Indonesia Honors Sukarno CentenaryIndonesia commemorated the centenary of the birth of its founding president, Sukarno, on Wednesday as calls grew for his daughter to lead the country.Anticipated big crowds stayed away from the celebration, apparently disillusioned by protracted squabbling among political leaders. The subdued ceremonies were held amid increasing calls for Sukarno's eldest daughter, Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri, to replace President Abdurrahman Wahid, who is fighting to stave off impeachment for alleged corruption and incompetence. Wahid hailed Sukarno as a ``great man'' and a ``free spirit.'' In a ceremony attended by his rival, Megawati, he renamed Jakarta's main sports stadium after Sukarno, who like many Indonesians used one name. The arena, built by Sukarno in the early 1960s with aid from the former Soviet Union, can accommodate 100,000 spectators. However, only about 5,000 turned up for Wednesday's celebrations, which ended in a violent thunderstorm. Relations between Wahid and Megawati have deteriorated in advance of impreachment proceedings now set to begin on Aug. 1, despite Wahid's repeated denials of wrongdoing. Many lawmakers want to see Megawati in the top job. Megawati's father freed Indonesia from Dutch colonial rule at the end of World War II, but plunged the nation into chaos by the early 1960s. A brilliant orator known for his fiery nationalism, Sukarno was intent on creating a new world order and achieving a greater voice for developing countries. After toying with democracy, Sukarno declared himself president-for-life but was soon overthrown in a bloody anti-communist purge. He died in disgrace in 1970 under house arrest. |
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