Late Gen. Soedirman honored

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Military chief (TNI) Adm. Widodo A.S. and other military top brass began arriving here on Saturday to attend a ceremony to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Gen. Soedirman, the first armed forces commander.

Head of the Regional Military Information Office Col. Sugeng Saryanto told reporters that Army Chief of Staff Gen. Tyasno Sudarto, Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Achmad Sutjipto and Air Marshal Hanafie Asnan would also attend the ceremony, which begins tonight at Soedirman Museum.

"They will not make any particular statement," he said, adding that the high point of the ceremony will occur on Sunday at Soedirman's grave.

Gen. Soedirman was the first commander of the first Indonesian armed forces which fought against the Dutch. He died in 1950 and was buried at Kusumanegara Heroes Cemetery.

The ceremony was also attended by religious leaders of various faiths. (44/04)