Juwono Sudarsono, the Capable Civilian Who Became Minister of Defence

Jakarta (ANTARA) - It is no exaggeration to remember Juwono Sudarsono as one of the nation’s finest sons, given his track record of being trusted by five Presidents of the Republic of Indonesia.

First, he served as Minister of the Environment during the tenure of the second President of the Republic of Indonesia, Soeharto. He was then appointed as Minister of Education and Culture during the tenure of the third President of the Republic of Indonesia, Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie.

Subsequently, he was trusted as Minister of Defence by the fourth President of the Republic of Indonesia, Abdurrahman Wahid, also known as Gus Dur. Meanwhile, the fifth President of the Republic of Indonesia, Megawati Soekarnoputri, entrusted him with the position of Ambassador of Indonesia to the United Kingdom.

Then, the sixth President of the Republic of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, also known as SBY—the first president elected directly through general elections—decided to appoint Juwono again as Minister of Defence.

Before announcing his cabinet lineup, SBY, at his residence in Cikeas, Bogor Regency, West Java, on 14 October 2004, gave a hint that the Minister of Defence he would appoint was a capable civilian deemed suitable for the position.

SBY also stated that he needed a Minister of Defence with qualifications in understanding international relations, defence, human rights, and democracy.

“I chose to place a capable civilian who understands defence issues, so that TNI reforms can proceed well and defence policies can develop effectively,” SBY said at the time.

A capable civilian becoming Minister of Defence. Indeed, the first civilian to hold the position of Minister of Defence. That was Juwono Sudarsono, the man who celebrated his 84th birthday on 5 March.

Juwono passed away on 28 March 2026 at 13:45 WIB at Pondok Indah Hospital, Jakarta.

Juwono’s body was laid in state on the morning of 29 March at the Ministry of Defence building before the funeral procession took place at the Ministry of Defence’s Bela Negara Field. Juwono was buried at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery, Jakarta.

Impressions of Juwono