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President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Sunday paid his respects to the late Yohana Sunarti Nasution, wife of the late national hero Gen. Abdul Haris Nasution, calling her a champion of the common people, those who are disabled and the marginalized.

“During her lifetime, Bu Nas faithfully accompanied her late husband, Gen. Abdul Haris Nasution, a great man, the father of the Indonesian Army and a statesman,” Yudhoyono said during a visit to a funeral home on Jalan Teuku Umar in Central Jakarta.

Yohana, also known as Bu Nas, the founder of several charity foundations, died at the Army Central Hospital in Central Jakarta on Sunday morning at the age of 86. She had been hospitalized for 10 days for treatment of an inflamed thyroid gland.

“I, on behalf of the state and the government, would like to express our profound condolences over the death of Ibu Nasution,” the president said.

Yudhoyono, accompanied by the first lady, Ani Yudhoyono, arrived at the funeral home at 10:50 a.m. and spent 15 minutes conveying his condolences to those in attendance.

Other mourners included former President BJ Habibie, Vice President Boediono, State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, Armed Forces Chief Gen. Djoko Santoso, former Environment Minister Emil Salim, the speaker of the Peoples Consultative Assembly, Taufik Kiemas, and Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo.

Boediono, who arrived with his wife, Herawati, asked the nation’s youth to emulate Yohana, whom he described as a “very decent role model for the younger generation, as well as a loyal wife and a well-known figure in many fields, especially her social empowerment activities.”

One of Yohana’s granddaughters, Marina, said she had been encouraged by her grandmother to continue the social programs she helped to start, and to find other ways to help others.

“During her lifetime, she was engaged and involved in about 115 charities,” she said.

Yohana’s body was taken to Cut Meutia Mosque in Menteng, Central Jakarta, for prayers. She was then buried at Kalibata Heroes Cemetery in South Jakarta beside her late husband. The military funeral ceremony was led by Agum Gumelar, chairman of the Armed Forces Veterans Association.

Yohana had two daughters, Hendriyanti Sahara and Ade Irma Suryani, who died in 1965 in the violence surrounding a failed coup blamed on the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

During her life, Yohana established a number of foundations, including the Mandira Foundation for people with speech impairments, Jambangan Kasih Foundation, Mother Care Foundation, Husada Mulia Foundation and Santi Rama Foundation.

She is survived by four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.



Antara