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)