Soemitro buried with military honors<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Gen. (ret) Soemitro, the former commander of a
\ndefunct internal security agency, was buried at Kalibata Heroes
\nCemetery, South Jakarta, with full military honors yesterday in
\nthe presence of top military brass.<\/p>\n
The 71-year-old general died Sunday at the Mitra Kemayoran
\nhospital, where he had lain in a coma for 10 days after a stroke
\nwhich led to a brain hemorrhage.<\/p>\n
Soemitro, once dubbed "Indonesia's No. 2 Man", to his final
\ndays remained a respected figure in Indonesian politics and was
\nfamous for his passionate and insightful commentaries.<\/p>\n
Full of military pageantry befitting a fallen soldier,
\nSoemitro was given a hero's send-off in a ceremony led by Army
\nChief of Staff Gen. Subagyo HS.<\/p>\n
Besides family and relatives, many friends from the military
\n-- both active and retired -- attended his funeral.<\/p>\n
Among the distinguished figures seen present were five-star
\nGen. (ret) Abdul Haris Nasution, former Army chief of staff Gen.
\n(ret) LB Moerdani, former House Speaker Lt. Gen. (ret) Kharis
\nSuhud and former Navy chief Adm. (ret) Soedomo.<\/p>\n
Active military generals present included Armed Forces
\nCommander Gen. Wiranto, Chief of the Army's Strategic Reserves
\nCommand Lt. Gen. Prabowo Subianto and Jakarta Military Chief Maj.
\nGen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.<\/p>\n
Vice President Habibie called on Soemitro's family at their
\nresidence in South Jakarta on Sunday night to express his
\ncondolences.<\/p>\n
For many, Soemitro will always be remembered for his role in
\nthe Malari incident of Jan. 15, 1974, which saw chaotic student
\nprotests in Jakarta. It was this fateful incident which led to
\nthe resignation of the then 49-year-old general from the
\nmilitary.<\/p>\n
Also paying his respects at the cemetery yesterday was Hariman
\nSiregar, former University of Indonesia student leader, who stood
\non the opposite side during the protests.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, Soemitro published a firsthand account of
\nthe incident which claimed 11 lives and massive property damage
\nin the capital.<\/p>\n
In the book titled Pangkopkamtib Jen. Soemitro dan Peristiwa
\n15 Januari 1974 (Internal Security Agency Chief Gen. Soemitro and
\nthe Jan. 15, 1974 Incident), Soemitro admitted making several
\ndecisions he later regretted.<\/p>\n
One of them was Hariman's arrest: "If only I had known (of
\nHariman's action), there was no way I would have arrested him."<\/p>\n
Hariman spoke yesterday of nothing but profound respect for
\nthe Probolinggo, East Java-born, general. "I respected his
\nhonesty and openness. It's hard to find a military man as humble
\nand as much a gentleman as him."<\/p>\n
Everyone expressed similar admiration for Soemitro.<\/p>\n
One of the founders of the Armed Forces, Abdul Haris Nasution,
\nremembered the late Soemitro as "a firm man who stuck to his
\nguns". "We've lost one of the country's best sons," the 79-year-
\nold five-star general added. (edt\/aan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soemitro-buried-with-military-honors-1447893297",
"image": ""
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