Suharto
Who was Suharto?
Second President of Indonesia who ruled for over three decades (1967-1998) and established the authoritarian New Order regime before resigning during the 1998 reform movement.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Suharto (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Suharto (8 June 1921 – 27 January 2008) was an Indonesian military officer and politician who was the second president of Indonesia from 1967 to 1998. His 31-year presidency was the longest in Indonesian history, during which he established the authoritarian New Order regime that fundamentally changed the nation's political, economic, and social structure. Born in Kemusuk, near Yogyakarta, during the Dutch colonial period, Suharto rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most influential and controversial figures in Southeast Asia.
Suharto's rise to power started during his military career in the newly formed Indonesian Army after independence. He gained national prominence during the events of September 30, 1965, when he led troops to counter an attempted coup against President Sukarno. This crisis led to a violent anti-communist purge that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of alleged communists and their sympathizers. These events allowed Suharto to gradually take control of the government, becoming acting president in March 1967 and officially becoming president the following year.
The New Order regime made significant economic changes under the guidance of Western-educated economists known as the "Berkeley Mafia." These free-market policies successfully lowered inflation from over 650% to single digits by 1969 and started a period of steady economic growth that lasted for decades. However, this economic progress came with a loss of political freedoms and human rights. Suharto's government tightly controlled political opposition, media, and civil society while maintaining a centralized authoritarian state with strong military influence.
Suharto's presidency had both domestic successes and international controversies. His administration pushed for infrastructure development, poverty reduction, and improvements in education and healthcare. However, these achievements were overshadowed by serious human rights abuses, including the 1975 invasion and subsequent occupation of East Timor, widespread corruption, and the suppression of political dissent. His rule ended in May 1998 following nationwide protests and an economic crisis during the Asian Financial Crisis. Suharto resigned and spent his final years in Jakarta, dying in 2008. His complex legacy continues to affect Indonesian politics and society.
Before Fame
Suharto grew up during the time of Dutch colonial rule in a humble Javanese family near Yogyakarta. His parents divorced shortly after he was born, so he spent much of his childhood with different foster families in rural Java. This early instability influenced his later focus on maintaining order and control. During the Japanese occupation of Indonesia from 1942 to 1945, he joined the Japanese-organized Peta (Pembela Tanah Air) security forces, where he gained his first military training and experience.
After Indonesia declared independence in 1945, Suharto joined the newly formed Indonesian National Army (TNI) and took part in the struggle for independence against the returning Dutch colonial forces. He gradually rose through the military ranks during the 1950s and early 1960s, including serving as commander of the Diponegoro Division in Central Java. His military skills and loyalty to the army made him an important leader within the army by the mid-1960s.
Key Achievements
- Established political stability in Indonesia after the turbulent Sukarno era and regional rebellions of the 1950s-1960s
- Reduced inflation from over 650% to single digits and maintained decades of economic growth averaging 7% annually
- Oversaw massive infrastructure development including roads, schools, hospitals, and telecommunications networks
- Transformed Indonesia from a largely agricultural economy into a significant manufacturing and resource-exporting nation
- Maintained Indonesia's territorial integrity and played a founding role in ASEAN regional cooperation
Did You Know?
- 01.Suharto received the Order of the Chrysanthemum from Japan in 1989, making him one of the few non-Japanese recipients of this highest Japanese decoration
- 02.He was married to Tien Soeharto for over 40 years until her death in 1996, and she was known for her significant behind-the-scenes political influence
- 03.Suharto built over 61,000 primary schools during his presidency as part of a massive education expansion program
- 04.His family's business empire was estimated to control assets worth $15 billion by the time of his resignation in 1998
- 05.Despite ruling for over three decades, Suharto never gave a single press conference during his entire presidency
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath | — | — |
| Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic | 1981 | — |
| Grand Cross of the Order of Good Hope | 1997 | — |
| Order of the Nile | — | — |
| Star of the Republic of Indonesia | — | — |
| Bintang Mahaputera | — | — |
| Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic | — | — |
| Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st class | — | — |
| Order of the Chrysanthemum | — | — |
| Order of Sikatuna | — | — |
| Order of the Rajamitrabhorn | — | — |
| Order of the Liberator | — | — |
| Order of Merit for National Foundation | — | — |
| Order of the Crown of the Realm | — | — |
| Order of Pahlavi | — | — |
| Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour | — | — |
| Order of Mubarak the Great | — | — |
| Order of the Yugoslav Star | — | — |
| Order of the Queen of Sheba | — | — |
| Order of Independence | — | — |
| Grand Order of Mugunghwa | — | — |
| Collar of the Order of the Star of Romania | — | — |
| Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun of Peru | — | — |
| Grand Star of the Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria | — | — |
| Member 1st Class of the Order of the Umayyads | 1977 | — |