MEGAWATI, PRABOWO ATTEND SOEKARNO'S BIRTHDAY COMMEMORATION

Karawang, W Java, June 6 (ANTARA) - Presidential candidate Megawati Soekarnoputri and her running mate Prabowo Subianto attended a function to observe the 108th birthday of Indonesia's first President Soekarno (Bung Karno) on Saturday.

Bung Karno's birthday commemoration was conducted at the proclamation of independence monument in Rengasdengklok, Karawang, West Java.

Prabowo, the chairman of Greater Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party Advisory Board, arrived at the venue at 2 in the afternoon, or 30 minutes earlier than Megawati of the Indonesian Democratic Party- Struggle (PDIP).

Also present at the function were Gerindra Party and PDIP executives, and two Bung Karno's other children, Sukmawati Soekarnoputri and Guntur Soekarnoputra.

Thousands of farmers, fishermen, workers, and traders from all over Rengasdengklok were also present to observe Bung Karno's birthday.

Meanwhile, Mega-Pro Center director Mochtar Mohamad said thousands of other people from Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Bekasi, and Tangerang (Jabodetabek) were also present.

Mochtar Mohamad said the commemoration of Bung Karno's 108th birthday this time was intentionally held at Rengasdengklok monument in Karawang as the historic site of Indonesia's independence process.

Before leaving for Rengasdengklok, Megawati on Saturday morning made a devotional visit to Indonesian first Vice President Mohammad Hatta (Bung Hatta)'s tomb at the Tanah Kusir public cemetery.

Megawati's devotional visit to Bung Hatta's tomb coincided with the birthday of her father, the first President Soekarno (Bung Karno) on June 6, 1901.
In her devotional visit to Bung Hatta's tomb, Megawati was accompanied by Hatta's daughter Halida Hatta who is also the deputy secretary general of Greater Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party, Gerinda deputy chairman Suhardi and his deputy Fadli Zon.

PDI-P and Gerindra support Megawati Soekarnoputri and her running mate Prabowo Subianto ticket in the upcoming July 8 presidential election.

Megawati and her entourage arrived at the tomb at 10.30 on Saturday morning and sprinkle some flowers on the after saying a prayer.

Asked why she visited the tomb on June 6, Megawati said the date was the birthday of her father Soekarno (Bung Karno), who with Bung Hatta were abducted by a group of youths to Rengasdengklok where they were forced to declare Indonesia's independence on August 17, 1945.