Hoegeng attends police anniversary ceremony

Hoegeng attends police anniversary ceremony

JAKARTA (JP): Retired police general Hoegeng Imam Santoso,
long ostracized by the service he once led because of his
political views, attended Bhayangkara Day celebrations yesterday
to mark the 51st anniversary of the National Police.

It was the first time that Hoegeng, who led the force from
1968 to 1971, had donned his police uniform for some time.

"This is kind of heavy. I think it must be the stars," the 75-
year-old Hoegeng quipped when reporters approached him for
comment.

"I have not worn this for a while. Thank God it still fits.

"Of course I've missed the ceremony. But then I was never
invited," said Hoegeng, who went to the ceremony at the
headquarters of the Police Mobile Brigade in Kelapa Dua, East
Jakarta, in a car given to him by the National Police chief.

Hoegeng was dismissed from his post in 1971 at the height of
an investigation into a massive luxurious car smuggling racket.

Known for his simplicity -- he often rode a bike to his office
even when he was chief of the National Police -- he became a
vocal critic of the government in the 1980s when he joined the
Group of 50.

Like other members of the group, he was ostracized from public
affairs and struck off guest lists for official functions,
including those held by the National Police.

Hoegeng said that in the past the National Police chief had
only asked for his blessing before Bhayangkara Day. But on
Saturday, National Police Chief Gen. Dibyo Widodo personally took
an invitation to his house.

Asked whether he detected a change of heart in the government,
he said: "I don't know."

"Were you surprised by the invitation?" reporters asked.

"No, not really," he replied.

Hoegeng's presence at the ceremony followed the attendance of
other equally critical former military officers at several
official functions.

Gen. (ret.) Abdul Harris Nasution, the first Army chief of
staff and known for his staunch criticism of the government,
attended the ceremony to mark last month's transfer of the Army
chief of staff post from Gen. Hartono to Gen. Wiranto.

Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Arief Kushariadi, who attended the
National Police ceremony, also hinted that he might invite Ali
Sadikin, a retired marine lieutenant general who has led the
Group of 50, to Armada Day in November.

"We will consider it," he said when reporters asked whether he
would invite Sadikin, who also served as Jakarta governor in the
1970s.

"In principle, the Navy respects all its seniors," Arief said.
(imn/emb)