(JP/Jerry Adiguna)

Seven retired but politically wired Indonesian Military (TNI) generals held a meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the State Palace on Wednesday, discussing the current political, economic and
security situation in the country.

The meeting, held only a day after Yudhoyono met with chief patron of the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party, Lt. Gen. (ret.) Prabowo Subianto, has led to speculation that the two sides were discussing possible political deals.

The retired generals were Gen. (ret.) Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, Gen. (ret.) Fachrul Rozi, Gen. (ret.) Subagyo HS, Lt. Gen. (ret.) Agus Widjojo, Lt. Gen. (ret.) Johny J Lumintang, Lt. Gen. (ret.) Suadi Marasabessy and Lt. Gen. (ret.) Sumardi. The retired generals are all alumni of the Military Academy class of 1970, senior to Yudhoyono who graduated in 1973.

“We discussed many issues but the President highlighted domestic politics, the economy and international relations. The political situation ahead of the 2014 elections was also discussed,” said Luhut, who served as a spokesman for the group, in a press conference held after the two-hour, closed-door meeting.

Luhut said that members of the group also shared their thoughts with the President. “We also gave our views on some issues. I believe the President has received valuable and constructive input from us as ‘market players’,” Luhut said, declining to elaborate on the term “market players”.

Luhut applauded Yudhoyono’s achievements in some sectors such as foreign diplomacy and economic growth. “Nevertheless, there are still shortcomings here and there, including the unequal distribution of the benefits of the economic growth,” he said.

Most of the retired generals are known for their affiliation to the Golkar Party and some of them have been named advisors to the party’s chairman Aburizal Bakrie. Luhut denied that they served as emissaries from Golkar or Aburizal. “The President and us share something in common. We are all alumni of the Military Academy,” he said.

Political analyst from the University of Indonesia Hikmahanto Juwana suspected that the meeting could have discussed past human rights abuses, which have implicated former TNI generals. He also suggested that the same issue could have been discussed when Yudhoyono had his meeting with Prabowo.

One issue that could have concerned the retired generals is the possible ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Court (ICC). A delegation of government officials and prominent rights activists, led by Deputy Law and Human Rights Minister Denny Indrayana late last week held a meeting with officials from the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands, to discuss preparations by Indonesia to ratify the statute.

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto recently said that the government was in the final stages of establishing an ad hoc human rights court to hear past human rights abuse cases including the kidnapping and disappearance of pro-democracy activists in 1998. The House of Representatives officially issued a recommendation for the establishment of the tribunal in 2009.

Many believe both courts could try retired generals with records of past human rights abuses including Prabowo and chairman of the People’s Conscience (Hanura) Party Gen. (ret.) Wiranto. “Denny visiting the ICC could have an impact on the domestic political situation as 2014 nears. My question is, has Yu-dhoyono endorsed Denny’s efforts?” Hikmahanto said.

“The President may have told Prabowo and the retired generals not to panic on the issues of the ICC and the ad hoc human rights court,” he added.

Generals and their last positions

Gen. (ret.) Luhut Binsar Panjaitan
• Chief of the Bandung-based Army Education and Training Center
• Industry and trade minister in the Cabinet of president Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid

Gen. (ret.) Fachrul Rozi
• Deputy Indonesian Military (TNI) commander

Gen. (ret.) Subagyo HS
• Army chief of staff

Lt. Gen. (ret.) Agus Widjojo
• TNI territorial command chief of staff

Lt. Gen. (ret.) Johny J Lumintang
• Governor of the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas)
• Army deputy chief of staff
• Secretary-general of the Defense Ministry

Lt. Gen. (ret.) Sumardi
• Head of the Military Education and Training Command

Lt. Gen. (ret.) Suadi Marasabessy
• Wirabuana Military commander
• Chief of staff of TNI’s general affairs

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