Indonesia mourns the death of General A.H. Nasution

JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of people, including state and military officials, thronged the residence of Gen. (ret) Abdul Haris Nasution on Jl. Teuku Umar in Menteng, Central Jakarta to pay homage to the old military and political figure who passed away after an enduring disease on Wednesday.

Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who arrived with her husband Taufik Kiemas, expressed her deep condolences over Nasution's death, saying that the nation had lost one of its finest sons.

"My family and I will miss Nasution, a former military figure who has done many good deeds for the nation. My late parents (Sukarno and Fatmawati) and their children had a good relationship with him and his family," Megawati told the press after saying her prayer beside Nasution's body.

Megawati regretted that Nasution did not write much about the Sept. 30, 1965 abortive coup by the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

House Speaker Akbar Tandjung said that the country's leaders should take Nasution as a role model due to his down to earth nature.

"Nasution's death is a great loss for the nation," he said.

Adm. Widodo A.S., chief of the Indonesian Military (TNI), said Nasution was not only a military figure who had occupied numerous key positions in the past, but a great statesman who had dedicated his life and contributed much thought to the nation.

"His good personality and thoughts are a fine example and aspiration for the military to develop itself. He has also written numerous books that offer smart ideas on how to build the nation," he said.

Army Chief Gen. Tyasno Sudarto also said Nasution was a good example for the nation and especially for the military.

"He is a good example for the military because he had a strong personality which could be seen in his consistency. He was a true professional militaryman," he said.

He said Nasution had laid a strong basis for the development of the TNI during his active service in the Army. The force's progress over the last 30 years was attributable partly to his personal contribution, according to Tyasno.

"Pak Nas has laid strong fundamentals for the building of the Army's identity as a fighting force, as the people's military and the national defense force," he said.

He added that the Army would fully support Nasution's idea to build a museum to house his books and other works of a military nature.

Gen. (ret.) Rudini, a former Army chief, expressed his regret over Nasution's death, saying he had numerous impressive personal experiences to share.

"I know much about Nasution's personality because he swore me in as a new cadet in 1965 and I have had numerous personal contacts with him after his retirement," he said.

Rudini said Nasution was known for his consistency in all matters and that the late general had always told his subordinates to remain consistent in their assignments.

He said Nasution had frequently criticized former president Soeharto and his government "because he considered the New Order regime to have breached the 1945 Constitution."

"He opposed the poor implementation of the military's dual function during the New Order era because it was similar to the original concept and that was why he supported the Petisi 50 Group," he said.

Kemal Idris, former chief of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad), appreciated Nasution's consistency in taking the people's side.

"Nasution developed the military to protect the people and not to oppress them as the former New Order regime did," he said.

He also said that Nasution was a good example for state and military officials in matters of consistency, honesty and fairness.

"All through his life, Nasution has displayed a consistent, honest and fair disposition. He had no greed for power and was not overambitious," he said, citing that Nasution did not know much about the March 11 Order Letter with which Soeharto took power from then president Soekarno.

He called on the government to award Nasution with the status of national hero because of his meritorious service to the military and the nation.

"Nasution who has contributed much to the nation deserves a national hero award," he said.

Former National Police chief Maj. Gen. (ret) Koesparmono Irsan, who is now a member of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), said he was mesmerized by the warm-hearted Nasution.

"Pak Nas was very open and respected everybody's opinion, including his subordinates," he said.

Koesparmono admitted to knowing Nasution well as he, along with late Capt. Pierre Tendean, was once appointed as his adjutant.

Feisal Reza Rachmad, chairman of the Forum for Democratic Action and Studies (Fosad), said Pak Nas had a simple but brilliant personality.

"He, along with his family, led a normal and simple life but he still contributed so much to the process of nation building," he said.

Rose, a senior high school student, said that she admired Nasution because of his great contribution to the nation and the development of Muslim regions in the country.

"I visited him and his family several times during Idhul Fitri holidays and I have read many of his books on Islam and the military," she said.

Santi Kartika, along with several other women who live in the area, said they were shocked by Nasution's death.

"We came here to pay our last respects to him because he is a great figure. We got the news of his death after watching TV this morning," she said.

The women conceded they had never met Nasution but knew much about him from his books. (rms/bby)