A.H. Nasution dies at the age of 82

JAKARTA (JP): Gen. (ret.) Abdul Harris Nasution, a forceful figure during Indonesia's struggle for independence and influential in both the Old and New Orders, died on Wednesday at the Army's Gatot Subroto Hospital of complications from a stroke and heart disease. He was 82.

Dr. Hermawan, Nasution's private doctor, said that Nasution died at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday. He had been comatose for the last two days.

"Pak Nas, who had been hospitalized since June. 17 for a light stroke, lost consciousness two days ago and was comatose until his death at 7:30 this morning," he said, adding that Nasution was naturally suffering an old disease.

Nasution's body was laid out at his mansion on Jl. Teuku Umar in Menteng, Central Jakarta where a large number of state and military officials came to pay their respects and pray for him.

Among the officials were Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri and husband Taufik Kiemas, Indonesian Military Commander Adm. Widodo A.S., Army Chief Gen. Tyasno Sudarto, Indonesian Military Deputy Commander Gen. Fachrul Rozi, Air Force Chief Marshal Hanafie Asnan, House Speaker Akbar Tandjung, Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso and a number of ministers.

Among former military officers who paid a last tribute to Nasution were Lt. Gen. (ret.) Kemal Idris, Gen. (ret.) Rudini, Lt. Gen. (ret.) Achmad Taher, Lt. Gen. (ret.) R. Soeprapto and Lt. Gen. (ret.) Ali Sadikin.

Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana and Siti Hediati Prabowo were also present, representing their ailing father, Soeharto, former president during the New Order. Hardiyanti, popularly known as Mbak Tutut, said her father was mourning Nasution but could not pay his last respects to the former Army chief because of his poor health. Soeharto lives on Jl. Cendana, also in Menteng.

In Indonesia's military history, only Soeharto and Nasution have been awarded five star rank.

Nasution's body was taken from his residence in a military procession led by Tyasno to the adjacent Cut Meutiah Mosque for a prayer service before burial at the Kalibata heroes cemetery in South Jakarta. Widodo led the funeral ceremony.

Nasution, born on Dec. 3, 1918 in Kotanopan, North Sumatra, is survived by his wife Johanna Sunarti, daughter Yanti Nasution and four grand children. His second daughter Ade Irma Suryani was killed on Oct. 1, 1965 during a coup attempt blamed on the former Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

After graduating from the Military Academy in Bandung in 1942, his first command came three years later as chief of Division III of the then Indonesian People's Military (TRI) in Bandung. From 1946 to 1948 he served as chief of Division I in the Siliwangi Military Command. He occupied the Army's top post twice, from 1949 to 1952, and from 1955 to 1962.

He was renowned for his concept of the military dual function that was later distorted during the New Order, giving the military a dominant role in politics.

Kemal Idris, former commander of the infantry brigade in Jakarta, spoke to reporters on the occasion remembering the good personal relationship between then president Sukarno and Nasution although both had strong differences of opinion.

"Sukarno fired Nasution as Army chief in 1952 because the latter launched the October 17 movement demanding the dissolution of the temporary House of Representatives and the establishment of a new House," he recalled.

Kemal admitted he was one of several military officers who tried to persuade Nasution to take power from Sukarno in 1966 when Nasution was appointed Speaker of the Provisional People's Consultative Assembly (MPRS). But Nasution declined, because of the trauma resulting from the death of his daughter Ade in 1965.

Megawati said that despite their differences of opinion, her late father and family maintained a good relationship with Nasution and his family.

During the New Order era, Nasution was isolated for his persistent criticism of the distortions made to the military's dual function by the New Order regime.

He once received a travel ban for giving support to Soeharto's critics, especially figures of the Petition 50 Group led by Ali Sadikin.

Kemal regretted Nasution's acceptance of the five star award given by Soeharto in 1997.

"It was a hypocrite's decision and a hypocrite's award," Kemal said.

After retiring from the military in 1972, Nasution was active in writing a number of books on Muslim religion, military and politics. Several of his books published over the last two decades were Keuangan Masa Muda (Finance During Childhood), Keuangan Masa Gerilya (Finance During Guerrilla Period), Memenuhi Panggilan Tugas (Assignment), Masa Pancaroba (Transition Period), Masa Orla (Old Order Era), Pokok-pokok Gerilya (On Guerrillas) and Sekitar Perang Kemerdekaan (Independence War). (rms)