarno's children -- Megawati, Guntur, Guruh, Rachmawati and Bayu.

In the same row were Hatta's two daughters -- Meutia and Gemala.

Seated in the adjacent row were Soeharto's offsprings.

The highlight of the ceremony was the hoisting of the national flag led by Capt. Firman Satya Budi, chief of Menteng police sub-precinct and son of Vice President Try Sutrisno.

The ceremony ended with students from 20 junior and senior high schools singing patriotic songs.

Politics were left aside yesterday as Megawati, former chief of the Indonesian Democratic Party before being ousted in a government-backed congress, expressed joy at being in the palace once again.

"This is also a nostalgic visit for me because I lived in this palace for 23 years," she told reporters after congratulating Soeharto together with her brothers and sisters.

"We must implement the spirit of independence with actions and not just with ceremonies," she added.

Guests left the ceremony with a stronger spirit of patriotism and the customary bag of souvenirs containing soft drinks, cakes and herbal jamu, compliments of the presidential household.

For many, it was also an opportunity to hobnob with their favorite ministers. Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas and Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro were busy posing for photographs.

Following the ceremony, Soeharto had lunch with veterans and independence fighters at the State Palace. Later in the evening, the President hosted a reception for diplomatic corps in Jakarta. (prb)