Try Sutrisno facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Try Sutrisno
Official portrait, 1993
6th Vice President of Indonesia
In office 11 March 1993 – 11 March 1998
President	Suharto
Preceded by	Sudharmono
Succeeded by	B. J. Habibie
9th Commander of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Indonesia
In office 27 February 1988 – 19 February 1993
President	Suharto
Preceded by	General Benny Moerdani
Succeeded by	General Edi Sudradjat [id]
15th Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army
In office 7 June 1986 – 2 February 1988
President	Suharto
Preceded by	General Rudini [id]
Succeeded by	General Edi Sudradjat
Personal details
Born	(1935-11-15) 15 November 1935 (age 89) Soerabaja, Dutch East Indies
Political party	PKP
Other political affiliations	Golkar (1993–1999)
Spouse	Tuti Sutiawati ​ (m. 1961)​
Alma mater	Army Technical Academy
Occupation	Politician army officer
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Indonesia
Branch/service	Indonesian Army
Years of service	1959–1993
Rank	General
Unit	Engineers
Commands	Kodam XVI/Udayana Kodam IV/Sriwijaya Kodam V/Jayakarta Indonesian Armed Forces
Battles/wars	See list PRRI rebellion Operation 17 Agustus West New Guinea dispute Operation Trikora Operation Dwikora Insurgency in East Timor Insurgency in Aceh
Service no.	18438

Try Sutrisno (born 15 November 1935) is an Indonesian retired army general. He served as the sixth vice president of Indonesia from 1993 to 1998. Try was born in Surabaya, which was then part of the Dutch East Indies.

He graduated from the Army Technical Academy in 1959. During his long career, Try held important positions. These included Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army (1986–1988). He also served as Commander of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Indonesia (1988–1993).

Early Life and Education

Try Sutrisno was born on 15 November 1935 in Surabaya. This city is now in East Java, Indonesia. His father, Subandi, worked as an ambulance driver. His mother, Mardiyah, was a housewife.

After Indonesia declared independence in 1945, the Dutch tried to take control again. Try and his family moved from Surabaya to Mojokerto for safety. His father worked for an army battalion. This meant Try had to stop school and help earn money. He sold cigarettes and newspapers.

When he was 13, Try wanted to join the army and fight. He was too young to be a soldier. Instead, he became a courier. His job was to gather information about areas held by the Dutch Army. He also helped get medicine for the Indonesian Army.

In 1949, the Dutch left and recognized Indonesia's independence. Try and his family returned to Surabaya. He finished his education in 1956.

After high school, Try wanted to join the Army Technical Academy (ATEKAD). He passed the written test. But he failed the physical exam. However, Major General Djatikoesoemo noticed Try. He called him back for another chance. Try passed a special test and was accepted into the academy as a cadet.

Military Career

Starting His Army Journey

Try's first military experience was in 1957. He fought against the PRRI Rebellion. This was a group in Sumatra that wanted to create a different government. Try finished his military training in 1959. He graduated from ATEKAD as a second lieutenant in the Indonesian Army.

Early in his career, Try served in Sumatra, Jakarta, and East Java. In 1972, he attended the Army Staff College (Seskoad). In 1974, he was chosen to be President Suharto's adjutant (a personal assistant). President Suharto liked Try. This helped Try's military career advance quickly.

Leading Regional Commands

In 1978, Try became the Chief of Staff for the KODAM XVI/Udayana regional command. A year later, he became the Regional Commander of KODAM IV/Sriwijaya. This was where he had started his career. As a commander, Try worked to reduce crime. He also stopped illegal lead smuggling. He even helped with an environmental project to return Sumatran elephants to their natural homes.

Serving in Jakarta and Difficult Times

In 1982, Try was appointed Regional Commander of KODAM V/Jaya in Jakarta.

In 1984, the government passed a law. It required all organizations to follow the national idea of Pancasila. Some religious leaders disagreed with this. They also had concerns about other government programs.

On 7 September 1984, a sergeant named Hermanu saw leaflets at a mosque. These leaflets encouraged women to wear the hijab. This went against a government policy at the time. Hermanu asked for the leaflets to be removed. When they weren't, he covered them with dirty papers. A rumor spread that he had disrespected the mosque. This made people very angry. Hermanu's motorbike was burned. The army then arrested four young people for burning it.

Protests began, asking for the release of the four youths. Preachers used the situation to speak against the government. On 12 September 1984, a crowd in Tanjung Priok started attacking shops. They also went towards a military office.

