REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BANGKALAN -- Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has expressed deep condolences over the death of former South African president and humanitarian Nelson Mandela here on Friday, saying he was a champion of reconciliation.
"He was a champion of reconciliation, a true democrat, one of the world's leading humanitarians and a dedicated father.
It is only appropriate that the Indonesian people and I pay tribute to the former South African president and express our deep condolences," he said at the Bangkalan district administration complex at the island of Madura, East Java.
President Yudhoyono, who is on a working visit to Madura, said Mandela was an inspiration to humankind, who was renowned across the world for his struggle for equality, as well as his humanity and sincerity.
"We are all amazed by President Mandela. He was thrown into jail for several years by a colonial regime. After the regime changed and the era of apartheid ended, he became president of the people of South Africa," he added.
He noted: "Mandela led with his heart. There were no signs of anger or a desire for vengeance even after years of suffering in prison."
"Mandela was even able to state that 'there is no future without forgiveness or apologies,'" he added.
"That means he accepted what happened in the past and wanted his nation to unite, not waste time seeking vengeance. He wanted his country to grow peacefully and stay united," he said.
Nelson Mandela died at the age of 95 on Thursday in South Africa.
His death was announced by South African President Jacob Zuma on television. Zuma said Mandela "had gone" peacefully.
Mandela, who was the first black president of South Africa, had been undergoing hospital treatment for a lung infection since September.
His health deteriorated after he suffered complications from the lung infection. He died peacefully in the presence of family members.
Mandela will be given a full state funeral, and the national flag will be flown at half-mast.
Mandela, a former boxer, had been suffering from lung problems over the past few years, after contracting tuberculosis during his time in prison.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner was jailed for 27 years before he was finally released in 1990. He led the African National Congress party through negotiations with the white minority group, which culminated in multi-racial general elections in 1994 that Mandela won.
He became president but held the post only for one term of five years. After that, he actively campaigned for raising HIV/AIDS awareness before finally withdrawing from public life in 2004.
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