Traveler seeks funds for book
By Ahmad Junaidi
JAKARTA (JP): A 55-year-old paralyzed man, who traveled around the country in the late 1980s, is seeking donations to finance the publication of his travel book.
Suwarno of Surakarta, Central Java, went to the Central Jakarta's mayoralty office over the weekend, hoping to meet the mayor to discuss the possibility of a donation.
But Suwarno failed to meet the mayor as an official told him the mayor was not in his office at the time.
The retired soldier told The Jakarta Post that a publisher in Surakarta said publishing about 5,000 copies of his 200-page book would cost Rp 15 million (US$6,250).
"Contributions I collected from high-ranking officials throughout the country have reached Rp 7.5 million. But I still need another Rp 7.5 million," he said.
Suwarno said the book would be about his two-and-a-half year journey around the country in his self-designed wheelchair. The journey started on Dec. 19, 1989.
The book would also contain photos of beautiful and meaningful places in various provinces throughout the country, he said.
Suwarno, the father of two children, who is married to a Betawi woman of Ciledug, said his journey involved meeting several ministers in Jakarta before continuing his travel to other provinces.
He said regional leaders and local residents were very hospitable. "There was almost no sad story during my journey," he said. "But I did have to change 12 pairs of tires on my wheelchair on my two-and-a-half-year trip."
Suwarno, who has been paralyzed since he was shot in the stomach and backbone in 1953, said he never grew tired of traveling throughout the country in his wheelchair and found the journey exciting.
The retired corporal of the Army's transportation department said the incident took place in Kuningan, West Java, when he and other soldiers were deployed to get rid of the DI/TII Islamic separatist rebels.
He underwent two operations at the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital to remove the bullet from his backbone which paralyzed him for the rest of his life.
"When my children grew up, I started thinking about traveling. I also got a green light from my wife, Halimah. She allowed me to make my dream to travel come true even though in the beginning she was worried about me," he said.
Sawarno also dreams of meeting President Soeharto.
"I sent a letter to the state secretariat last year. But so far I have not received a reply," he said.
But he will be patient waiting for a response. In the meantime, he is busy seeking donations for the publication of his book.
Readers interested in donating to Suwarno can contact him at Jl. Nangka I/43, Kampung Kerten, in Surakarta, Central Java.