Veterans' children forum becomes mass organization
Veterans' children forum becomes mass organization
JAKARTA (JP): The powerful Forum for Children of Retired
Servicemen has upgraded its status into a mass organization and
elected President Soeharto's third son, Bambang Trihatmojo, as
its chairman.
Bambang said in his inauguration Tuesday night that the
organization has been strengthened so that it will be capable of
contributing its services to the nation.
He dismissed speculations that the restructurization is a move
to strengthen the government's position in the 1997 general
election.
"It has nothing to do with the upcoming general election. We
have no intention of helping (the ruling party) Golkar win the
elections," Antara quoted him as saying.
The forum's new leadership was installed on Tuesday night by
Chief of Armed Forces' Socio-political Affairs Lt. Gen. Ma'ruf at
the end of its extraordinary congress at the Haj Boarding House
in Pondok Gede, East Jakarta.
The congress also named Indra Bambang Utoyo to the post of
secretary-general, the forum's second most senior position.
In carrying out his day-to-day activities, Bambang Trihatmojo
will be assisted by eight deputies, Pontjo Sutowo, Yapto
Soeryosoemarno, Srie Rejeki Sumaryoto, Tadjoeddin Noer Said,
Didiet Haryadi, Bambang R. Soegomo, Erwan Sukarja and Andi Rallie
Siregar.
On hand at the grand ceremony were Army Chief Gen. R. Hartono,
Chief of ABRI's General Affairs Lt. Gen. Suyono, deputy army
chief Lt. Gen. FX Sudjasmin, deputy Golkar chairperson Siti
Hardijanti Rukmana and chair of the Indonesian Democratic Party
Megawati Soekarnoputri.
Ma'ruf represented Armed Forces Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung,
who is the organization's patron.
Feisal, in his written speech read by Ma'ruf, asked FKPPI to
play a more active role in social services.
Bambang said the organization, which was established in 1978,
will now function as both a communication forum for retired
servicemen's children and a mass organization open to the public.
The forum's youth wing is called Generasi Muda FKPPI, or
FKPPI's Young Generation, and is chaired by Asep R. Sudjana.
"FKPPI's reorganization was aimed at developing the potential
of the organization," he said.
"The hope has come true now that the organization is open for
all people," said Surya Paloh, one of the forum's founder. He
added that the forum would also accommodate the people's
political aspirations.
He said that the reorganization will help the Armed Forces
implement its dual function in both defense and politics. (rms)