Remembering Juwono Sudarsono: Failed to Become a Journalist, Instead Became a Minister

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Who would have thought that Prof. Dr. Juwono Sudarsono, Defence Minister during President Abdurrahman Wahid’s and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s eras, once aspired to become a journalist in his youth.

Senior ANTARA News correspondent Ade P. Marboen recounted that Juwono himself expressed his desire to become a journalist.

“When he was young, his dream was actually to become an ANTARA journalist,” said Ade in Jakarta on Saturday, remembering Juwono Sudarsono who passed away on the same day around 1:45 PM WIB.

According to Juwono, as told by Ade, being a journalist is exciting, challenging, adventurous, and “something else”.

While studying International Relations at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of Indonesia, Juwono served as an aide to international delegations attending high-level conferences (summits) in Indonesia, and it was there that his interactions with journalists occurred.

“But… he actually failed the ANTARA journalist test,” Ade said.

According to Ade, Juwono, the calm-appearing man who also served as Minister of Education and Minister of Environment, was a warm and friendly figure.

“Uncle Yu, we used to call Mr Juwono that, we were close and liked to talk about anything,” Ade said.

A Paternal Figure

Good memories of Juwono Sudarsono’s persona were also shared by Ahmad Wijaya, former ANTARA Bureau Chief in Beijing, China, who is affectionately called Anang.

Anang recounted that during an official three-day visit to Beijing in 2009, Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono made time to be interviewed at the hotel where he was staying, located near China’s Foreign Ministry in Chaoyang District.

“There was Ambassador Sudrajat, Athan Yayat Sudrajat, and the Defence Minister’s Aide,” Anang said.

The interview material covered enhancements in defence and diplomatic cooperation between Indonesia and China, security in the South China Sea, and the capture of Chinese fishing vessels in Indonesian waters.

“As a former lecturer, he was very paternal and systematic in providing explanations, insights, and material for what I asked,” Anang recalled.

The interview flowed very naturally, on the record, with some off-the-record answers. Juwono was very cautious about the off-the-record responses, warning not to report them.

“There were also questions passed on from the KBRI Beijing staff. And when I asked, he smiled, as if he knew that what I was asking must be from the internal defence staff of KBRI, but he still answered,” Anang said.

One thing that was particularly memorable for Anang was that after the approximately 1.5-hour interview, Juwono turned the questions back to him.

“With a paternal style, he asked about my personal condition while serving in Beijing.

How long have you been in Beijing? Did you bring your family to serve in Beijing? How about the children’s schooling? Even asked if coverage in Beijing had increased or not?

I was very touched to be asked like that by him,” Anang recalled.

Farewell Prof. Dr. Juwono Sudarsono. May you receive the best place by His side. Aamiin.