15 Closest Ministers to the President of RI Arrested by Police, Here's the Case
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Indonesian history has recorded an unusual event. As many as 15 ministers closest to the President of the Republic of Indonesia were once arrested by authorities just weeks after being inaugurated. That incident occurred during President Soekarno’s era in 1966.
At that time, Soekarno had just carried out a major reshuffle of the Dwikora Cabinet on 12 February 1966. The reshuffle was conducted amid chaotic political and economic conditions following the 30 September Movement.
According to Soe Hok Gie’s testimony in Zaman Peralihan (2005), since the end of 1965, food prices had skyrocketed uncontrollably by hundreds of percent. Petrol prices also rose sharply from Rp400 to Rp1,000. This situation triggered massive student demonstrations in Jakarta demanding comprehensive change.
Nevertheless, Soekarno denied that the reshuffle was due to pressure from the demonstrations.
“It is adjusted to the level of the revolution at this time. That is the reason I am carrying out this reshuffle of the Dwikora Cabinet. Not because of demands, not because of these mad demonstrations!” Soekarno stated in Revolusi Belum Selesai: Kumpulan Pidato Presiden Sukarno 30 September 1965-Pelengkap Nawaksara (2014).
However, the new cabinet did not last long. Just around one month after the inauguration, on 18 March 1966, 15 ministers were arrested by the Army Military Police.
Those arrested included Subandrio, Chaerul Saleh, Achadi, Setiadi Reksoprodjo, Sumardjo, Oei Tjoe Tat, Letkol Sjafei, Mayor Jenderal Achmadi, Jusuf Muda Dalam, Mining Minister Armunanto, Sutomo Martopradopo, Astrawinata, J. Tumanaka, and Sumarno Sostroatmodjo.
Most of the arrested ministers were known as Soekarno’s closest allies. Facing this situation, Indonesia’s number one figure could do nothing because he no longer had any power.
According to historian Ricklefs in Sejarah Indonesia Modern (1999), the arrests were closely related to the national political change after the issuance of the 11 March 1966 Order or Supersemar. On 11 March 1966, Soekarno granted authority to Soeharto to restore the country’s security and order.
Through that mandate, Soeharto then took several important steps, one of which was arresting ministers deemed to have left-wing leanings and accused of involvement in the 30 September Movement.
However, according to Harold Crouch in Militer dan Politik di Indonesia (1999), Soeharto then categorised the detained ministers into three groups: 1) those with strong ties to the PKI, 2) those who were not honest in helping the president, 3) those who lived luxuriously at the expense of the people’s suffering.
In the end, their arrests became one of the key points that accelerated the weakening of Soekarno’s power. Not long after, the political power of Indonesia’s first president slowly collapsed.