Pepabri takes care of retiring soldiers

JAKARTA (JP): Pepabri, the association grouping retired members of the Armed Forces or their widows, promised yesterday to care for the welfare of its members as much as possible.

The pledge was made by Pepabri chairman Soesilo Soedarman, who is also the Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security, to give assurances to the 16,000 to 18,000 soldiers who retire from active service each year that their future is not a bad as some might have feared.

Soesilo reported to President Soeharto yesterday about the association's activities, including the plan to mark its 35th anniversary on Sept. 12 in Jakarta.

"Going into retirement is not a bad thing," Soesilo said quoting the President. "Don't consider it as if you're stepping into the dark." Both Soeharto and Soesilo are retired army generals.

The association now boasts a membership of over 400,000 retired personnel and some 125,000 widows of military members.

Membership into the association is not obligatory but given that it is the only organization that looks after the interests of retired soldiers, Soesilo said he expected that everyone would join.

Scholarships

Soesilo said Pepabri provides health insurance for all its members, and offers up to 300 scholarships for their children at high schools each year.

The association has secured seats in a number of higher learning institutions, such as in telecommunication and tourism, that can be filled by members' children. Soesilo said however that only those with higher learning capacity will be admitted.

Pepabri's members also run 620 primary cooperatives all over Indonesia and 20 of them have been selected as suppliers for state-run companies. There could be more in the future but the cooperatives should be managed by the younger people, he said.

Pepabri's cooperatives supplies and export coal briquettes, now being promoted as an alternative source of domestic fuel.

The association is working with the Ministry of Manpower about assigning some of the new retirees as professional workers to countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Brunei and Malaysia.

There is also a strong demand for forest rangers, a job which would suit the retired soldiers well, Soesilo said.

In connection with the 35th anniversary, the association plans a series of activities, including a target shooting practice involving retired and active soldiers and a golf tournament for the Soeharto Cup.

President Soeharto has also agreed to present trophies to 20 association members regarded as most successful in coping with retirement. (emb)