Suharto facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
General of the Army (Ret.)
Suharto
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Official portrait, 1993
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| 2nd President of Indonesia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 27 March 1968 – 21 May 1998 |
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| Vice President |
See list
Hamengkubuwono IX (1973–1978)
Adam Malik (1978–1983) Umar Wirahadikusumah (1983–1988) Sudharmono (1988–1993) Try Sutrisno (1993–1998) B. J. Habibie (1998) |
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| Preceded by | Sukarno | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | B. J. Habibie | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 8 June 1921 Kemusuk, Dutch East Indies |
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| Died | 27 January 2008 (aged 86) Jakarta, Indonesia |
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| Resting place | Astana Giribangun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Golkar | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse |
Siti Hartinah
(m. 1947; died 1996) |
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| Years of service | 1940–1974 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | General of the army | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unit | Kostrad | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Suharto (born 8 June 1921 – died 27 January 2008) was an Indonesian army officer and politician. He served as the second and longest-serving president of Indonesia. Suharto led Indonesia for 30 years, from 1967 until his resignation in 1998. His time in power was known as the "New Order."
Suharto was born in a small village called Kemusuk in the Dutch East Indies. He grew up in a simple family. His parents divorced when he was young, and he lived with foster parents for much of his childhood. During the Japanese occupation, Suharto joined the Indonesian security forces. Later, he joined the new Indonesian Army during Indonesia's fight for independence. He rose to the rank of major general.
In 1965, an attempted coup was stopped by troops led by Suharto. The army said this attempt was supported by the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI). After this, the army led a nationwide effort against communists. Suharto then took power from Indonesia's first president, Sukarno. He became acting president in 1967 and was elected president the next year. Suharto ordered an invasion of East Timor in 1975. He resigned in May 1998 after widespread protests. Suharto died in January 2008 and had a state funeral.
Under his "New Order" government, Suharto built a strong government. It was led by the military and focused on central control. He kept Indonesia stable and was against communism. This gained him support from Western countries during the Cold War. During his presidency, Indonesia saw much growth in industry and economy. Education also improved.
Contents
Early Life and Military Beginnings
Suharto was born on 8 June 1921 in Kemusuk, a village near Yogyakarta. He was the only child from his father's second marriage. His father, Kertosudiro, was a village irrigation official. His mother, Sukirah, was a local woman.
His parents divorced when he was young. He lived with different family members. In 1929, his father took him to live with his aunt and her husband in Wuryantoro. This gave Suharto a stable home. He later moved to Wonogiri for primary school. There, he met a dukun (shaman) who practiced Javanese mystical arts. This experience greatly influenced him.
Suharto did not learn Dutch or other European languages when he was young. He learned Dutch after joining the military in 1940. Unlike other Indonesian leaders, he was not very interested in politics or anti-colonial ideas at first.
Joining the Military
Suharto finished middle school at 18. He worked at a bank but had to quit after an accident. In June 1940, he joined the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL). He trained in Gombong and became a sergeant.
When the Japanese invaded in March 1942, Suharto left the KNIL. He then joined the Yogyakarta police force. In October 1943, he moved to the Japanese-sponsored militia, the PETA. Indonesians could become officers in PETA. He learned about the Japanese bushido (way of the warrior). This training encouraged anti-Dutch and pro-nationalist ideas. This deeply influenced Suharto's thinking.
Fighting for Independence
After Japan surrendered in August 1945, Indonesia declared independence. Suharto joined the new Indonesian army. He became a battalion commander. He fought against Allied troops around Magelang and Semarang. He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel.
In September 1948, Suharto tried to peacefully resolve a communist uprising in Madiun. In December 1948, the Dutch captured the capital, Yogyakarta. Suharto led a guerrilla force against the Dutch. On 1 March 1949, his forces briefly recaptured Yogyakarta. This showed that the Dutch could not win the guerrilla war. The United Nations Security Council then pushed the Dutch to negotiate. This led to the Dutch leaving Yogyakarta in June 1949.
During the Revolution, Suharto married Siti Hartinah, known as Madam Tien. She was from a noble family. Their marriage was strong and supportive. They had six children: Tutut, Sigit, Bambang, Titiek, Tommy, and Mamiek.
