300 retired TNI generals declare support for Prabowo’s presidential bid

Tempo – September 22, 2018
Prabowo speaking at Sari Pan Pacific Hotel in Jakarta - September 22, 2018 (Tempo)
Prabowo speaking at Sari Pan Pacific Hotel in Jakarta - September 22, 2018 (Tempo)

Francisca Christy Rosana, Jakarta – As many as 300 retired TNI (Indonesian military) generals from the army, air force and navy have declared their support for the Prabowo Subianto and vice presidential running mate Sandiaga Uno’s 2019 presidential bid.

The official statement of support for Prabowo was made following a book dissertation at the Hotel Sari Pan Pacific in Central Jakarta on Saturday September 22.

“Today, gathered in this place, we are of one spirit in our unanimous resolve to fight together, unite our hearts, to join hands together tightly and firmly to give our full support to Prabowo Subianto”, said retired Air Chief Marshal Imam Sufa’at.

The declaration of support was greeted with cheers and applause. For an instant the expression on Prabowo’s face changed. Shouts of “President Prabowo” reverberated from the former generals.

Prabowo then took to the stage. “I accept this declaration of support as a mandate”, he said. Prabowo’s statement was immediately greeted with another round of applause.

Prabowo admitted that he was surprised by the declaration of support from the 300 retired generals because they had not informed him before had that such a declaration would be made. The presidential candidate Number 02 said that he thought that the gathering was simply to take part in a discussion.

He never suspected that he would receive so much support from his superiors because Prabowo had exempted his teachers and mentors in the upcoming 2019 general elections.

Following the declaration, Prabowo went around the room shaking the hands of the VIP guests.

Also seen at the event was the Prabowo-Sandiaga election campaign team head and former TNI chief Djoko Santoso, Tommy Suharto’s Working Party (Partai Berkarya) Advisory Board chairperson Siti Hediati Hariyadi alias Titiek Suharto, retired army general Widjojo Soejono and Working Party Honorary Board chairperson retired Air Chief Marshal Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno.

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was 300 Jenderal Purnawirawan Deklarasi Dukung Prabowo-Sandiaga.]

Source: https://pilpres.tempo.co/read/1129035/300-jenderal-purnawirawan-deklarasi-dukung-prabowo-sandiaga