Three recognized as national heroes in state ceremony

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.