Military figures and state officials pay their respects to Ryamizard at Cikeas

Bogor Regency (ANTARA) – Military figures and state officials paid their respects at the wake of former Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) and Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu at Puri Wira Bhakti housing estate in Cikeas, Gunungputri, Bogor Regency, West Java, on Sunday.

The wake was crowded with mourners from the family, retired military personnel, government officials, and the late’s friends. Ryamizard’s body was laid at his residence from around 5:00 PM WIB under armed TNI security.

Attendees included Interior Minister Tito Karnavian, former TNI Commander Gatot Nurmantyo, Presidential Chief of Staff Dudung Abdurachman, and various other officials and retired TNI personnel.

Gatot recalled Ryamizard’s key contribution in driving road construction through the TNI Manunggal Membangun Desa (TMMD) programme after the 2004 Aceh tsunami. “He was the one who insisted on building a road from Banda Aceh to Teunom through TMMD. Many thought it impossible due to tsunami-ravaged terrain, but he insisted it must be done, and it was eventually completed,” Gatot said.

Meanwhile, Dudung Abdurachman recalled Ryamizard as a superior who provided extensive guidance during his deployment in Aceh. According to Dudung, Ryamizard consistently emphasised a humanitarian approach in military operations and stressed that communities should be embraced, not treated as enemies.

Dudung described Ryamizard as a professional soldier who consistently pushed for organisational development and the quality of TNI personnel. “He was a true soldier, a genuine professional who developed many aspects to make soldiers more proficient in their field,” he said.

Ryamizard was a retired senior TNI Army officer who served as Army Chief of Staff from 2002 to 2005. During President Joko Widodo’s administration, he served as Defence Minister from 2014 to 2019.