Nasution book stresses morality in development

JAKARTA (JP): Gen. (ret.) A.H. Nasution, Indonesia's most senior military figure, denied speculation that he and the other army generals, including (now President) Soeharto, attempted to take over power from President Sukarno in the 1960s.

"It's slander that General Soeharto wanted to take over power from President (Sukarno)," Nasution wrote in his book entitled Dr. A.H. Nasution: Pembangunan Moral Inti Pembangunan Nasional (Moral Development, Essence of National Development).

Published by PT Bina Ilmu, the book was launched yesterday at a ceremony attended by Moslem scholar Nurcholish Madjid, justice Bismar Siregar, chairman of the influential Islamic Propagation Council Anwar Haryono, and A.M. Fatwa, a member of the Petisi 50 group of government critics.

Nasution, in frail health, said his book contains elements which are "harsh", but need to be read. "Some things which are good may not always be (pleasant)", he said.

The 281-page book is a compilation of 20 articles, which recount some of the country's most important events in the 1960s along with sermons and speeches that Nasution wrote and delivered during the 1970s and early 1980s.

Parts of the book, edited by senior writer Anshari Thayib, are reminders for the government to pay attention to the moral aspects of development.

The book is a timely response to recent speculation on the alleged role of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in the abortive coup attempt of the now-banned Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) in 1965, and on the army's subsequent takeover of power from Sukarno.

"What really happened," Nasution wrote, "both on Oct. 1 (1965) and in the following months, was that I, Gen. Soeharto nor the other generals ever had any intention to take over power from the President."

"Gen. Soeharto and the other commanders of the Armed Forces (ABRI) continued to recognize Bung Karno as President/Supreme Commander," Nasution wrote.

Nasution also spoke about the closeness he once enjoyed with General Soeharto.

He wrote about how, after escaping an assassination attempt by the communists, he used his authority as then commander of the military to give Soeharto the power to lead all military operations against the communists.

On Oct. 10, 1965, Nasution formally proposed to the President that Soeharto be appointed army commander. "The President was still reluctant, in line with PKI tactics," Nasution wrote. "But with God's help, he eventually gave up."

Comparison

Nasution, who is known for his critical stance on many government policies, compared in his book the Old Order administration, under Sukarno, with the New Order government led by President Soeharto.

"During the Old Order, our political system was formally based on the Pancasila and the Constitution. Now, it's formally the same. But in reality, there are deviations and shortcomings," he wrote.

The book tells readers that successful development cannot be measured by a high GNP or high-rise buildings. The success of development, Nasution argues, is reflected in the upstanding morality of the people.

The country's leaders must "have compassion so that they would not dare to eat their fill before their people eat," Nasution said, describing the true measure of successful development efforts.

Nasution's book also asks if the country's rulers are the "servants, or the boss, of their people".

"Do the rulers spend their time to amass wealth, ignoring the poor?" Nasution said.

"It's undeniable that our development...has produced some real results, especially physical development. But, in reality, there is evidence of widespread moral decadence...hypocrisy, corruption..manipulation, lax of legal enforcement and justice...The increasing gap between the rich and the poor."

Nurcholish said the book should be read by those who wish to know the real Nasution. Quoting a Moslem leader, Subchan Z.E., Nurcholish said Nasution once had the opportunity to become president, but passed it up. "Had he not become a general, Pak Nas would have become a professor, so deep is his intellectual capacity.

Nurcholish quoted Finance Minister Mar'ie Muhammad, who is an admirer of Nasution's, as calling Nasution "a puritan" who consistently tries to live clean, physically and spiritually. (swe)