Indonesia mourns the death of General A.H. Nasution

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)