After the funeral of our late father, Brig. Gen. (ret) R.M. Subroto Kusmardjo at Karet Bivak Cemetery, I thought I would air my feelings and those of others who were there that day.

My father, who was once a freedom fighter for our country, did not want to be buried in the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery, instead he chose to be buried by my mother's side at Karet.

He had a full military funeral, which he deserved, but sadly the cemetery itself was a mess, uncared for with coarse grass growing wildly between the graves.

The graves of our mother and sister and some other family members were cared for by a private caretaker so at least that was OK. But the surrounding areas were in such a mess.

So, what may I ask are we paying our yearly fees for when the Karet Bivak Cemetery management can not even cut the grass and keep the last resting place of our loved ones and also a lot of our country's heroes looking nice and decent?

If other cemeteries like Tanah Kusir and Jeruk Purut in South Jakarta can do it, why not Karet, which is actually under the Central Jakarta administration? It is a real shame to see that even to the end of one's life, money is still the real factor, money talks.

I hope whoever is in charge or whatever department these cemeteries are under, someone will take notice and do the right thing.

We should not be going through the pain twice of reburying our loved ones somewhere else just so that there is some dignity at there last resting place.

DOTTY SUBROTO CHARD

Jakarta

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