20000121

Habibie names

'father of

Indonesian

democracy'

BANDUNG: The Jakarta-based tabloid "Visual" will present a golden award to former President BJ Habibie and name him "Father of Indonesian Democracy," a spokesman for the publication said.

Transportation Minister Agum Gumelar was expected to hand the award to Habibie at a ceremony on Feb 1, the tabloid's Editor-in-Chief, M Masyuni T, said here on Wednesday.

The other awardees would be former Information Minister M Yusuf Yosfiah as "Father of Press Freedom" and chief of the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) Wismoyo Arismunandar as "Father of Indonesian Sports".

The tabloid, which celebrated, its first anniversary on Dec 20 last year, would also confer its V-shaped gold award on 20 exemplary national figures, including national heroes, businessmen and social organisation activists.

The 20 would have been selected from 2,243 exemplary national figures nominated by the public.

Masyuni said Habibie deserved the award for his dedication to the advancement of science and technology, particularly in relation with the development of IPTN, Indonesia's aircraft maker.

As the country's third president, Habibie had also succeeded in changing "the face of democracy" and putting it in the right place, he said.ÑANTARA