Karanganyar, Central Java

The second President of Indonesia Soeharto, who died on Sunday, was given a state funeral likened to the burial ceremonies of the ancient Javanese kings at his family mausoleum in Karanganyar, Central Java, on Monday.

Soeharto died at 86 at Pertamina Hospital in Jakarta and was transported to Central Java aboard a Hercules C-16 aircraft via Halim Perdanakusuma Airbase in Jakarta.

Soeharto's body was buried next to his wife's grave, while soldiers fired a salvo of guns, and all in attendance paid their last respects.

Thousands of locals, including school children, stood patiently along the 35-kilometer route toward the burial place to give their farewells and pay a last tribute to Indonesia's longest serving president.

Those present at the ceremony included Soeharto's children, his sons and daughters in law, grand children and other relatives. Halimah, the divorced wife of his second son, Bambang Trihatmojo, and Regita Cahyani, also known as Tala, the divorced wife of his youngest son, Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, were also in attendance.

Several neighboring countries including Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar and Timor Leste sent delegates to attend the funeral.

A great number of state officials were also in attendance, including House Speaker Agung Laksono, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie, chairman of the Regional Representatives Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Chief Commander of the Indonesian Military Gen. Djoko Santoso and the chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who had arrived on the scene earlier, presided over the funeral ceremony. In his address, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono hailed Soeharto as an important figure who had made a great contribution to the country. The President said Soeharto was a human being who had faults and who had committed mistakes during his 32-year tenure.

However, even as the nation's enters to declared seven-day mourning period and increasingly louder calls are being heard for the public to pardon Soeharto, victims of human rights abuses, including those arrested and imprisoned without trial during his tenure, continue to say that they see no reason to forgive him. (JP)