Soeharto

Born:

June 8, 1921, Kemusuk, Argomulyo, Godean, Yogyakarta, Dutch East Indies

Died:

January 27, 2008, Jakarta, Indonesia

Nationality:

Indonesian

Profession(s):

Military Officer, Politician, President of Indonesia

Early Life and Education

• Born into a peasant family in a small village near Yogyakarta.
• Brief formal education; largely self-taught.
• Joined the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL) prior to World War II.

Career and Major Achievements

• Rose through the ranks of the Indonesian military during the Indonesian National Revolution.
• Played a key role in suppressing the alleged 30 September Movement in 1965.
• Assumed the presidency of Indonesia in 1967, formally appointed in 1968, succeeding Sukarno.
• Implemented the New Order (Orde Baru) regime, prioritizing economic development and political stability.
• Oversaw significant economic growth in Indonesia during the 1970s and 1980s, largely fueled by oil revenues.
• Initiated the Transmigration program.
• Invaded and annexed East Timor in 1975, resulting in a prolonged conflict.
• Established close relationships with Western powers and fostered anti-communist policies.
• The crucial question of 'kapan lengsernya president suharto biography' became prominent amidst growing economic crisis and social unrest in the late 1990s.
• Resigned from the presidency on May 21, 1998, amidst widespread protests and economic collapse during the Asian Financial Crisis.

Legacy and Impact

Soeharto's legacy is complex and controversial. He is credited with modernizing Indonesia's economy and reducing poverty, but is also widely criticized for authoritarian rule, corruption, and human rights abuses.

Notable Works

While not a writer or artist, Soeharto's key impact was the New Order development policy. Publications relating to him are mostly studies about his era and policies.

Resignation

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