Ryamizard's biography launched

JAKARTA: A biography of former Army chief Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu was launched on Saturday, albeit without his presence.

Titled In the Footsteps of Gadjah Mada, the 166-page book, written by noted Singaporean political expert Bilveer Singh, compared Ryamizard with legendary prime minister Gadjah Mada in the country's ancient history who managed to unite the archipelago under Majapahit Kingdom's rule.

In his book, Singh describes Ryamizard as a general with statesmanship and a commitment to national integrity. Singh also describes Ryamizard as a general who always refrains from involvement in politics, although he had a chance to do otherwise as then president Megawati Soekarnoputri was poised to promote him as the Indonesian Military chief.

Also absent at the event was Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono, who was supposed to appraise the book.

Another discussant Ikrar Nusa Bakti of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences praised Ryamizard's decision to send troops to help victims of Dec. 26 tsunami in Aceh, although he said the book was not critical enough of the general who currently does not have a specific position since he was replaced by Gen. Djoko Santoso in March. -- JP