After Independence
After Indonesia became fully independent, Suharto continued to serve in the army. In 1950, he helped stop a rebellion in Makassar. There, he met the Habibie family. Their son, B. J. Habibie, later became Suharto's vice-president.
From 1956 to 1959, Suharto commanded the Diponegoro Division in Central Java. He became friends with businessmen Liem Sioe Liong and Bob Hasan. These friendships continued throughout his presidency. He was involved in some "profit-generating" activities to support his poorly funded military unit. This led to an army investigation in 1959. He was then moved to the army's Staff and Command School in Bandung.
He was promoted to brigadier-general. In 1961, he became head of the army's new Strategic Reserve (KOSTRAD). In 1962, he was promoted to major general. He led Operation Mandala to take western New Guinea from the Dutch. In 1965, Suharto was in charge of Sukarno's "Konfrontasi" against Malaysia. He secretly contacted the British and Malaysians.
Taking Power from Sukarno
Political Tensions and the Coup Attempt
Tensions grew between the military and communists in 1965. President Sukarno supported the idea of armed peasants and workers. The army leadership did not like this idea. Indonesia's economy was also getting worse. There was widespread poverty and hunger.
On 1 October 1965, six army generals were kidnapped and killed in Jakarta. Soldiers from the Presidential Guard were involved. A group called the "30 September Movement" announced on the radio that they had stopped a coup. They said it was an "internal army affair."
Suharto went to KOSTRAD headquarters. He saw soldiers occupying Merdeka Square. He quickly moved his special forces to take control of Jakarta. He announced on the radio that the 30 September Movement was trying to overthrow Sukarno. He said he was in control of the army and would restore order. Suharto's forces took over an air force base where the coup plotters were. By 2 October, Suharto's army was in control.
The Shift in Power
Suharto slowly gained more power from Sukarno. Students began protesting against Sukarno's government. They wanted the Communist Party banned. The army supported these students. In February 1966, Sukarno promoted Suharto to lieutenant-general.
On 11 March 1966, Sukarno was forced to sign a decree called Supersemar. This gave Suharto the power to take any action needed to keep security. Using this letter, Suharto banned the Communist Party. He also removed Sukarno's supporters from the government and military.
In June 1966, the parliament banned Marxism–Leninism. It also took away Sukarno's title of President for Life. The government ended the conflict with Malaysia and rejoined the United Nations. By January 1967, Suharto had removed most support for Sukarno in the army. On 12 March, Suharto was named acting president. Sukarno was placed under house arrest. On 27 March 1968, Suharto was appointed president for a five-year term.
The "New Order" (1967–1998)
Guiding Principles and Control
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Suharto called his government the "New Order." It was based on the Pancasila ideology. This ideology became a fundamental principle for all organizations in Indonesia. Suharto also made Pancasila training mandatory for everyone. The government used Pancasila to support its actions and criticize opponents.
The "New Order" also used the Dwifungsi ("Dual Function") policy. This meant the military had a role in all parts of Indonesian government and society.
Strengthening His Power
After becoming president, Suharto worked to strengthen his control. He slowly removed potential rivals. He rewarded those who were loyal to him with political jobs and money. He also dealt with student protests against his government. These protests were about his strict rule and money issues. The government responded by arresting many student activists.
In 1974, violent riots broke out in Jakarta. This was during a visit by the Japanese prime minister. Students were protesting against Japanese investors. Suharto believed a general was behind the riots. This general was then dismissed.
In 1980, fifty important political figures signed the Petition of Fifty. They criticized Suharto's use of Pancasila to silence critics. Suharto did not address their concerns. Some of them were imprisoned.
Elections and Political Stability
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Suharto's government created laws for elections and parliament. The parliament could elect presidents. 100 of the 460 members of parliament were chosen by the government. This gave the government much control over laws and presidential appointments.
Suharto took control of a group called Golkar ("Functional Groups"). He made it his main political party. In the first general election in 1971, Golkar won 62.8% of the votes. In March 1973, Suharto was appointed president for a second term.
To control political parties, the government forced them to merge. Four Islamic parties became the PPP. Five non-Islamic parties became the PDI. The government made sure these parties could not become strong opposition groups. Suharto was re-elected without opposition in 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, and 1998. Golkar won most votes in every election. This meant Suharto had almost all the power.
