Defence Minister in Gus Dur-SBY Eras, Juwono Sudarsono, Passes Away

Defence Minister in the eras of Presidents Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), Juwono Sudarsono, passed away on Saturday (28/3). The sad news was confirmed by the Head of Information for the Secretariat General of the Ministry of Defence, Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait. “It is true (that he has passed away),” he told CNNIndonesia.com. According to information received, Juwono breathed his last at RSPI Pondok Indah in South Jakarta. However, it is not yet known for certain whether Juwono was undergoing medical treatment beforehand or not. Juwono Sudarsono was the first Defence Minister from civilian circles. In addition to being Defence Minister, he once served as Minister of Education and Culture in the era of President B.J. Habibie. He was also appointed as Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to the United Kingdom until 2004.