ABRI owes success to the people, Nasution says<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) owes its existence and
\nits prominent position in the country today to the people, Gen.
\n(ret.) Abdul Haris Nasution says.<\/p>\n
The military often claims credit for its role in ensuring
\nnational unity, but this would not have been possible without the
\npeople's support, Nasution, the most senior living ABRI officer,
\nsaid on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Nasution made the speech during a nostalgic return to the
\nSiliwangi Military Command headquarters in Bandung, an elite
\ndivision of the Army which he founded in the late 1940s.<\/p>\n
The 75-year old former general was invited to attend
\nSiliwangi's 48th anniversary for the first time in 16 years in a
\nfurther signal of reconciliation between the government and one
\nof its most prominent critics.<\/p>\n
Nasution was estranged from the government and the military
\nbetween the early 1970s until last year chiefly because of his
\ncriticism of President Soeharto.<\/p>\n
\"It is in this success story that we see the significance of
\nbeing united with the people. Without their participation, ABRI
\nwould not have been successful,\" said Nasution, who lead the
\ncommand in 1946-1948 at the height of the independence struggle.<\/p>\n
Nasution rose in ranks in the military and the government,
\nreaching his career peak in the 1960s when he was minister of
\ndefense.<\/p>\n
Besides its role in the independence struggle, the Siliwangi
\nCommand was also pivotal in putting down various rebellions in
\nthe 1950s and 1960s.<\/p>\n
The meeting was attended by five former Siliwangi chiefs
\nincluding A.E. Kawilarang, Dadang Suprajogi, Himawan Soetanto,
\nEdi Sudradjat (now minister of defense and security) and Maj. Gen
\nR. Nuriana.<\/p>\n
H.R. Dharsono, another former Siliwangi chief, who like
\nNasution has since fallen out of favor with Soeharto, was not
\npresent because he is in Saudi Arabia for the haj pilgrimage.
\n
\nSocial Project<\/p>\n
Nasution said the Siliwangi command contributed many of the
\ndoctrines that are now widely used by ABRI.<\/p>\n
It was also this command which first introduced the social
\nwork projects for the military which is now popularly referred to
\nas ABRI's Village Improvement Program (AMD).<\/p>\n
\"The aim of the operation at that time was primarily to thank
\nthe people of West Java for helping to save the region
\nfrom separatist rebellions,\" Nasution said.<\/p>\n
Nasution was also the one who coined Siliwangi's maxim esa
\nhilang dua terbilang (two emerge as one falls) and the maxim
\n'Siliwangi is West Java people and West Java people are
\nSiliwangi.'<\/p>\n
The first slogan, according to Nasution, aims to motivate ABRI
\nmembers to improve their service and keep the unity with the
\npeople so that people can take the benefit of their dedication.
\n(prs)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/abri-owes-success-to-the-people-nasution-says-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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