Nasution defends outspoken fellow former generals

JAKARTA (JP): Gen. (ret.) Abdul Haris Nasution, one of Indonesia's oldest living senior military figures, defended his fellow retired generals who take a critical stand on the government.

"Giving criticism is part of retired military officials' duty for the betterment of the country," Nasution, better known as Pak Nas, told reporters in his residence yesterday.

He noted that retired military officials have different angles in viewing state affairs from when they were still in active service.

"Some retired military officials might join Golkar in their efforts to continue their struggle, while others may choose to keep a distance from the government," he said.

Nasution was commenting on President Soeharto's recent criticism of some former generals' "inconsistency" in their stand on state issues.

The President pointed out that some generals like criticizing his policies after they retire although they were silent when they were in active service.

Soeharto said the generals' stand was against the spirits of the state ideology Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution.

Several of such "outspoken" retired generals, including Kharis Suhud and Bambang Triantoro, along with other prominent civilian figures, founded the National Brotherhood Foundation last year.

The foundation's founding fathers said they formed the organization out of their concern about current political practices that they feared could endanger the nation's unity.

Nasution said he does not believe the outspoken generals have ill intentions when they criticize the government. "I believe that they want to contribute their ideas to the government to help solve problems," he said.

Nasution, 78, is understood to be one of military's former officials critical of the Soeharto administration.

He was an Army chief of staff and later defense minister during President Sukarno's administration. He headed the Provisional People's Consultative Assembly which stripped Sukarno of his power in 1967.

Citing his personal experience, Nasution said that he once criticized the way the military handled mass protests in the past.

"Now we can see the result ... we see that the Armed Forces do not fire at demonstrators anymore," he said.

Also raising concern over the former general's critical stand were Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung and Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman.

On Thursday, Feisal attended a meeting of the Armed Forces Pensioners Association. Without mentioning any names, he alleged at the meeting that some retired military officials were involved in the July 27 riots in the capital.

Separately, Soesilo, who is also chairman of the association, said that some retired generals like saying one thing and doing something else.

Injustices

According to Nasution, many retired officials are obliged to voice their concern about the widespread injustices in society.

"Injustices are the biggest enemy of Indonesia's development program," he said.

"The injustices could be used by the outlawed Indonesian Communist Party to disrupt the nation's stability and order," he added.

When asked whether it is still relevant to believe communism as being the nation's main enemy, Nasution said: "It is the President who has the authority to judge. I may make mistakes if I try to comment on it."

He said that democratization is the solution to the various injustices.

"We should develop and uphold democracy, so that all people can channel their aspirations," he said. (imn)