A Number Of PDIP Administrators Made Pilgrimages To Fatmawati Soekarno's Grave

Photo: Doc. Antara

JAKARTA - A number of administrators of the PDI-P Central Executive Board (DPP) visited Fatmawati Soekarno's grave at the Karet Bivak TPU, Jakarta.

"This is a tradition in the PDI-P. Every December 31, we commemorate the birthday of the nation's and senior PDI-P figure HM Taufiq Kiemas. Now, we commemorate Pak Taufiq Kiemas' birthday along with a pilgrimage to Mrs. Fatmawati's grave," said PDI-P DPP chairman Ahmad Basarah at TPU Karet Bivak, Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Saturday, December 31.

Fatmawati is the wife of the first President of the Republic of Indonesia Soekarno. Apart from being the first lady of the Republic of Indonesia, Fatmawati also contributed to sewing the Saka Merah Putih Heritage Flag which was flown on August 17, 1945.

During the pilgrimage, General Chairperson of PP Baitul Muslimin Indonesia (Bamusi) Hamka Haq, General Secretary of PP Bamusi Nasyirul Falah Amru, Heri Kiemas, and dozens of people were also present.

Ahmad Basarah said Fatmawati was born to Muhammadiyah's family who inherited Islamic and national traditions, which were also continued by Megawati Soekarnoputri and her son and daughter.

" Near Mrs. Fatmawati's grave, there are the graves of Bung Karno's family and Mrs. Citro's grave, Mrs. Megawati's caretaker since childhood, buried with Bung Karno's family," he added.

According to Basarah, the placement of Bu Citro's grave in the cemetery area of Bung Karno's family is one example of how Bung Karno and his family so glorifying the little people (small people).

"Bung Karno was also fostered by Sarinah as a child. To glorify the little people, Sarinah's name is used as one of the names of buildings in Jakarta. We are taught by national figures to glorify the little people and hopefully we can continue their struggle," he explained.

At the same location, Hamka Haq said Fatmawati was a woman who contributed greatly to Indonesia. Fatmawati accompanied Bung Karno in joy and sorrow ahead of independence and during independence.

"He is a great champion of the nation, an inspiration for Bung Karno's great ideals for an independent Indonesia and forever. We must be proud, we must respect, and pray so that he can get an opportunity," he said.

In addition to giving pilgrimages and tahlil at the graves of Mrs. Fatmawati, the administrators of the PDI-P and Bamusi DPP also visited the Kalibata TMP to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the birth of Taufiq Kiemas, the Chairperson of the MPR RI for the 2009-2013 period and the husband of the PDI-P General Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri.

The series of events to commemorate the birthday of Taufiq Kiemas will be continued at the At Taufiq Mosque, Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta, with khatam reading the Koran and compensation to orphans, tahlilan, and ending with a lecture from the Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque Nazaruddin Umar.