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Johana S. Nasution dies at 87
Johana Sunarti Nasution, wife of the late Gen
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J
ohana Sunarti Nasution, wife of the late Gen. (ret.) Abdul Harris Nasution, an influential military general in the years of Sukarno and Soeharto, died Saturday night at Gatot Subroto Army Hospital. She was 87.
Johana, who reportedly died of complications arising from goiter, is survived by four grandchildren, five great grandchildren and her remaining daughter, Hendriyanti Sahara, from her marriage with Nasution, who died in 2000.
Their other daughter, Ade Irma Suryani, was shot by soldiers during a failed coup on Sept. 30, 1965 and died several days later.
President Susilo Bambang Yu-dhoyono, Vice President Boediono, former president B.J. Habibie, Chairman of the People’s Consultative Council Taufik Kiemas, Military chief Gen. Djoko Santoso and Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo were seen mourning at the residence where Johana, affectionately called Bu Nas was laid, Antara reported.
“The late [Johana] had faithfully accompanied our great A.H. Nasution, the father of the Indonesian army, defender of truth and justice, a statesman that had made a huge contribution to our nation,” the President said.
Nasution was renowned for his concept of the military dual function that was later distorted under the New Order, to give the military a dominant role in politics.
He was persuaded to take power from Sukarno in 1966 when he was appointed Speaker of the Provisional People’s Consultative Assembly (MPRS), a request he had declined because of the trauma resulting from the death of his daughter.
Boediono said the younger generation should take Johana as their role model as she was both a good wife and a professional in her field.
Her body was buried next to her husband’s grave at the cemetery for national heroes at Kalibata in South Jakarta. The military funeral was led by Agum Gumelar.
Born on Nov. 1 1,923, Johana spent most of her life doing charity work.
She established several foundations including Bina Wicara Foundation, Jambangan Kasih Foundation, Panti Usada Mulia foundation and Santi Rama Foundation.
She was awarded the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service in 1981. A year later, she received the Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Rotary Foundation.
The government also gave her several honorary medals and awards such as the Satya Lantjana award for Social Services (1971), the Lencana Satya Bhakti Utama Persit Kartika Chandra Kirana (1989) and the Bintang Maha Putra Utama (1995).
One of her grandchildren, Marina, said that one of her greatest wishes was that her family would continue her spirit of altruism. “She has devoted much of her life by being involved in 115 foundations.
