Bayu Ardi Isnanto, Karanganyar – Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto made a devotional visit (ziarah) to the grave of former president Suharto at Astana Giribangun in Karanganyar on Monday May 27. Landing at the Adi Soemarmo Airport in the Central Java city of Solo, Prabowo immediately set off for Suharto’s grave.
The chairperson of the Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) arrived at 1.30 pm wearing a brown safari suit, black trousers and black sunglasses. Prabowo then put on a black peci hat as he walked towards the grave.
Arriving along with Prabowo was his son from his marriage to his former wife and Suharto’s daughter Titiek Suharto, Didit Prabowo. Also present was former Central Java governor Bibit Waluyo, Gerindra Central Java Regional Leadership Board (DPD) Chairperson Abdul Wachid and Gerindra DPD Secretary Sriyanto Saputro.
They were greeted by Gerindra Party members and Prabowo’s supporters. After greeting several people, Prabowo then went directly into the area where Suharto and his wife Tien Suharto are buried.
“Ziarah first yes”, said a security officer while holding back supporters who wanted to greet Prabowo.
Prabowo emerged from the grave around 20 minutes later then headed to the rest area at the Wisma Lerem where he stayed for several minutes. He left the location at 2.30 pm.
Astana Giribangun caretaker Sukirno said that Prabowo came specifically to pray. Aside from visiting the grave of his former farther-in-law Suharto, he also visited the graves of Tien Suharto’s parents.
“[He came] earlier together with Mas [Brother] Didit, his son. He also went to the grave of Ibu [Mother] Tien’s parents, KPH Soemoharjomo and Bray Hatmanti Hatmohoedojo, and the grave of Ibu Tien’s older brother”, said Sukirno.
Saputro, who picked Prabowo up from the airport, said that Prabowo’s activities in and around Solo were family related. His aim was to pay a devotional visit to the grave complex of the Pura Mangkunegaran family.
“It was just a family affair. Earlier [he came from] Jakarta, stopped in Solo and came directly here (Astana Giribangun). After this he will go directly home”, he said. (bai/mbr)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Prabowo Ziarah ke Makam Pak Harto Ditemani Anaknya".]