Keeping Order and Social Changes
Suharto used the military to maintain order. The army's presence was expanded to every village. Military officers were appointed as regional leaders. In 1968, Suharto ordered operations to stop communist groups and other insurgencies.
In 1968, Suharto started a successful family-planning program. This helped control population growth. In 1972, he changed the spelling of the Indonesian language. To encourage assimilation of Chinese-Indonesians, the government passed laws. These laws limited Chinese cultural expression. Chinese schools became public schools. Ethnic Chinese people were forced to take Indonesian-sounding names. This created difficulties for Chinese Indonesians.
Economic Development
Suharto's government worked to stabilize the economy. They used advice from economists called the "Berkeley Mafia." They cut subsidies and reformed exchange rates. Inflation dropped from 660% in 1966 to 19% in 1969. The government allowed foreign investment. Suharto traveled to other countries to encourage investment.
From 1967, Indonesia received foreign aid. With this money and oil export revenue, the government invested in infrastructure. They launched telecommunication satellites. Suharto also created charitable organizations called "yayasan." These were run by the military and his family. They collected "donations" from businesses. Some money was used for charity, but much was used to support the government.
Foreign Relations
Suharto's government was neutral in the Cold War. But it was quietly allied with Western countries. This helped Indonesia's economy. Diplomatic relations with China were stopped in 1967. Indonesia became a founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1967. This group aimed to create peace in Southeast Asia.
In 1974, Portuguese Timor had a civil war. Suharto decided to intervene. He said it was to prevent a communist state. On 7 December 1975, Indonesia invaded the colony. It was officially made Indonesia's 27th province in 1976. This occupation led to many deaths.
Progress and Concerns
Indonesia made real progress under Suharto. The poverty rate dropped from 45% in 1970 to about 11% in 1996. The economy grew significantly. Manufacturing became a larger part of the economy. The government invested in large infrastructure projects. Suharto was given the title "Father of Development" in 1983.
Health programs increased life expectancy. Primary school enrollment reached 90% by 1983. Indonesia became self-sufficient in rice by 1984. When oil exports fell in the 1980s, the government shifted to manufacturing for export. This was made competitive by low wages.
Chinese-Indonesian companies grew into large businesses. They dominated the economy. Suharto supported these companies. In return, they helped finance his government. In the late 1980s, the government opened up the banking sector. This led to more savings and financing for growth. The Jakarta Stock Exchange also saw growth. This rapid growth in the 1990s, however, also set the stage for a financial crisis.
Concerns About Money and Power
As the economy grew, so did problems with money and power. Suharto's children, especially Tutut, Tommy, and Bambang, became very wealthy. Their companies received special government contracts. They were protected from competition. For example, Tutut's companies controlled toll roads. Tommy and Bambang's companies controlled the national car project.
The family was said to control a large amount of land in Indonesia. They also had shares in many profitable companies. Foreign companies were encouraged to partner with Suharto family companies. The "yayasan" organizations run by his family collected millions of dollars in "donations" each year.
In 1997, Forbes magazine listed Suharto as one of the richest people in the world. His family's wealth was estimated to be billions of dollars. Most of this wealth came from controlling Indonesia's resources and government contracts.
Later Years of the New Order
By the 1980s, Suharto kept power through controlled elections and military strength. He reorganized the armed forces to centralize power. From 1983 to 1985, army squads killed many suspected criminals.
Suharto's use of Pancasila as the only ideology caused protests from some Islamic groups. In 1984, the army killed protesters in the Tanjung Priok massacre. This led to bombings and arrests of Islamic activists. Attacks by the Free Aceh Movement in 1989 led to a military operation that killed many people.
The government also controlled the press. All media needed a special license that could be taken away at any time. With the end of the Cold War, other countries paid more attention to Indonesia's human rights record. This was especially true after the 1991 Santa Cruz Massacre in East Timor.
Suharto was elected head of the Non-Aligned Movement in 1992. Indonesia also became a founding member of APEC. At home, the military became unhappy with the growing wealth of Suharto's family. Suharto slowly reduced the military's power in his government. He dissolved a powerful military command in 1988.
