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Remembering Juwono Sudarsono, Who Has Passed Away: Former Minister from the Soeharto to SBY Eras

| Source: DETIK Translated from Indonesian | Politics
Remembering Juwono Sudarsono, Who Has Passed Away: Former Minister from the Soeharto to SBY Eras
Image: DETIK

Juwono Sudarsono passed away at the age of 84. He once served as Minister of Defence during the presidencies of Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), as well as Minister of State for the Environment in Soeharto’s Seventh Development Cabinet.

Juwono passed away at 1.45pm WIB at RSPI Pondok Indah in Jakarta. The late Juwono is scheduled to be buried at the Heroes’ Cemetery (TMP) Kalibata in South Jakarta on Sunday (29/3).

“Correct, Mr Juwono Sudarsono has indeed passed away,” said Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, Head of Information for the Ministry of Defence’s Secretariat General, when contacted on Saturday (28/3/2026).

Profile of Juwono

Compiled by detikcom from the Ministry of Defence website, Antara, and the non-profit AMINEF foundation website, Juwono was born on 5 March 1942 in Ciamis, West Java. Juwono was the son of Dr Sudarsono, who served as Minister of Social Affairs when Indonesia had just gained independence.

Juwono pursued his bachelor’s degree at Universitas Indonesia. He studied for his master’s degree at The University of California at Berkeley in the United States and obtained his PhD at The London School of Economics in the United Kingdom.

Juwono himself once served as Dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Universitas Indonesia. He also taught at Columbia University in New York from 1986 to 1987.

Juwono’s career in politics was quite illustrious. He became a minister during the eras of Presidents Soeharto, B.J. Habibie, Gus Dur, and SBY. Juwono was the first civilian Minister of Defence since 1959.

During President Megawati Soekarnoputri’s era, Juwono also served as Indonesia’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

Here is Juwono’s career in cabinets of various presidents:

  • Minister of State for the Environment, Seventh Development Cabinet of President Soeharto (1997-1998)

  • Minister of Education and Culture, Reform Cabinet of President Habibie (May 1998-October 1999)

  • Minister of Defence, National Unity Cabinet of President Gus Dur (October 1999-August 2000)

  • Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Great Britain, President Megawati (12 June 2003-October 2004)

  • Minister of Defence, United Indonesia Cabinet (21 October 2004-20 October 2009).

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