Vice President visits Ryamizard's resting place at Ministry of Defence building

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka paid his respects to retired General Ryamizard Ryacudu at his resting place at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Central Jakarta on Monday. According to on-site reports, Gibran, accompanied by his security detail, arrived at approximately 10:58 WIB and was greeted by Deputy Defence Minister Donny Ermawan Taufanto at the main entrance. He then entered the building to view Ryamizard’s coffin, draped in the red and white flag, before leaving at 11:02 WIB. Earlier, President Prabowo Subianto and other officials had already arrived to pay their respects. ‘As a final tribute to the late’s service to the nation, the Ministry of Defence will hold a farewell ceremony and lying-in-state for retired General Ryamizard Ryacudu,’ said Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, Chief of the Defence Information Bureau at the Ministry of Defence’s Secretariat, in a statement on Sunday (31 May). The Ministry will then hold a farewell ceremony at 11:00 WIB before transporting the coffin to the National Heroes Cemetery in Kalibata, Jakarta. Ryamizard’s remains will be interred with full military honours. ‘The military funeral ceremony will be led by the Minister of Defence as the parade commander,’ Rico added. Ryamizard was a retired senior officer of the Indonesian Army who served as Army Chief of Staff from 2002 to 2005, and later as Minister of Defence under President Joko Widodo’s administration from 2014 to 2019. Throughout his career, he made significant contributions to safeguarding national sovereignty and strengthening the country’s defence system. For the Ministry of Defence, Ryamizard was not only a former Minister but also a figure who left a lasting legacy of leadership, dedication, and commitment in building the nation’s defences. Rico stated that Ryamizard’s ideas, policies, and service would remain integral to the Ministry’s efforts in safeguarding the sovereignty and unity of the Republic of Indonesia.