Old soldier Wismoyo retires but he is not fading away
Old soldier Wismoyo retires but he is not fading away
MAGELANG, Central Java (JP): Gen. Wismoyo Arismunandar and 60 other senior ranking Army officers were given a fitting military farewell at the National Military Academy yesterday as they formally began retirement from service.
For Wismoyo, the most senior in the pack, at least in terms of rank, another big battle awaits just around the corner.
As the chairman of the National Sports Committee (KONI), he will lead the Indonesian delegation to the Southeast Asian Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, next month.
"Although I am retiring from active service, I'm still called on to fulfill other duties for the nation that I love," said Wismoyo, a 1963 academy graduate whose illustrious military career reached its peak as Army chief of staff three years ago.
Wismoyo said that as KONI chairman, he will do everything in his power to bolster Indonesia's performance in the international sports arena. "I'm counting on the support of every Indonesian. I will carry out this mandate and trust given to me to the best of my ability."
Indonesia, which is seeking to defend the overall championship title in Chiang Mai, expects tough opposition from host Thailand.
Yesterday's farewell ceremony was led by Gen. R. Hartono, Wismoyo's successor as army chief of staff, and witnessed by top Army brass including Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung.
Also retiring is Lt. Gen. H.B.L. Mantiri, whose appointment as Indonesia's ambassador to Australia was withdrawn in July because of last minute opposition in Australia. Recently, it has been rumored that he is being considered for the ambassadorial post in Singapore.
Another retiree is Sintong Panjaitan, whose career in the Army stalled abruptly in late 1991 after an impressive rise in rank in the previous years.
As chief of the Udayana Command, which oversees East Timor, Sintong was the most senior officer faulted for the military's handling of a riot in Dili in November 1991 that left dozens of people killed. He was not removed from the Army, but he has not held any structural post since, and his rank remained major general until his retirement yesterday.
A peer of Wismoyo, Sintong has served as an aide to State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie.
Others who retired yesterday include Lt. Gen. Arie Sudewo, Maj. Gen. Soenarko, Maj. Gen. Muslim Massewa, Maj. Gen. Herman Musakabe, Maj. Gen. Aspar Aswin, Maj. Gen. Subardi Suar, Maj. Gen. Pranawa, Maj. Gen. Yusman Yutam, Maj. Gen. Rusmadi Sidik, Maj. Gen. Soenarko, Maj. Gen. Bantu Hardjijo and Maj. Gen. Togi Hutagaol.
Gen. Hartono said in the farewell speech that although the 61 have retired from the Army, they are expected to continue to dedicate their services to the nation and to be on call in case the military needs them again.
The sending off ceremony is held each year about this time of the year. It is timed to coincide with the anniversary of the Academy, which turned 38 years old yesterday.
Those who retired yesterday were graduates of 1961, 1962, 1963 and 1964 classes. (har/emb)