Two five-star generals to attend ABRI jubilee

JAKARTA (JP): Two five-star "Great Generals" will attend this morning's celebrations of the Armed Forces (ABRI) 52nd anniversary: President Soeharto and government critic Abdul Haris Nasution.

Both separately received the five-star honor from ABRI Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung on Wednesday. The other recipient of the honor was the late Gen. Soedirman.

The only other Indonesian to have received the honor is the late president Sukarno who was not, however, a serviceman. He was honored in his capacity as the then supreme commander of ABRI.

In an Antara article, Rajab Ritonga said there were only a handful of five-star generals in the world. Some American five- star generals were Douglas MacArthur and Dwight Eisenhower.

At one time, ABRI stipulated that the highest rank it could confer was six-stars. Nobody has ever been qualified for that honor.

In November 1945, the highest rank in ABRI was that of three- star general. The following year, however, the Navy presented four stars and the title of "Supreme Admiral" to Sukarno.

In February 1952, Sukarno received a fifth star. In February 1957, the Air Force chief of staff issued a decree stipulating that the highest rank among them could be a six-star "Supreme Marshall". A person holding five stars was to be called "Great Marshall".

In July 1957, the Army chief of staff stipulated that the highest rank was five-star general, while those with four stars were called "General".

In May 1960, the Navy decreed that its highest rank was five- star "Supreme Admiral".

In April 1965, a presidential decree was issued and stipulated that the highest honor was a five-star honor to be given to the Supreme Commander.

In June 1972, it was decided that the highest rank was the rank of four-star general for generals/admirals/marshals and police generals.

A newly issued Armed Forces Chief's decree dated Sept. 19, 1997, stipulates that the highest rank is five-stars and officers with these are called "Great General" in the Army, "Great Admiral" in the Navy and "Great Marshall" in the Air Force. (swe)