Few can forget, however, that when Sukarno was seen as too cosy with communists, the armed forces effectively deposed him, unleashing massacres across Java. Current political convulsions are connected to a range of constitutional and political issues unsolved since Sukarno's time such as the right balance between Islamic, military and ideological blocs, and the question of whether the constitution Sukarno wrote is presidential or parliamentary. Birthday celebrations are already beginning. In homage to his pivotal role at the 1955 Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung, a new statue of Sukarno will be unveiled there tomorrow. At the weekend, special re-issues of seven books of Sukarno's oratory will be launched.
Seminars are also being held in the Netherlands and Russia, the committee says.
But such innocent pleasures have taken on a new twist as President Abdurrahman Wahid fights for his job and Sukarno's daughter, Ms Megawati, appears ready to take it over. She has been in touch with the committee since its formation in January and could well be hoping for a fringe benefit in the form of increased adoration for herself. Even holding a birthday party is a daunting task. As Ms Megawati pursues the presidency, two of her sisters have aligned themselves publicly with Mr Wahid and two brothers are active on the birthday committee. Everyone is invited, however, even Sukarno's fourth wife, the controversial Japanese socialite Dewi Sukarno.