Hartono meets Soeharto

JAKARTA (JP): Army Chief of Staff Gen. R. Hartono, who arrives at his extended mandatory retirement age next Tuesday, paid a surprise call on President Soeharto yesterday.

Hartono, who will turn 56 next Tuesday, refused to talk to journalists after the meeting.

"Nothing special. Just wait until the right time comes," Hartono said about his career plans while rushing to his waiting car.

President Soeharto, as the Indonesian Armed Forces Supreme Commander, installed Hartono as army chief of staff in February 1995.

Born on June 10, 1941, in Pamekasan, East Java and graduated from the National Military Academy in 1962, Hartono reached retirement age last year, but the President kept him on for another year.

Speculations have been raised about the future of the four- star general. He said Wednesday that he might leave Army headquarters in the near future.

His name has been mentioned as a possible vice president. Others speculate that President Soeharto might appoint him Armed Forces Chief.

He appeared at the presidential palace yesterday in a special military uniform designed for very important ceremonies.

Hartono, who often appears in public with Golkar deputy chief and President Soeharto's eldest daughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, sparked controversy last year when he said ABRI members were also Golkar cadres.

"ABRI members are forbidden to support Golkar half-heartedly," he told a Golkar rally in Central Java.

ABRI members are supposed to be neutral. They do not vote in general elections. (06)