Suharto buried under royal parasol

Indonesian strongman Suharto was buried beneath a golden parasol Monday, an honour usually reserved for members of the nobility and testament to his marriage to a minor Javanese royal.

The ex-president was laid to rest alongside his wife Siti Hartinah Suharto, known as Bu Tien, in a mausoleum near the city of Solo which already contains the remains of her aristocratic ancestors.

Despite his marriage Suharto remained a commoner, but his 32-year rule was shaped by the courtly and mystical Javanese culture.

Bu Tien, who died in 1996 of a heart attack at the age of 72, belonged to a minor branch of Solo’s sprawling royal family, who still command respect from many in Central Java.

Aloof and impassive, but awesomely powerful, Suharto was seen as embodying the essence of leadership for the Javanese people, whose culture is marked by politeness and a deference to authority.

Matesih, Monday, AFP