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In memoriam: Gen. Rais Abin, one of Indonesia’s finest soldiers
Rais Abin was bright, optimistic and well-read, and was keen on issues of foreign policy and diplomacy.
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t. Gen (ret.) Rais Abin passed away on March 25. A few weeks before his death, he called me to help him translate a book into Indonesian. It was a book written by Cecil B. Currey, about general Vo Nguyen Giap of Vietnam, whom he considered one of the most brilliant strategists, and who had beaten the French at Dien Bien-Phu. This was typical of Rais Abin. He was one of Indonesia’s most learned soldiers, and he loved to read.
The first time I met him was when we were in the 1965 “revolution”, when he accompanied his wife, Ibu Dewi Asiah, to political meetings. His wife worked as a correspondent for the Pedoman daily and came from a political family, as her mother was the chairperson of the Independence Vanguard Party (IPKI), and her father was an important officer, one of the highest in the hierarchy, Lt. Gen. Hidajat Martaatmadja, who several times held a Cabinet post under then-president Sukarno.
Rais Abin and Dewi Asiah were a very harmonious couple with three children: Radianti Lukman, Radimita Manusama and Andy Achmad Hidayat.
Rais Abin was bright, optimistic and well-read, and was keen on issues of foreign policy and diplomacy. Such characteristics proved beneficial for him to excel when he was appointed first as the commander of the second United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) from 1976 until 1979 and later as Indonesian ambassador to Malaysia in 1981-1984 and Indonesian ambassador to Singapore from 1984 to 1988.
He used to come to lectures, conferences and studies on international relations and diplomacy. Most of all, he joined many discussions on Indonesian politics, because, at the end of the day, he was a real patriot and served the Indonesian Military in 1945-1981.
After his retirement, he was elected by the Veteran Legion of Indonesia, first as head of the Veteran’s Legion Politics and Security Affairs, and in the ninth congress in 2007 and the 10th congress in 2012, he was elected as the chairman of the organization. He was elected to lead the legion for the third time when his successors Ari Sudewo and Sukotjo Trjokroarmodjo passed away before the succeeding congress was held. In the end, he announced his resignation in 2017 and eventually passed on the chief post to Syaiful Sulun in 2019. After his resignation, he was made the honorary chairman of the organization, which he served until he passed away.
He served also in politics. He was a member of the People’s Consultative Assembly, representing the now-defunct Armed Forces (ABRI) faction. He also served the ABRI command as assistant to then-ABRI chief Gen. Mohammad Jusuf for politics, strategy and planning (1980-1981).
Rais Abin excelled especially when he commanded the second UNEF (1976-1979). Not only did he get a special mention and gratitude from the UN secretary-general, Kurt Waldheim, he was also accepted as the commander of UNEF by the Israeli government, even though Indonesia had no diplomatic ties with the Jewish state, because his personality made him greatly respected by all.
He gained respect and recognition through his efforts to lobby both the Egyptian and the Israeli governments under Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin. Rais Abin sought to get both governments to cooperate and later establish diplomatic relations through Sadat’s visit to Israel and the peace conference under then-United States president Jimmy Carter.
His second-highest achievement, I believe, was the fact that during his two-and-a-half chairmanship periods of the veteran legion, he restored the morale and respect of the legion to its many members, patriots of Indonesia and the public.
I remember fondly the two last occasions in which the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) had the privilege to engage with Pak Rais Abin. The first was when he brought a group of the legion’s leaders two years ago to CSIS, which included the late Lt. Gen. Sayidiman Soerjohadiprodjo, to discuss national and international affairs. The second was when he called me about the book translation, which I mentioned at the beginning of this memorial. As an homage to him, the CSIS will translate the book as he wished.
When the CSIS was ranked 12th by the Think Tanks and Civil Society Program of the University of Pennsylvania on its Foreign Policy and International Affairs Worldwide list and second in Think Tanks in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, he gave me a call and said: “Despite previous criticism from parts of Indonesian society, the CSIS got the highest recognition internationally. Congratulations!”
Pak Rais Abin was a real Indonesian patriot, full of love for his people and his country. He devoted himself completely to the country yet chose to remain simple, open and respectful to his friends. I will remember him for that.
Pak Rais, the CSIS will miss you as a friend and partner in our effort to contribute to Indonesia and the Indonesian people. We are proud to be considered your friend and thank you for all your achievements and sacrifices for the Republic.
May God bless you and reward you with a seat near Him in Heaven. And to Ibu Dewi and their sons, may God give you strength and wish you to remain true to Pak Rais’ ideals and achievements.
***
Vice chair, Board of Trustees, CSIS Foundation
