SBY and JK Pay Respects at the Wake for Juwono Sudarsono's Body at the Ministry of Defence

Former Sixth President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) paid respects at the wake for the body of former Minister of Defence Juwono Sudarsono at the Ministry of Defence (Kemhan) building. In addition to SBY, Tenth and Twelfth Vice President Jusuf Kalla (JK) also paid his respects.

According to Antara, on Sunday (29/3/2026), SBY arrived at the Kemhan building at 10.10 WIB. Meanwhile, JK had paid his respects earlier around 09.30 WIB.

“We have lost one of the nation’s finest sons, the late Prof Dr Juwono Sudarsono. I knew the late personally,” said SBY after paying his respects.

SBY recalled that Juwono was a Minister of Defence who contributed to modernising Indonesia’s defence forces. SBY regarded Juwono as an outstanding figure with a civilian background.

“One of the things we considered back then with Mr Juwono and later with Mr Purnomo Yusgiantoro as Minister of Defence was how Indonesia could have a National Defence University,” said SBY.

Several members of President Prabowo Subianto’s cabinet also paid respects at the body. Among them were Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti and Deputy Minister of Immigration and Corrections Silmy Karim.

After the wake ceremony concluded, Deputy Minister of Defence Donny Ermawan led the funeral procession for the body to be buried at the Heroes’ Cemetery (TMP) Kalibata, Jakarta. Several Kemhan officials and the family of the deceased were present at the ceremony.

Juwono served as Minister of Defence during the tenure of Fourth President of the Republic of Indonesia Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) and Sixth President SBY. The Professor of International Relations at Universitas Indonesia passed away on Saturday (28/3) at 13.45 WIB at Pondok Indah Hospital, Jakarta.