Try, along with the ABRI Commander, Benny Moerdani, decided to send troops. The situation became worse. Soldiers said the crowd ignored warnings and kept moving towards them. The troops eventually had to open fire. The government reported 28 deaths. However, victims claimed many more were killed. This event was a difficult part of Try's career.

Rising Through the Ranks

Try's career continued to move forward. In 1985, he became Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army. Then, in 1986, he became the Chief of Staff of the Army. In this role, Try started a program called Badan TWP TNI-AD. This program helped army members get loans to buy their own homes.

Leading the Armed Forces

In 1988, Try reached the highest point in his military career. He was appointed ABRI Commander, replacing Benny Moerdani. As ABRI Commander, Try worked to stop rebellions across Indonesia. He successfully dealt with separatists in Aceh by 1992. In 1989, there was another incident in Talangsari. Try again took action to control protesters.

In November 1991, in the province of East Timor, students were at a funeral. The student had been shot by Indonesian troops. The funeral became a protest against Indonesian control. Students held banners asking for independence. They showed pictures of the independence leader, Xanana Gusmão. As they entered the cemetery, Indonesian troops opened fire. Many people were killed or injured. This event became known as the Santa Cruz massacre.

The incident caused strong reactions from countries around the world. Try was later asked to explain the events to the People's Representative Council (DPR). Try left his position as ABRI Commander in February 1993.

Becoming Vice President

Try Sutrisno being sworn in as vice president, 11 March 1993

In February 1993, members of the ABRI (Armed Forces) in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) nominated Try to be vice president. This happened just before the MPR was set to choose a new president and vice president. Usually, the President would choose his preferred candidate first.

Members from other political parties quickly supported Try's nomination. This surprised the ruling party, Golkar. President Suharto was reportedly unhappy that the armed forces had made their choice first. But he did not want an open disagreement. So, Suharto accepted Try as vice president. Golkar then tried to make it seem like they had allowed other groups to nominate candidates.

It was thought that Suharto might have chosen B. J. Habibie or re-elected Sudharmono if he had made the first move.

Even though he accepted Try, Suharto showed he was not pleased. He kept the number of ABRI members in his cabinet very low. He also did not ask Try for his opinion when forming the cabinet.

Another example of this was in late 1997. Suharto had to go to Germany for medical treatment. Instead of letting Try handle presidential duties, Suharto asked his State Secretary to come to his home to take over.

After the Vice Presidency

In May 1998, just before President Suharto stepped down, Try visited him. He went with other former leaders to discuss options.

In 1998, Try was chosen to lead the ABRI Veterans' Union (Pepabri). He managed to keep the union strong and united. He finished his term in this role in 2003.

Try also served as an elder for the Justice and Unity Party.

In August 2005, Try joined a group called the National Awakening to Unity Movement. This group included other important figures like Abdurrahman Wahid and Megawati Sukarnoputri. They criticized the government of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. They disagreed with a peace agreement made with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). In September 2005, they also criticized the decision to raise fuel prices.

Try later softened his views after meeting with Vice President Jusuf Kalla. Kalla explained the government's reasons for its policies. After the meeting, Try said he understood the government's position. He encouraged people to support their decisions.

Family Life

Try Sutrisno is married to Tuti Sutiawati. They have seven children together: four sons and three daughters.

Images for kids

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  Official portrait, 1993

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  Signature of Try Sutrisno

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  Try Sutrisno being sworn in as vice president, 11 March 1993

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  Star of the Republic of Indonesia, 2nd Class

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  Star of Mahaputera, 1st Class

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  Star of Meritorious Service

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  Grand Meritorious Military Order Star, 1 Class

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  Army Meritorious Service Star, 1 Class

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  Navy Meritorious Service Star, 1 Class

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  Air Force Meritorious Service Star, 1 Class

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  Star of Bhayangkara, 1st Class

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  Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Sash of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria

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  First Class of the Order of Paduka Keberanian Laila Terbilang

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  Commander of the National Order of the Legion of Honour

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  Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

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  Honorary Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm

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  Courageous Commander of the Most Gallant Order of Military Service

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  Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Johor

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  Decoration of Merit in gold

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  Nishan-e-Imtiaz

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  Commander of the Philippine Legion of Honor

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  Recipient of the Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera)

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  Tongil Medal of the Order of National Security Merit, 1st Class

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  Knight Grand Cross of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant

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  Knight Grand Cross of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand

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  Commander of the Legion of Merit