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)