President Jokowi Inaugurates Fatmawati Statue in Bengkulu

The Statue of Fatmawati Sukarno at Bengkulu city, Bengkulu province, Wednesday (5/2). (Photo by: PR/Agung).

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Wednesday (5/2) in Bengkulu city inaugurated monument of Fatmawati Soekarno, national hero and Indonesia’s First Lady.

Prior to the inauguration, President Jokowi inspected the former house of the First Lady.

Inside the house—which now functions a museum—there are a number of memorabilia of Fatmawati, including the iconic sewing machine that she used for making the first White and Red flag during Indonesia’s independence day.

The statue—which is designed by Nyoman Nuarta, the same sculptor that plans Bali’s Garuda Wisnu Kencana—is located at Simpang Lima Ratu Samban in Bengkulu.

The first Indonesian President Soekarno married Fatmawati on 1 Juni 1943 and gave birth to five children, namely Guntur Soekarnoputra, the fifth Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Rachmawati Soekarnoputri,  Sukmawati Soekarnoputri, and Guruh Soekarnoputra.

Fatmawati was named as National Hero on 4 November 2000 by the fourth President Abdurrahman Wahid through Presidential Decree Number 118/TK/2000. (UN/EN)

Translated by: Galuh Wicaksono
Reviewed by: Muhammad Ersan Pamungkas