HR Dharsono buried with full military honors

BANDUNG (JP): Hartono Rekso Dharsono, a soldier and diplomat who became a staunch critic of the government, was buried with full military honors at Sirnaraga civilian cemetery yesterday.

Dharsono, who was a lieutenant general when he retired from the army, died of cancer yesterday morning at the Advent Hospital. He would have turned 71 on June 10.

After taking part in the independence struggle of the 1940s, his military career peaked when he became chief of the Siliwangi Command in 1966-69 which is based here. It was while holding this position that he helped to establish the New Order government under President Soeharto.

He served as ambassador to Thailand (1969-1972) and to Cambodia (1972-1975) and was secretary general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations from 1976 to 1978.

After retiring from public life, he became one of President Soeharto's staunchest critics. He paid a heavy price for this when he was sent to jail on charges of subversion in 1984 for addressing a series of clandestine meetings. He was freed in 1990.

If he was a controversial figure in his life, his death also left a controversy yesterday as close friends and the military squabbled over whether or not he was entitled to be buried at the Heroes' Cemetery.

Lt. Gen. (ret.) Mashoedi, who was appointed by the Armed Forces to lead the ceremony, said Dharsono forfeited his entitlement to burial at the Heroes' Cemetery after his court conviction.

"In all my years as soldier, I've never heard such a regulation. It's ridiculous," said Solichin GP, the former secretary for the supervision of development who was among many people who went to Dharsono's residence to pay their last respects.

Responding to the criticism, Mashoedi said he had read the regulation before leaving home. "I can make copies of the regulation if you want to see it."

The occasion also saw a rare gathering of senior Army officers, including Siliwangi chief Maj. Gen. Tayo Tarmadi, and leading critics of the government. Most notable among them were Ali Sadikin, Abdul Haris Nasution and Soemitro -- all retired generals -- and human rights campaigner Adnan Buyung Nasution.

"Pak Ton (as Dharsono was affectionately known by friends) was a fighter and founder of the New Order. He also became a victim of the New Order," Sadikin said in an emotionally charged eulogy.

"He was not a traitor. He was a hero fighting for his goals, first for independence, and later for the New Order. Nothing more and nothing less," he said.

Sadikin balked when Tayo tried to calm him, but his eulogy was cut short in any case when the sound system broke down.

Tayo explained later that it was the wish of the family to have Dharsono buried at Sirnaraga as he wanted to be close to his relatives.

He said the military honors were given because he was a highly respected Siliwangi figure. "His biggest contribution was in elevating the stature of Siliwangi."

Dharsono is survived by his wife and six children. (17/emb)

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