Nasution book stresses morality in development<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Gen. (ret.) A.H. Nasution, Indonesia's most
\nsenior military figure, denied speculation that he and the other
\narmy generals, including (now President) Soeharto, attempted to
\ntake over power from President Sukarno in the 1960s.<\/p>\n
\"It's slander that General Soeharto wanted to take over power
\nfrom President (Sukarno),\" Nasution wrote in his book entitled
\nDr. A.H. Nasution: Pembangunan Moral Inti Pembangunan Nasional
\n(Moral Development, Essence of National Development).<\/p>\n
Published by PT Bina Ilmu, the book was launched yesterday at
\na ceremony attended by Moslem scholar Nurcholish Madjid, justice
\nBismar Siregar, chairman of the influential Islamic Propagation
\nCouncil Anwar Haryono, and A.M. Fatwa, a member of the Petisi 50
\ngroup of government critics.<\/p>\n
Nasution, in frail health, said his book contains elements
\nwhich are \"harsh\", but need to be read. \"Some things which are
\ngood may not always be (pleasant)\", he said.<\/p>\n
The 281-page book is a compilation of 20 articles, which
\nrecount some of the country's most important events in the 1960s
\nalong with sermons and speeches that Nasution wrote and delivered
\nduring the 1970s and early 1980s.<\/p>\n
Parts of the book, edited by senior writer Anshari Thayib, are
\nreminders for the government to pay attention to the moral
\naspects of development.<\/p>\n
The book is a timely response to recent speculation on the
\nalleged role of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in the
\nabortive coup attempt of the now-banned Indonesian Communist
\nParty (PKI) in 1965, and on the army's subsequent takeover of
\npower from Sukarno.<\/p>\n
\"What really happened,\" Nasution wrote, \"both on Oct. 1 (1965)
\nand in the following months, was that I, Gen. Soeharto nor the
\nother generals ever had any intention to take over power from the
\nPresident.\"<\/p>\n
\"Gen. Soeharto and the other commanders of the Armed Forces
\n(ABRI) continued to recognize Bung Karno as President\/Supreme
\nCommander,\" Nasution wrote.<\/p>\n
Nasution also spoke about the closeness he once enjoyed with
\nGeneral Soeharto.<\/p>\n
He wrote about how, after escaping an assassination attempt by
\nthe communists, he used his authority as then commander of the
\nmilitary to give Soeharto the power to lead all military
\noperations against the communists.<\/p>\n
On Oct. 10, 1965, Nasution formally proposed to the President
\nthat Soeharto be appointed army commander. \"The President was
\nstill reluctant, in line with PKI tactics,\" Nasution wrote. \"But
\nwith God's help, he eventually gave up.\"<\/p>\n
Comparison<\/p>\n
Nasution, who is known for his critical stance on many
\ngovernment policies, compared in his book the Old Order
\nadministration, under Sukarno, with the New Order government led
\nby President Soeharto.<\/p>\n
\"During the Old Order, our political system was formally based
\non the Pancasila and the Constitution. Now, it's formally the
\nsame. But in reality, there are deviations and shortcomings,\" he
\nwrote.<\/p>\n
The book tells readers that successful development cannot be
\nmeasured by a high GNP or high-rise buildings. The success of
\ndevelopment, Nasution argues, is reflected in the upstanding
\nmorality of the people.<\/p>\n
The country's leaders must \"have compassion so that they would
\nnot dare to eat their fill before their people eat,\" Nasution
\nsaid, describing the true measure of successful development
\nefforts.<\/p>\n
Nasution's book also asks if the country's rulers are the
\n\"servants, or the boss, of their people\".<\/p>\n
\"Do the rulers spend their time to amass wealth, ignoring the
\npoor?\" Nasution said.<\/p>\n
\"It's undeniable that our development...has produced some real
\nresults, especially physical development. But, in reality, there
\nis evidence of widespread moral decadence...hypocrisy,
\ncorruption..manipulation, lax of legal enforcement and
\njustice...The increasing gap between the rich and the poor.\"<\/p>\n
Nurcholish said the book should be read by those who wish to
\nknow the real Nasution. Quoting a Moslem leader, Subchan Z.E.,
\nNurcholish said Nasution once had the opportunity to become
\npresident, but passed it up. \"Had he not become a general, Pak
\nNas would have become a professor, so deep is his intellectual
\ncapacity.<\/p>\n
Nurcholish quoted Finance Minister Mar'ie Muhammad, who is an
\nadmirer of Nasution's, as calling Nasution \"a puritan\" who
\nconsistently tries to live clean, physically and spiritually.
\n(swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nasution-book-stresses-morality-in-development-1447893297",
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