Writer Wiratmo dies from stroke

JAKARTA (JP): Writer Wiratmo Soekito died from a stroke at the MMC Hospital here on Wednesday, aged 72. He was later buried in the Karet cemetery, Central Jakarta.

Born in Solo on Feb. 8, Wiratmo was well known for conceiving the Cultural Manifesto (Manikebu), initiated in 1963 by Indonesian anti-communist writers and artists.

He wrote several books, including Renungan Tentang Sejarah (Contemplation About History, 1960) and Kesusastraan dan Kekuasaan (Literature and Power, 1984).

Wiratmo studied within the School of Philosophy at The Netherlands' Nijmegen University (1954-1955).

From 1954 to 1960, Wiratmo was an editor of Gajah Mada, Buku Kita and Indonesia magazines.

Wiratmo was also a member of the House of Representatives (DPR) and People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) from 1968 to 1971, and one of the chairmen of the Human Rights Defenders League between 1969 and 1972.

Up until his final days, Wiratmo was still an active writer, a lecturer at the Jakarta Arts Institute -- where he had been working since 1976, and an announcer on Republic of Indonesia Radio. (hdn)