M. Yusuf gets nation's top honor<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Gen. (ret.) Andi Amir M. Yusuf, one of the most
\nrespected senior figures in the Indonesian Armed Forces, was
\nawarded the country's highest medal for meritorious services by
\nPresident Soeharto yesterday.<\/p>\n
Yusuf was one of three Army generals who, on March 11, 1966,
\nsecured a letter from then president Sukarno which changed the
\ncourse of the nation's history. Yusuf received the Bintang
\nRepublik Indonesia Adipradana in a ceremony at the Merdeka Palace
\nat which President Soeharto handed out medals, of a lesser
\nstature but not less importance, to 43 others.<\/p>\n
The day clearly belonged to 67-year old Yusuf, once dubbed by
\nthe local media as \"Mr. Clean\" for his spotless and untarnished
\nimage during his long career in the military and the government.<\/p>\n
Born in Bone, South Sulawesi, Yusuf's award was given in
\nrecognition for his dedication to the nation, dating back to the
\nindependence struggle 50 years ago, and his public career which
\nincluded stints as industry minister from 1966 to 1978, defense
\nminister and Armed Forces chief between 1978 and 1983, and
\nchairman of the Supreme Audit Agency (Bepeka) between 1983 and
\n1993.<\/p>\n
Yusuf, however, will probably be remembered most as one of the
\nthree Army officers who in 1966 secured the document known as
\nSupersemar, an abbreviation of the March 11 Executive Order, from
\nSukarno, giving then Army chief Gen. Soeharto virtually unlimited
\npower to restore peace and order in the country which was then in
\nshambles.<\/p>\n
One of the first moves Soeharto made with that letter was to
\ndissolve the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), which was blamed
\nfor the abortive coup the previous September. Soeharto
\nsubsequently rose to power and has been at the helm since.<\/p>\n
There has been controversy surrounding the way the Supersemar
\nwas secured. Yusuf is the only one of the three generals still
\nalive.<\/p>\n
There were no speeches at yesterday's brief and solemn
\nceremony.<\/p>\n
Soeharto decorated Teuku Mohammad Hasan, one of the principle
\ndesigners of the 1945 Constitution's Preamble. with the Bintang
\nRepublik Indonesia Utama, the country's second highest medal.<\/p>\n
The Bintang Republik Indonesia medal is given to those who
\nhave made an extraordinary contribution to the unity, glory and
\nexistence of the state. It has five-classes with Adipradana being
\nthe highest, followed by the Utama class.<\/p>\n
The Bintang Republik Indonesia was last awarded in 1992 with
\nthe Utama class being given posthumously to eight members of
\nIndonesia's Preparatory Commission for Independence.<\/p>\n
The President awarded various classes of the Mahaputera medal
\nto 42 people, including four women, for their contributions.<\/p>\n
Eleven people who received the Mahaputera Adipradana are:
\nChief Justice H. Soerjono; Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal
\nTanjung; Army Chief of Staff Gen. R. Hartono; Navy Chief of Staff
\nAdmiral T. Koeswanto; Air Force Chief of Staff Marshall Rilo
\nPambudi; National Police Chief Gen. Banurusman Astrosemitro;
\nformer home minister Anak Agung Gde Agung; former Army chief of
\nstaff Gen. (ret.) Wismoyo Arismunandar; former chief Justice
\nSoerjadi; former Navy Chief of staff Admiral (ret.) R. Kasenda;
\nand deputy chief justice Maj. Gen. (ret.) Djaelani.<\/p>\n
Among the 26-recipients of the Mahaputra Utama medal are four
\nwomen: Siti Wahjunah Sjahrir, wife of first prime minister Sutan
\nSjahrir; Johana Sunarti Nasution, wife of retired Gen. A.H.
\nNasution; Mastini Hardjoprakorso, head of the National Library;
\nand senior journalist Herawati Diah.<\/p>\n
Other recipients are: Lt. Gen. Soedibyo; Lt. Gen. Mutojib; Lt.
\nGen. (ret.) H.B.L. Mantiri; Lt. Gen. (ret.) Himawan Sutanto; Lt.
\nGen. (ret.) Rais Abin; Lt. Gen. Sukarto; Surjadi Soedirdja; Hasan
\nBasri Durin; Lt. Gen. Soerjadi; Rear Adm. (ret.) Soedibyo
\nRahardjo; Rear Adm. Abu Hartono; Rear Adm. (ret.) Sumitro; rear
\nAdm. (ret.) Syamsul Bahri; Maj. Gen. (ret.) Suryo Sumpeno; Maj.
\nGen. Pranowo; Maj. Gen. (ret.) R. Nuriana; Maj. Gen. (ret.) M.
\nYasin; Bambang Kesowo; Rahadi Ramelan; Djali Ahimsa; Sahala P.
\nNapitupulu; and Zainal Asikin Kusumah Atmadja.<\/p>\n
Diplomat Soedarpo Sastrosatomo was the sole recipient of the
\nMahaputra Pratama, while four other honorees -- Dardji
\nDarmodihardjo, Maj. Gen. (ret.) Andi Matalata, Brig. Gen. (ret.)
\nImam Soedarwo, and Oyon Tahyan -- rounded up the list as
\nrecipients of the Mahaputra Nararya. (mds)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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