Youth group defends vocal retired generals

Youth group defends vocal retired generals

JAKARTA (JP): A group of retired generals who have been
reproached by the government over the past few weeks for their
outspokenness on current political practices received support
yesterday when an influential youth organization came to their
defense.

Yapto Soerjosoemarno, a deputy chairman of the Communication
Forum for the Offsprings of Retired Armed Forces Members (FKPPI),
said yesterday every citizen, including retired servicemen, had
"the right to be critical" as long as they were loyal to the
state ideology Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution.

"It's (the outspokenness) natural ... as long as this critical
stance doesn't ruin the existing system," Yapto was quoted by
Antara as saying.

Accompanied by his colleagues, Didiet Haryadi and Rully
Chairul Azwar, Yapto told a press conference the organization had
been paying a great deal of attention to the ongoing polemics
about outspoken retired generals.

"The Association of Retired Military Officers should
immediately respond to the issue so that agreement on various
differences can be reached," he said.

"They are all our elders, whom we should respect," he said,
adding that it was now time to stop the blaming game.

Rully, however, reminded the retired officers to exercise
restraint so their critical statements wouldn't confuse the
public or create conflicts of interests.

"There should be only one interest: improving what needs to be
improved. Even this endeavor should be done within the system,"
he said.

The FKPPI statement was the latest in an ongoing discourse
about how some prominent retired generals have now become vocal
government critics. Those who did not favor the situation pointed
out that the officers had been silent when they were in active
service.

The discourse came to a head when President Soeharto recently
criticized the retired generals, saying they had been
inconsistent in their stand on state issues.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Hartono had earlier this week
expressed regret over statements made by some of the generals,
but promised to make the best of their outspokenness.

He also expressed hope, however, that active officers would
not change and become outspoken when they retired.

Also yesterday, Yapto and his colleagues announced that the
organization would hold its leadership meeting tomorrow.
President Soeharto is scheduled to open the meeting at the State
Palace, but the meeting proper will be held at Taman Mini
Indonesia Indah.

The gathering will be preceded today with the swearing in of
members of regional chapters by FKPPI chairman Bambang
Trihatmodjo. A number of officials, including Minister of Home
Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. and Armed Forces Commander Gen. Feisal
Tanjung, will address the meeting. (swe)