Soeharto to attend ABRI birthday

Soeharto to attend ABRI birthday

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto and Gen. (ret.) Abdul Haris
Nasution will get a chance to show off their newly awarded fifth
star tomorrow when they don their uniforms once again for the
Armed Forces anniversary celebrations.

The committee chairman of the celebrations, Maj. Gen. Fachrul
Razi, said Soeharto would preside over the ceremony which would
be held at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, East Jakarta.

He further confirmed that Nasution, 78, would attend the
ceremony.

Soeharto and Nasution, along with the late Gen. Soedirman,
were granted an honorary five-star general rank Wednesday for
their monumental service to the country.

Observers have welcomed the presentation of the fifth star,
pointing out the reasons that justified the honor. Soedirman,
they say, led Indonesia's guerrillas and people to fight the
Dutch forces in the war for independence, Nasution set up the
all-important concept of the Armed Forces' dual role, while
Soeharto implemented the concept of pushing national development
programs.

Fachrul, who is the operational assistant to the Armed Forces
chief of general affairs, said the general public would be
welcome to attend the ceremony.

Accompanied by Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Wahab
Mokodongan and City Military Garrison Chief of Staff Brig. Gen.
Adam Damiri, Fachrul said transportation would even be provided.

"Free public transportation will be specially provided by the
Armed Forces at every district military command office ...
everybody is welcome," Fachrul remarked.

At the airbase, Armed Forces Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung
witnessed yesterday the dress rehearsal for tomorrow's ceremony.

Accompanying Feisal were Army Commander Gen. Wiranto, Air
Force Commander Marshall Sutria Tubagus, Navy Commander Admiral
Arief Kushariadi, and National Police Chief Gen. Dibyo Widodo.

Nine thousand military men and women from the Army, Navy, Air
Force and National Police, along with veterans, student
regiments, and public servants, will participate in the ceremony.

Maj. Gen. Suharto, commander of the Navy's Marine Corps, will
act as the ceremonial commandant.

The ceremony will be colored with many military attractions
including air acrobat shows by the Air Force's F-16 Fighting
Falcon, Hawk-100/200 and Hawk MK-53. Acrobatic parachuting will
also be a main attraction. (imn/aan)