Soesilo, first and foremost a fighter

Soesilo, first and foremost a fighter

Soesilo Soedarman, coordinating minister for political and
security affairs since 1993, was known as a fighter throughout
his public life.

Born in a village near Cilacap in Central Java in 1928, he
abandoned a prestigious high school seat in 1945 to join -- as
did most Indonesian youths at the time -- the fight to defend
Indonesia's independence, which was proclaimed on August 17, from
the returning Dutch forces.

His birthday, November 10, coincides with the national Heroes'
Day.

The title of his 1993 biography Soesilo Soedarman -- Prajurit,
Diplomat, Nayaka (Soesilo Soedarman -- Soldier, Diplomat,
Dedicated Public Servant) omitted the word fighter but the book
described his fighting spirit. Those who knew him also singled
this out as among his most notable qualities.

He certainly fought for his life against the diabetes and
heart and lung disease complications that took his life
yesterday.

Soesilo had very distinguished careers in the military and the
government.

He reached the apex of his military career from 1980 to 1985
as chief of the now disbanded First Territorial Military Command
covering Sumatra and West Kalimantan. He retired from active
service with the rank of lieutenant general.

His government career began as Indonesian ambassador to the
United States (1985/1988), then as minister of tourism, post and
telecommunications (1988/1993), and as coordinating minister for
political and security affairs beginning in 1993. He was three
months short of completing the five-year cabinet term.

In 1993, because of his untiring service to the government,
Soesilo's military rank was promoted to honorary full general by
President Soeharto.

Soesilo was the fourth of Raden Soedarman Wirjosoedarmo's and
Sumbiyah's 12 children. They were an aristocratic family who
lived in the Nusajati village in Maos district near Cilacap.

Born Soemarlan, as the first boy, he was raised mostly by his
grandparents, who changed his name to Soesilo when he was 18
months old.

Like most children from the aristocracy, the young Soesilo had
access to the best education that money could buy.

He attended Neutrale School in Maos, the HJS in Purwokerto,
Taman Dewasa in Yogyakarta, and the Senior High School in
Yogyakarta.

His military education included stints at the Yogya Military
Academy (1945/1948), the Reserves Cavalry Officers School in
Amersfoort in the Netherlands (1952/1953), the Associate Armor
Officer Advance Course in Fort Knox, Kentucky, U.S. (1956/1957),
Wayenaya Akademia Imeni Frunze in Moscow (1961/1962), and the
Senior International Defense Management Court at the Naval
Postgraduate in Monterey, U.S (1976).

After leading the first cavalry battalion at the Siliwangi
Military Command in 1959/1960, he spent most of his military
years as a teacher or instructor. He was a lecturer at the Army
School of Staff and Command, commandant of the Cadette Regiment
at Magelang's National Military Academy, commandant of the
Cadette Division at the Armed Forces Academy (AKABRI), and AKABRI
deputy governor.

His first experience in the diplomatic world came in 1970 when
he served as military attache to the Indonesian embassy in
Washington for three years. He returned to serve at the Ministry
of Defense and Security as assistant for personnel matters to the
minister. In 1978 he returned to AKABRI as commandant general.

Soesilo was also active in politics, serving as a member of
the People's Consultative Assembly since 1988, and in sports, as
deputy chairman of the National Sports Council from 1990 to 1995.

His biography lists 21 meritorious service awards from the
government and military, including Bintang Mahaputra Adhipradana,
the Bintang Dharma and Bintang Gerilya. Among the various awards
from abroad, he received the Legion of Merit award from the U.S.
government in 1988.

Soesilo married Widaningsri in 1951, and the couple had four
sons and a daughter.

Unlike many government officials' children, Soesilo's
offspring are virtually unheard of in the Indonesian business
world. All five, however, have excelled academically, something
that Soesilo often proudly underscored in private conversations.

The eldest, his daughter Pradewi, is a doctor; the second
child, Indroyono, is a PhD holder; Triharyo has a masters degree;
Carono was a graduate in hospital management from the United
States; and the youngest, Pancolo Indrajat, graduated from
University of Indonesia's School of Social and Political
Sciences.

Tragedy struck Soesilo's family in March last year when Carono
died, at 34, due to a liver complication.

A devout Moslem, Soesilo was known for his strict discipline,
especially when it came to timing.

Punctuality was his leadership hallmark. In one interview, he
said punctuality was essential not only at work, but also to
allow him to divide his time between work, family and prayers.
(emb)