SBY Mourns the Passing of Former Defence Minister Juwono: We Have Lost One of the Nation's Finest Sons

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Indonesia’s sixth president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), has conveyed his condolences over the passing of former Minister of Defence Juwono Sudarsono. He stated that Indonesia has lost one of the nation’s finest sons.

“Yes, today we have lost one of the nation’s finest sons, the late Professor Dr. Juwono Sudarsono,” said SBY at the Ministry of Defence office in Jakarta on Sunday (29/3/2026).

He noted that although Juwono had a military background, he had served as a lecturer and dean at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) at the University of Indonesia (UI).

After developing a close friendship, he and Juwono often discussed the integration of military and civilian affairs.

He said that Juwono shared his views on the TNI in the reform era, which should not engage in practical politics.

“And when I carried out my duties back then in 1998 during the reform era to return the TNI to its true essence, not engaging in practical politics but as a reliable defence force, Mas Juwono held the same view,” he explained.

SBY also stated that due to this alignment of views, he appointed Juwono as Minister of Defence.

He mentioned that together with Juwono, he began planning the establishment of the Defence University and a Peacekeeping Mission area in Sentul, Bogor.

The body is being laid in state at the Urip Sumoharjo Building, Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Indonesia, Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta, on Sunday (29/3/2026), starting at 09.00 WIB. It will subsequently be buried at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery, South Jakarta.