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)