Prabowo Expected to Attend Funeral of Former Defence Minister Ryamizard on Monday

President Prabowo Subianto is expected to attend the military funeral ceremony for former Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu (2014-2019 term) on Monday, June 1.

“Latest information, God willing, the President may attend,” said Presidential Staff Office Chief Dudung Abdurachman to journalists at the mourning house on Sunday, May 31.

Dudung noted that Prabowo knew Ryamizard well as they were classmates at the Military Academy (Akmil).

During the same occasion, Dudung recalled Ryamizard’s tenure as Chief of Staff of the Army (KSAD). He recounted receiving guidance while serving as a battalion commander during the military emergency operation in Aceh.

“He was the one who implemented how the TNI should return to the barracks. He was a true soldier, a genuine professional warrior, a fighting soldier,” he said.

Dudung added that Ryamizard advised against using a military approach in Aceh.

“The approach was humanitarian; do not aim to kill, and so on. That’s what I held onto,” he explained.

“Among the Army leadership, there’s no need for lofty territorial development talks; just one phrase: ‘be good to the people’. That was what he often said,” he added.

Ryamizard passed away at age 76 on Sunday, May 31, in the afternoon. He breathed his last while receiving treatment at Gatot Subroto Army Central Hospital at 14:03 WIB.

Born in Palembang, South Sumatra, on April 21, 1950, he concluded his TNI service as Chief of Staff of the Army during the presidency of Indonesia’s fifth president, Megawati Soekarnoputri.

He was also the son-in-law of the sixth Vice President, Try Sutrisno. His father, Major General TNI Musanif Ryacudu, was a senior TNI Army officer known to be close to the first President, Soekarno.

During President Joko Widodo’s presidency, Ryamizard was appointed Defence Minister for his first term. At that time, Jokowi described Ryamizard as a military figure who was thoughtful and democratic.