Two Indonesians in list of Asian heroes

Two Indonesians in list of Asian heroes

Hong Kong, Agence France-Presse

Indonesian folk singer Iwan Fals and celebrated writer Pramoedya
Ananta Toer were among an illustrious few, which included film
star Jackie Chan and Myanmar dissident Aung San Suu Kyi, chosen
as "Asia's greatest living heroes" by Time magazine.

The U.S. based weekly said in its latest issue that the lives
and work of the 25 selected individuals had "a profound impact on
the people around them."

"Overcoming self-doubt, almost impossible odds and steadily
persevering to attain their goals (sometimes at the risk of
personal safety), they demonstrate the inherent potential that
remains untapped in most individual," it said.

Time Asia editor Karl Taro Greenfeld said "for all their fame,
these are also folks who are simply doing a job. Performing their
tasks admirably, going about their business, always showing up
when they are expected -- and needed."

Other Asians highlighted were East Timor president elect
Xanana Gusmao, Thai activist Sompop Jantraka who works to save
rural girls from being snared into a life of sexual slavery,
Afghan interim leader Hamid Karzai, and former Chinese prime
minister Zhao Ziyang.

The Japanese roll call which included baseball player Ichiro
Suzuki, footballer Hidetoshi Nakata and author Makoto Oda was
joined by a non-human hero in the form of Japanese cartoon cat
Doraemon.

The popular cartoon character made it onto the list as it had
"inspired and cheered millions of children across Asia."

Chinese "heroes" included Gao Yaojie, the 75-year-old
grandmother who sounded the alarm on the country's AIDS epidemic
and basketball player Wang Zhihzhi, who stirred national pride by
making it into the NBA. Also selected was Taiwan singer A-mei.

The young Karmapa Lama who fled to India, "a symbol of hope
and the fight against repression in Tibet" and Hong Kong explorer
and conservationist Wong How Man were also named in the list of
Asia's living heroes.

India's outstanding Asians included cricket star Sachin
Tendulkar, the head of pharmaceutical firm Cipla, Yusuf K.
Hamied, for selling cut-price AIDS drugs, film star Shabana Azmi
and Kashmir Muslim religious leader Omar Farooq.

Accidental hero Seol Ik-soo who saved many lives during last
week's Air China crash in Busan in South Korea, was also named in
the list.