SBY Urged to Grant National Heroes Title for Soekarno, Hatta

SBY Urged to Grant National Heroes Title for Soekarno, Hatta

Jakarta, 1 September 2012

JAKARTA (Indonesia Today) - President SBY has been urged to grant a title of National Hero for each of Indonesia's founding fathers: former first President Soekarno (popular as Bung Karno) and former first Vice President Mohammad Hatta (Bung Hatta).



The pressure re-emerged after the delegation of the second largest Muslim organization, Muhammadiyah, led by Abdul Fattah Wibisono expressed its suggestion to the Government to grant the National Hero’s titles for Soekarno and Hatta.

“Three names suggested by Muhammadiyah to be granted the National Hero’s titles are Ki Bagus Hadikusumo, Kasman Singodimedjo, and Abdoel Kahar Moezakir. We will also propose Bung Karno and Bung Hatta (as National Heroes),” said Abdul Fattah in a meeting with leaders of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) on Friday (August 31).

AM Fatwa, another Muhammadiyah leader attended the meeting, also added that it is a time for SBY to officially determine the two founding fathers as National Heroes.

“Bung Karno and Bung Hatta are our independence heroes. This is the golden chance for SBY to use his prerogative rights to resolve this issue. Because the proclamators, according to the law, are not classified as National Hero, but there’s also opinion too (that said it is included). But, rather than becoming an endless controversy, it is better for President SBY to decide,” said Fatwa, who is also former deputy Assembly Speaker.

Assembly Speaker Taufiq Kiemas, who met Muhammadiyah’s delegation, welcomed the suggestion and promised to deliver the suggestion to SBY.

Both Soekarno and Hatta were granted as Proclamator Heroes by former President Soeharto with issuing a Presidential Decree No. 081/TK/1986 on October 23, 1986. The title, however, was granted to Soekarno and Hatta as Dwi Tunggal (Indonesian proverb that means as a unity). The State through the Government, meanwhile, has yet to granting National Hero title for each of them.

Indonesian people, mostly, have agreed that granting of National Hero titles for Soekarno and Hatta is more than worth for both. They argued that the title is to remembering Soekarno and Hatta’s monumental struggle to presenting and defending freedom for the country, including to lay the foundations of the nation.

Link: http://www.theindonesiatoday.com/news/politic-news/item/372-sby-urged-to-grant-national-heroes-title-for-soekarno,-hatta.html



(So a Proclamation Hero is not the same as a National Hero? Looks like old 'Bung Karno' is receiving accolade upon accolade. A.I.)