'Nation needs to uphold moral values'

By Irawati Wisnumurti

JAKARTA (JP): Senior military figure Abdul Haris Nasution greets the commemoration of the 52nd anniversary of Indonesian independence tomorrow with a call on the nation to place priority on moral values and integrity and not on mere wealth and materialism.

"Today, material values have dominated people's lives and moral values, and good conduct is no longer a priority," he told The Jakarta Post.

"Since feelings of shame have been reduced, material values have become the standard used to measure a person's success. This is the negative outcome of development," he further said.

He pointed out that people who were guided by religious values and were not trapped by excessive searches for wealth were those who were the happiest and most content.

"We should preserve national unity and integrity by removing interests of individuals or particular groups. We should increase our idealism and not compromise it or our fighting spirit for materialism," he urged in his annual message.

He called on the younger generation not to be easily swayed by negative influences. "They should not succumb to momentary and temporary interests and needs," he continued.

Nasution was the man behind the creation of the Armed Forces' (ABRI) dual function and territorial system. The dual function concept emphasizes the role of the Indonesian military as both a national defense and security mechanism and a sociopolitical force.

Through the territorial system, Nasution recognized that Indonesia's military was formed through the national struggle for independence. The military was essentially the people, where the defense system was localized.

Western concept

ABRI's dual function and its territorial system are interconnected, and indicate the unique link between the military and the people, which is distinctly different from the usual Western concept of a professional military separate from the people.

Nasution's territorial system helped the country maintain its independence in the late 1940s.

The dual function is very much part of the Indonesian Armed Forces today. However, Nasution says he is not satisfied with today's implementation of the dual role concept.

In actuality, according to Nasution, the initial good intentions of the concept have been abused.

"People often see today's excesses resulting from the dual function concept," he said.

"People don't care to know that when the New Order came into existence, the role of ... Kopkamtib (the now defunct Operational Command for the Restoration of Security and Order) was more dominant, which brought the situation of today (a dual role) that wasn't originally intended."

After years of political ostracism, Nasution has for the past few years begun to receive friendly gestures from various parties. As an example, on April 11, he was invited to a reunion of the 1951 to 1961 graduates of the Army Staff and Command School (SESKOAD) in Bandung with active officers.

Political analysts saw the event as an attempt to unite the views and visions of the older and younger ABRI generations because the gap between the two sides widened considerably.

Although he was unable to attend, the fact that Nasution was invited was a positive step, analysts agreed.

He was also one of 200 retired Armed Forces generals who were honored recently for their involvement in the founding of what is now the Indonesian Armed Forces.

"I am very thankful when I received the (honor) ... (It) reflects that today's generation has taken positive steps," he said.

When asked whether the honor and other developments were the government's effort to embrace critical former servicemen, Nasution said: "I simply see it as good intentions of the new generation of ABRI in bridging sentiments and feelings of our generation and today's generation."

However, "it doesn't mean that we'll be (drunk with honor) and start saying what is wrong is right and vice versa," he said.

His public image may be that of an ardent government critic, but very few people are able to get a glimpse of Nasution's simple, ordinary daily life.

"Every morning my secretariat staff reads the newspapers and magazines concerning the latest developments of the community. And then I receive visitors if there are any," said Nasution who, at 78, is the oldest living retired general.

Nasution frequently receives guests, many of whom are current officers of the Armed Forces (ABRI), who come quietly. He also has many friends and relatives who often pay him visits.

Doctor's orders

Having always been physically active, one of his passions is tennis. "But I no longer play," he says, since it is against doctors' orders.

But for exercise, he still walks around the garden or occasionally along the street in front of his home.

As for his favorite food, Nasution said without hesitation: "Lalap (vegetables eaten with chili)!"

"I find it difficult to exclude lalap from my meals. In my garden I grow vegetables for my meals," he says.

Nasution, usually known as Pak Nas, loves gardening and tends his own plants, which are mostly vegetables.

Nasution was born in Kotanopan, North Sumatra, on Dec. 3, 1918, as the second of seven children. His father, H. Abdul Halim Nasution, was a farmer and rubber merchant who was also a member of the Sarekat Islam movement in the town.