Suharto began to seek support from Islamic groups. He went on a pilgrimage to Mecca in 1991 and took the name Haji Mohammad Suharto. He also promoted Islamic values. He formed the ICMI (Indonesian Islamic Intellectuals' Association) in 1990.
By the 1990s, many middle-class Indonesians were unhappy with Suharto's strict rule and his children's wealth. They demanded "Reformasi" (reform). In 1996, Megawati Sukarnoputri, Sukarno's daughter, became an opposition figure. An attack on her supporters in Jakarta in 1996 led to riots. This was followed by arrests and kidnappings of democracy activists. In 1997, Suharto awarded himself and two generals the honorary rank of five-star "Grand General."
Economic Crisis and Resignation
The Asian Financial Crisis
Indonesia was hit hard by the 1997 Asian financial crisis. From mid-1997, money left the country quickly. The Indonesian currency, the rupiah, lost much of its value. It dropped from Rp. 2,600 to Rp. 17,000 against the US dollar. Many companies went bankrupt. The economy shrank, leading to more unemployment and poverty.
The central bank tried to protect the rupiah but failed. Suharto signed agreements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for economic reform. The government had to provide emergency money to banks. It also raised interest rates, which made the economy worse. In December 1997, Suharto did not attend a summit due to a minor stroke. This caused concerns about his health.
His family and friends seemed to be exempt from the IMF reforms. This further reduced trust in the economy and his leadership. The economic crisis led to more political tension. Riots against ethnic Chinese people occurred in several cities. In March 1998, Suharto was re-elected for another five-year term. He appointed his protégé B. J. Habibie as vice president. He also filled his cabinet with family and business partners. This made the currency even more unstable. The government raised fuel prices by 70% in May 1998, which caused more riots.
Suharto Steps Down
People increasingly saw Suharto as the cause of the country's problems. In January 1998, university students began protests. On 12 May 1998, security forces killed four students from Trisakti University. This led to widespread riots and looting in Jakarta and other cities. Thousands of buildings were destroyed, and over 1,000 people died. Ethnic Chinese people and their businesses were often targeted.
On 16 May, tens of thousands of students demanded Suharto's resignation. They occupied the parliament building. When Suharto returned to Jakarta, he offered to resign in 2003 and change his cabinet. But his political allies left him. On 21 May 1998, Suharto announced his resignation. Vice-president Habibie then became president.
After the Presidency
Investigations and Health
After resigning, Suharto lived a quiet life in Jakarta. He was protected by soldiers. His family spent much time dealing with investigations into money matters. In May 1999, Time Asia magazine estimated his family's wealth at billions of dollars. Suharto sued the magazine for libel. In 2007, Indonesia's Supreme Court ordered Time Asia to pay Suharto damages.
Suharto was ranked highest on Transparency International's list of corrupt leaders. They estimated he had taken between $15–35 billion during his rule. In May 2000, Suharto was placed under house arrest. Authorities investigated money issues during his presidency. However, doctors said he was too ill to stand trial.
In 2002, Suharto's son Tommy was sentenced to jail for ordering a judge's killing. In 2003, Suharto's half-brother was convicted of money issues. He was sentenced to jail. In 2007, prosecutors filed a civil lawsuit against Suharto to recover state funds.
Illness and Death
After his presidency, Suharto was hospitalized many times. He had problems with his stroke, heart, and intestines. His poor health prevented him from being tried in court.
On 4 January 2008, Suharto was taken to the hospital in Jakarta. He had complications from poor health, including kidney failure. On 23 January, his health worsened. He died on 27 January at 1:09 pm.
Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called Suharto one of Indonesia's "best sons." He asked the country to honor the former president. Suharto's body was taken to the Astana Giribangun mausoleum complex. He was buried next to his wife in a state military funeral. President Yudhoyono led the ceremony. Tens of thousands of people watched the convoy. President Yudhoyono declared a week of official mourning.
Images for kids
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Official portrait of Suharto and Siti Hartinah, date unknown
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SBKRI from 1973; obverse shows the card-holder, her finger print, and signature
See also
- History of Indonesia
- List of high-ranking commanders of the Indonesian War of Independence
- Timeline of Indonesian history
