Many facets to Benny Moerdani<\/p>\n
In the early hours of Sunday, one of the most feared, yet
\nrespected sons of the nation left us. Gen. (ret) Leonardus
\nBenjamin \"Benny\" Moerdani, 71, deserves the praise that has been
\nheaped on him from many quarters. It is not an exaggeration to
\nsay that he was probably one of the best soldiers this nation
\never had. It is difficult to deny the fact. His military career,
\nspanning almost the whole of his lifetime from the period of
\nfreedom-fighting in the 1940s, saw him holding the positions of
\nintelligence chief and military chief when the Indonesian
\nMilitary (TNI) was known as the Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI).<\/p>\n
Once the most powerful general in the country, Benny is being
\nhonored with flags flying at half-mast for seven days at all
\nmilitary headquarters throughout the country.<\/p>\n
The best soldiers have the most inspirational characteristics.
\nThey are true soldiers, genuine, professional and loyal at the
\nsame time. All these outstanding traits seemed to come together
\nin the figure that was affectionately called Pak Benny. His
\nfriends would undoubtedly quote more pluses, like his
\nextraordinary intellectual capacity, quick wit, intelligent
\nremarks, firmness and, perhaps, sternness. His critics would
\nobviously remember his harshness, toughness and severity in
\ndealing with government opposition during the Soeharto years;
\nperhaps they will add one more: His cruelty.<\/p>\n
Benny, the person, exuded an air of respect and fear, firmness
\nand charm at the same time, as if he were the embodiment of two
\nalmost opposing traits.<\/p>\n
Benny's career coincided with the transformation of a nation
\nfrom decolonialization to modernity. He had to deal with
\nnumerous, delicate issues stemming from the quicksand traps
\nassociated with rapid industrialization. At the same time, the
\ncommunists in Indonesia were severely routed following the 1965
\ncoup blamed on them while, globally, the Cold War was raging. As
\na soldier, he knew that he had to safeguard the task of turning
\nthis colonial backwater into a prosperous nation. As such he had
\nto face myriad issues ranging from defusing confrontation with
\nMalaysia to toning down militant Islam groups, from silencing
\ngovernment critics to crushing criminals.<\/p>\n
Benny's intelligence background ran heavy through his military
\ncareer and it endowed him with much information not available to
\nthe public. He had an astute understanding of what was going on
\nin the country -- what threats or dangers were imminent.<\/p>\n
During the Soeharto years -- and, sadly, to some extent until
\ntoday -- one's religion played a vital role in one's life and
\ncareer. Being a Roman Catholic general who had to silence Muslim
\nmilitants in a country with the largest Islamic population was a
\ntall order. It was only natural that Benny accumulated foes among
\nMuslims, especially after the 1984 Tanjung Priok massacre in
\nJakarta when soldiers opened fire on suspected Muslim militants.
\nHis name was still mentioned by those protesting the incident
\nquite recently. Trials to investigate the incident have just
\nconcluded, but critics say only a few low-ranking military
\nofficers were punished.<\/p>\n
In 1983 Benny allegedly ordered the street killings of
\ncriminals to reduce the crime rate in the country. Five years
\nlater, Soeharto wrote in his book Pikiran, Ucapan dan Tindakan
\nSaya (My Thoughts, Sayings and Actions) that Soeharto was the one
\nwho gave the order.<\/p>\n
There are those who feel that they were victimized by Benny's
\npast action, and rightly so. Many human rights activists
\nperceived Benny as a gross human rights violator after one-third
\nof East Timor's 750,000 people allegedly perished during an
\nIndonesian invasion in the former Portuguese colony in 1975.<\/p>\n
A great man is always controversial, and Benny was no
\nexception. When one reflects on his harshness in the past toward
\nthose opposing the government, perhaps it is useful to remember
\nthat nothing is more inappropriate than to measure events of the
\npast with the yardstick of today.<\/p>\n
It is best, perhaps, to take some lessons from his life: Benny
\nprovided many. His love and dedication to his nation, for
\nexample, is almost unparalleled. It is something in short supply
\ntoday. Benny was a leader with vision, also a rarity today, who
\nstreamlined, restructured and modernized the Indonesian Military.
\nHe was a man of principle who often had to suffer for being so.<\/p>\n
Benny, perhaps, had a bad record of human rights violations
\nbut he also contributed a lot to his nation. He was involved in
\ncrushing many Muslim hard-liners, some of them prominent Muslim
\nleaders, but he also parachuted into the dense jungle of Irian
\nJaya in mid-1960s to liberate it from the Dutch colonial
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
To view Benny from one perspective only is to do him an
\ninjustice.<\/p>",
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