INDONESIA CROWDS VISIT BUNG SUKARNOS GRAVE

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(20 Jun 1999) Indonesian/Nat • • Crowds have flocked to the grave of Sukarno, Indonesia's first president, in the East Java city of Blitar. • • Indonesians went to Sukarno's grave on Sunday to venerate the father of Megawati Sukarnoputri, leader of the P-D-I Struggle party, which looks set to win the latest election. • • Meanwhile, supporters of the P-D-I Struggle party are concerned that Megawati may be prevented from becoming President by a Muslim coalition calling for a male to lead the government. • • Tens of thousands of people commemorated the 29th anniversary of the death of Indonesia's founding president on Sunday. • • People poured into Blitar, about 650 kilometres (400 miles) east of Jakarta, by every mode of transport available to visit the grave site of Sukarno. • • Sukarno died in disgrace, but his popularity has risen with the political fortunes of his daughter Megawati Sukarnoputri. • • It was not clear if Megawati would join the adoring throngs on Sunday. • • She's involved in the wrangling that has heated up amidst the protracted vote count from the June 7 parliamentary election. • • Her Indonesian Democratic Party for Struggle, or P-D-I-Struggle, holds a strong lead with half the votes counted, although it will not be able to command a majority in Parliament and is pursuing possible coalition partners. • • There have been rumblings that the world's largest Muslim country might not accept a female head of state, who will be chosen later this year. • • At the same time, those who made a pilgrimage to Sukarno's grave, protected by an elaborate glass-enclosed pavilion, chanted, prayed and cried as they carried copies of the Koran, Islam's holy book. • • Of Indonesia's three presidents, Sukarno was the most charismatic, and some believe the most controversial. • • Bloody turmoil and economic chaos were characteristic of his rule. • • Known as Bung Karno, Brother Karno, he garnered support from the poor by whipping up nationalism with colorful rhetoric and brash diplomatic moves. • • As a leader within the independence movement against the Dutch from 1927, he collaborated with occupying Japanese forces in World War II. • • With their defeat, he declared independence from colonial rule in 1945. • • After a four-year war to keep the Dutch from returning, Sukarno led the country through a turbulent experiment with democracy until 1959 when he imposed authoritarian rule. • • He later became president for life. • • He was removed from office after Suharto, then an army general, crushed what was said to have been a communist-backed coup attempt in 1965. • • Stripped of power, Sukarno died in 1970. • • He was honored with a state funeral and was buried in a simple grave that was replaced by an ornate monument in 1978 on Suharto's orders. • • Now his image is being rehabilitated with P-D-I-Struggle's expected victory. • • Many people only seemed to have come to venerate Sukarno because their party looks set to win the election. • • SOUNDBITE: (Indonesian Bahasa) • The reason I came in here is because I'm very happy that PDI Struggle won in this election. • SUPER CAPTION: Iman Harmanfah • • Several of those who came on Sunday were Megawati supporters. • • If a Muslim coalition was to block her election as president, they say they will not accept another president. • • Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country and there have been suggestions that a large coalition might be able to block her presidency and elect a Muslim male. • • SOUNDBITE: (Indonesian Bahasa) • SUPER CAPTION: Awang Muhidin • • • • Some people danced in the streets. • • Others sought signatures for a petition promoting Megawati for president. • • • Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork • Twitter: / ap_archive • Facebook: / aparchives • Instagram: / apnews • • • You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...

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