M. Yusuf gets nation's top honor

JAKARTA (JP): Gen. (ret.) Andi Amir M. Yusuf, one of the most respected senior figures in the Indonesian Armed Forces, was awarded the country's highest medal for meritorious services by President Soeharto yesterday.

Yusuf was one of three Army generals who, on March 11, 1966, secured a letter from then president Sukarno which changed the course of the nation's history. Yusuf received the Bintang Republik Indonesia Adipradana in a ceremony at the Merdeka Palace at which President Soeharto handed out medals, of a lesser stature but not less importance, to 43 others.

The day clearly belonged to 67-year old Yusuf, once dubbed by the local media as "Mr. Clean" for his spotless and untarnished image during his long career in the military and the government.

Born in Bone, South Sulawesi, Yusuf's award was given in recognition for his dedication to the nation, dating back to the independence struggle 50 years ago, and his public career which included stints as industry minister from 1966 to 1978, defense minister and Armed Forces chief between 1978 and 1983, and chairman of the Supreme Audit Agency (Bepeka) between 1983 and 1993.

Yusuf, however, will probably be remembered most as one of the three Army officers who in 1966 secured the document known as Supersemar, an abbreviation of the March 11 Executive Order, from Sukarno, giving then Army chief Gen. Soeharto virtually unlimited power to restore peace and order in the country which was then in shambles.

One of the first moves Soeharto made with that letter was to dissolve the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), which was blamed for the abortive coup the previous September. Soeharto subsequently rose to power and has been at the helm since.

There has been controversy surrounding the way the Supersemar was secured. Yusuf is the only one of the three generals still alive.

There were no speeches at yesterday's brief and solemn ceremony.

Soeharto decorated Teuku Mohammad Hasan, one of the principle designers of the 1945 Constitution's Preamble. with the Bintang Republik Indonesia Utama, the country's second highest medal.

The Bintang Republik Indonesia medal is given to those who have made an extraordinary contribution to the unity, glory and existence of the state. It has five-classes with Adipradana being the highest, followed by the Utama class.

The Bintang Republik Indonesia was last awarded in 1992 with the Utama class being given posthumously to eight members of Indonesia's Preparatory Commission for Independence.

The President awarded various classes of the Mahaputera medal to 42 people, including four women, for their contributions.

Eleven people who received the Mahaputera Adipradana are: Chief Justice H. Soerjono; Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung; Army Chief of Staff Gen. R. Hartono; Navy Chief of Staff Admiral T. Koeswanto; Air Force Chief of Staff Marshall Rilo Pambudi; National Police Chief Gen. Banurusman Astrosemitro; former home minister Anak Agung Gde Agung; former Army chief of staff Gen. (ret.) Wismoyo Arismunandar; former chief Justice Soerjadi; former Navy Chief of staff Admiral (ret.) R. Kasenda; and deputy chief justice Maj. Gen. (ret.) Djaelani.

Among the 26-recipients of the Mahaputra Utama medal are four women: Siti Wahjunah Sjahrir, wife of first prime minister Sutan Sjahrir; Johana Sunarti Nasution, wife of retired Gen. A.H. Nasution; Mastini Hardjoprakorso, head of the National Library; and senior journalist Herawati Diah.

Other recipients are: Lt. Gen. Soedibyo; Lt. Gen. Mutojib; Lt. Gen. (ret.) H.B.L. Mantiri; Lt. Gen. (ret.) Himawan Sutanto; Lt. Gen. (ret.) Rais Abin; Lt. Gen. Sukarto; Surjadi Soedirdja; Hasan Basri Durin; Lt. Gen. Soerjadi; Rear Adm. (ret.) Soedibyo Rahardjo; Rear Adm. Abu Hartono; Rear Adm. (ret.) Sumitro; rear Adm. (ret.) Syamsul Bahri; Maj. Gen. (ret.) Suryo Sumpeno; Maj. Gen. Pranowo; Maj. Gen. (ret.) R. Nuriana; Maj. Gen. (ret.) M. Yasin; Bambang Kesowo; Rahadi Ramelan; Djali Ahimsa; Sahala P. Napitupulu; and Zainal Asikin Kusumah Atmadja.

Diplomat Soedarpo Sastrosatomo was the sole recipient of the Mahaputra Pratama, while four other honorees -- Dardji Darmodihardjo, Maj. Gen. (ret.) Andi Matalata, Brig. Gen. (ret.) Imam Soedarwo, and Oyon Tahyan -- rounded up the list as recipients of the Mahaputra Nararya. (mds)