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The terrorist attacks in Surabaya that left the nation mourning meant that Vice President Jusuf Kalla celebrated his 76th birthday in a modest way

No birthday party for Vice President Jusuf Kalla this year as the country mourns over the Surabaya attacks

The terrorist

attacks in Surabaya have left the whole country mourning. On May 15, the birthday of Vice President Jusuf Kalla, there were no indications of a celebration—not even a single bouquet of flowers garlanded the Vice Presidential Palace in Jakarta.

Two days before his 76th birthday, the vice president had asked his staff not to stage a birthday celebration. “There will be no party: the timing and atmosphere are not right to hold celebrations while the whole country is in bereavement. There will be no flowers, too,” said the vice president. A small prayer with his nuclear family was enough for the Wantampone-born statesman. “I didn’t even get my birthday present,” said the vice president with a smile on his lips