REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhyono sent Coordinating Minister for Peoples Welfare Agung Laksono to attend the memorial service for Nelson Mandela on Tuesday at the FNB stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. The senior minister wore batik when attending the service.

"I represent the Indonesian government and the people of Indonesia in paying tribute to Nelson Mandela," Laksono said in telephone conversation on Tuesday. 

Agung said he wore a traditional Indonesian batik shirt to the ceremony. He pointed out that Mandela also admired Indonesian batik prints.

"I wore batik because Nelson Mandela was one of the world leaders who often wore batik," he added.

Agung said President Yudhoyono had sent him to attend the ceremony in view of Indonesia's deep ties with Nelson Mandela. "Nelson Mandela always maintained good relations with Indonesia. By sending me, the president wishes to show the countrys highest respect for Mandela," he noted.

Agung said the South African government had requested world leaders to attend the memorial service at Johannesburg, instead of the funeral at Qunu in the Eastern Cape province on December 15. After the memorial service, Mandelas body will lie in state at the Union building in Pretoria for three days starting from Wednesday.

On December 15, a burial ceremony will be held at Mandelas home and at the cemetery in Qunu, Eastern Cape province. The former South African president and freedom fighter died on December 5, after succumbing to lung infection in Johannesburg at the age of 95.

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