Ryamizard's biography launched

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