A.H. Nasution dies at the age of 82

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)