Sixty-five army generals officially enter their retirement

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Despite the fact that they are no longer active as military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)