Study history, Nasution tells his grandchildren

Study history, Nasution tells his grandchildren

JAKARTA (JP): Former minister of defense and security/armed
forces chief of staff Gen. (ret.) Abdul Haris Nasution marked his
77th birthday yesterday by presenting his grandchildren with his
memoirs.

Nasution's eldest granddaughter Ediyanti (picture above)
received a folder of manuscripts while Nasution's wife Johana
Sunarti (with microphone) pressed her for a comment.

Included in the manuscripts were Nasution's notes on 50 years
of independence in Indonesia and his experience as Commander of
the First Division of the West Java Siliwangi military command
between 1946 and 1948.

The latter manuscript is entitled Esa Hilang Dua Terbilang
("One felled, two rise"), the motto of the Siliwangi command.
Relatives said it will be published by PT Gramedia.

Nasution, one of the government's staunchest critics, said his
grandchildren must not only know history from hearsay. "They must
not memorize things just before exams and then forget about
them... and if there is something not clear they must ask me."

Nasution said that, while grateful for each birthday, "we must
put the remainder of our years to good use."

"I never really aimed to be a military officer," the former
defense minister told reporters. "I only wanted to follow in the
footsteps of Moslem heroes."

Nasution is especially attracted to the story of Jabal Tariq
(bin Ziyad), who was fired by the Khalifah (ruler) Umayyah for
disagreeing with him. "Jabal Tariq's reply was good: 'I do not
fight for the Khalifah's sake, I fight for Allah'," Nasution
said.

"I like to recite this quote to the young generation," he
said. (anr)