Three recognized as national heroes in state ceremony

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono posthumously bestowed the title of National Hero on three Indonesians on Wednesday to mark National Heroes Day, which falls on Nov. 10.

The three figures are the late Kiras Bangun from North Sumatra, the late Bagindo Azizchan from West Sumatra and the late Andi Abdullah Bau Masseppe from South Sulawesi.

The title, which is the highest honor the state can bestow, is awarded based on a recommendation from a committee consisting of historians, representatives of the military headquarters history center and the National Archives, and academics.

The President presented the awards to descendants of the three during a simple ceremony at the State Palace, which was attended by a number of Cabinet members.

During the ceremony, Susilo also bestowed the Bintang Mahaputra Utama medal on Rizal Nurdin, the governor of North Sumatra who died in a plane accident in September this year and who was a former classmate of Susilo in the Military Academy, for his "achievements in promoting development in the province."

Kiras, who was also known as Garamata, was born in 1852 and died in 1942. He was known as a noted leader in Karo regency, North Sumatra. He persistently waged war against the Dutch colonial government until he was arrested in 1909.

After his release in 1919, Kiras led an underground movement against the colonial government until he died in 1942.

Azizchan (1910-1947) was a mayor of the West Sumatra capital of Padang. He was also known for his consistent stance against the Dutch.

As a lawyer, he lobbied and managed to convince the colonial government to release a number of Indonesian prisoners. For the sake of his people, he refused to leave Padang despite the deteriorating security condition in the area due to the war.

He was killed by the Dutch in 1949.

Born in 1918, Andi Abdullah was a leading figure from Pare- pare, South Sulawesi. He strongly supported the establishment of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia in 1945 by setting up a number of pro-Indonesia groups.

He was involved in rebellion against the Dutch and the Japanese governments in South Sulawesi. The country's first president, Soekarno, awarded him the honorary title of colonel. He was later appointed the first commander of the Indonesian Military in the province.

Andi Abdullah was shot by Westerling's forces in 1947 after being held for 160 days.

Minister of Social Services Bachtiar Chamsyah said that the government had decided to bestow the awards following a thorough verification process.

"We do not easily award the title of National Hero," he told reporters after the ceremony.

According to Bachtiar, a National Hero or his/her heirs would receive a pension of Rp 600,000 (about US$60) per month for life, as well as health insurance.

"We will raise it next year to Rp 1.5 million a month following an order from the President," he said.

To date, there are 112 National Heroes. The government does not award the title every year, the minister said.