Soesilo, first and foremost a fighter<\/p>\n
Soesilo Soedarman, coordinating minister for political and
\nsecurity affairs since 1993, was known as a fighter throughout
\nhis public life.<\/p>\n
Born in a village near Cilacap in Central Java in 1928, he
\nabandoned a prestigious high school seat in 1945 to join -- as
\ndid most Indonesian youths at the time -- the fight to defend
\nIndonesia's independence, which was proclaimed on August 17, from
\nthe returning Dutch forces.<\/p>\n
His birthday, November 10, coincides with the national Heroes'
\nDay.<\/p>\n
The title of his 1993 biography Soesilo Soedarman -- Prajurit,
\nDiplomat, Nayaka (Soesilo Soedarman -- Soldier, Diplomat,
\nDedicated Public Servant) omitted the word fighter but the book
\ndescribed his fighting spirit. Those who knew him also singled
\nthis out as among his most notable qualities.<\/p>\n
He certainly fought for his life against the diabetes and
\nheart and lung disease complications that took his life
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Soesilo had very distinguished careers in the military and the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
He reached the apex of his military career from 1980 to 1985
\nas chief of the now disbanded First Territorial Military Command
\ncovering Sumatra and West Kalimantan. He retired from active
\nservice with the rank of lieutenant general.<\/p>\n
His government career began as Indonesian ambassador to the
\nUnited States (1985\/1988), then as minister of tourism, post and
\ntelecommunications (1988\/1993), and as coordinating minister for
\npolitical and security affairs beginning in 1993. He was three
\nmonths short of completing the five-year cabinet term.<\/p>\n
In 1993, because of his untiring service to the government,
\nSoesilo's military rank was promoted to honorary full general by
\nPresident Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Soesilo was the fourth of Raden Soedarman Wirjosoedarmo's and
\nSumbiyah's 12 children. They were an aristocratic family who
\nlived in the Nusajati village in Maos district near Cilacap.<\/p>\n
Born Soemarlan, as the first boy, he was raised mostly by his
\ngrandparents, who changed his name to Soesilo when he was 18
\nmonths old.<\/p>\n
Like most children from the aristocracy, the young Soesilo had
\naccess to the best education that money could buy.<\/p>\n
He attended Neutrale School in Maos, the HJS in Purwokerto,
\nTaman Dewasa in Yogyakarta, and the Senior High School in
\nYogyakarta.<\/p>\n
His military education included stints at the Yogya Military
\nAcademy (1945\/1948), the Reserves Cavalry Officers School in
\nAmersfoort in the Netherlands (1952\/1953), the Associate Armor
\nOfficer Advance Course in Fort Knox, Kentucky, U.S. (1956\/1957),
\nWayenaya Akademia Imeni Frunze in Moscow (1961\/1962), and the
\nSenior International Defense Management Court at the Naval
\nPostgraduate in Monterey, U.S (1976).<\/p>\n
After leading the first cavalry battalion at the Siliwangi
\nMilitary Command in 1959\/1960, he spent most of his military
\nyears as a teacher or instructor. He was a lecturer at the Army
\nSchool of Staff and Command, commandant of the Cadette Regiment
\nat Magelang's National Military Academy, commandant of the
\nCadette Division at the Armed Forces Academy (AKABRI), and AKABRI
\ndeputy governor.<\/p>\n
His first experience in the diplomatic world came in 1970 when
\nhe served as military attache to the Indonesian embassy in
\nWashington for three years. He returned to serve at the Ministry
\nof Defense and Security as assistant for personnel matters to the
\nminister. In 1978 he returned to AKABRI as commandant general.<\/p>\n
Soesilo was also active in politics, serving as a member of
\nthe People's Consultative Assembly since 1988, and in sports, as
\ndeputy chairman of the National Sports Council from 1990 to 1995.<\/p>\n
His biography lists 21 meritorious service awards from the
\ngovernment and military, including Bintang Mahaputra Adhipradana,
\nthe Bintang Dharma and Bintang Gerilya. Among the various awards
\nfrom abroad, he received the Legion of Merit award from the U.S.
\ngovernment in 1988.<\/p>\n
Soesilo married Widaningsri in 1951, and the couple had four
\nsons and a daughter.<\/p>\n
Unlike many government officials' children, Soesilo's
\noffspring are virtually unheard of in the Indonesian business
\nworld. All five, however, have excelled academically, something
\nthat Soesilo often proudly underscored in private conversations.<\/p>\n
The eldest, his daughter Pradewi, is a doctor; the second
\nchild, Indroyono, is a PhD holder; Triharyo has a masters degree;
\nCarono was a graduate in hospital management from the United
\nStates; and the youngest, Pancolo Indrajat, graduated from
\nUniversity of Indonesia's School of Social and Political
\nSciences.<\/p>\n
Tragedy struck Soesilo's family in March last year when Carono
\ndied, at 34, due to a liver complication.<\/p>\n
A devout Moslem, Soesilo was known for his strict discipline,
\nespecially when it came to timing.<\/p>\n
Punctuality was his leadership hallmark. In one interview, he
\nsaid punctuality was essential not only at work, but also to
\nallow him to divide his time between work, family and prayers.
\n(emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soesilo-first-and-foremost-a-fighter-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}