Sixty-five army generals officially enter their retirement

JAKARTA (JP): Sixty five army generals officially went into retirement in a ceremony marking the end of their military careers at the National Military Academy in Magelang, Central Java, yesterday.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Wismoyo Arismunandar presided over the ceremony which was also attended by Armed Forces Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung, Antara reported.

Most of the retired generals graduated from the same academy in the early 1960s.

Included among them are Lt. Gen. Sahala Radjagukguk, Lt. Gen. Hariyoto PS, Lt. Gen. Soekarto, Maj. Gen. Kuntara, Maj. Gen. Rajakami Sembiring, Maj. Gen. Syaukat Banjaransari, Maj. Gen. Syamsudin, Brig. Gen. Nurhadi and Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Saleh.

The last military post of Sahala, who is now Indonesian Ambassador to India, was deputy chief of staff of the army.

Maj. Gen. Kuntara was chief of the elite Army Strategic Command (Kostrad). Nurhadi was the chief spokesman for the Armed Forces, while Syaukat was the presidential military secretary.

Gen. Wismoyo expressed his appreciation to the retired generals in his speech: "Gentlemen, we thank you very much for your contribution and services to the nation during your remarkable military careers."

Despite the fact that they are no longer active as military men, he stressed that their services to the country did not have to end.

"As long as we are still alive, we still have an obligation to serve our country. We'll have to keep fighting for the honor and glory of our motherland. In fact the journey of a true soldier has no end," Wismoyo said sentimentally.

Of the newly retired military officers 33 were brigadier generals, 29 were major generals and three lieutenant generals.

Two deceased generals, Maj. Gen. Pardjoko and Brig. Gen. Soetarto, were represented by their heirs during yesterday's ceremony. (bas)