Indonesia has lost its best son: president

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Indonesia had lost its best son with the demise of former president Soeharto, and called on the people to honestly appreciate his services to the state and nation.

"We have just lost our best son, a stalwart freedom fighter, a true soldier and a highly respected statesman," the president said at the former strongman`s funeral at the Astana Giribangun graveyard, Karanganyar district, Central Java, on Monday.

He said Indonesian people who had a clear heart and mind had to acknowledge that the Late Soeharto had contributed much to the state and nation.

The president said the Indonesian people should also be aware of the fact that as a human being and as leader of a nation, Soeharto was not free from mistakes and shortcomings.

"Nobody in this world is perfect. On this important occasion, I would like to appeal to all Indonesian people to pray for Soeharto so that his soul will rest in peace and be accepted at Allah`s side in accordance with his good deeds, dedication, struggle and sacrifices," he said.

Yudhoyono said that during his life, Soeharto had built up long careers in the military, in politics and the overnment.

When he was till young during the 1945-1959 physical struggle for independence, Soeharto consistently fought the colonial forces in defense of the state and nation`s sovereignty.

History had also recorded a number of monumental struggles he had waged together with other freedom fighters such as the General Attack of March 1, 1949 in which colonial troops were driven out of Yogyakarta city.

"This important event added enormous weight to Indonesia`s diplomacy to uphold its sovereignty," he said.

After the revolutionary period, the Late Soeharto was in 1962 assigned as commander of the `Mandala" Military Command to liberate West Irian through military operations, the president said.

He said, when Indonesia was paralyzed by a communist coup attempt in 1965, Soeharto once again stepped forward to safeguard the state and nation`s integrity, and restored order and security.

Yudhoyono also said that since he was installed as Indonesian president on March 27, 1968, Soeharto had consistently implemented national development on the basis of a trilogy - stability, growth and equitable distribution of the fruits of development.

Soeharto died on Sunday of multi-organ failure at Pertamina Hospital in South Jakarta at the age of 86 after being medically treated for 24 days. He was admitted to the hospital with anemia and severe edema.