See more
What happened to Suharto?
Suharto resigned as President of Indonesia on 21 May 1998 following the collapse of support for his 32-year long presidency. Vice President B. J. Habibie took over the presidency.
How many years was Suharto in power?
Widely regarded as a military dictator by international observers, Suharto led Indonesia through a dictatorship for 31 years, from the fall of Sukarno in 1967 until his own resignation in 1998. The legacy of his 31-year rule, and his US$38 billion net worth, is still debated at home and abroad.
When did Sukarno die?
June 21, 1970Sukarno / Date of death
How did Sukarno die?
He was 69 years old. A three‐sentence communiqués said he had fallen into a coma at 3:50 A.M. looal time and died at 7 A.M. He was admitted to the hospital Tuesday suffering from high blood pressure and a kidney ailment.
How much money did Suharto corrupt?
In Global Transparency Report, made by Transparency International in 2004, he was ranked as the world's most corrupt leader. The report accused Suharto of causing losses of US$15–35 billion for the Indonesian government.
Why did Indonesia invade East Timor?
The Indonesian invasion of East Timor, known in Indonesia as Operation Lotus (Indonesian: Operasi Seroja), began on 7 December 1975 when the Indonesian military (ABRI/TNI) invaded East Timor under the pretext of anti-colonialism and anti-communism to overthrow the Fretilin regime that had emerged in 1974.
What does Sukarno mean?
Sukarno (June 6, 1901 – June 21, 1970) was the first President of Indonesia. He helped the country win its independence from the Netherlands and was President from 1945 to 1967, presiding with mixed success over the country's turbulent transition to independence.
Where is Sukarno buried?
Bung Karno's Grave, Blitar, IndonesiaSukarno / Place of burialThe Grave of Sukarno (or Bung Karno's Grave) is the grave of Sukarno, Indonesia's first president, in Blitar, East Java.
Why is Sukarno important?
During World War II the Japanese made Sukarno their chief adviser and propagandist and their recruiter for labourers, soldiers, and prostitutes. Sukarno pressured the Japanese to grant Indonesia its independence and, on June 1, 1945, made the most famous of many celebrated speeches.
When was Sukarno born?
June 6, 1901Sukarno / Date of birth
Where did Sukarno died?
Gatot Soebroto Army Hospital, Jakarta, IndonesiaSukarno / Place of deathGatot Soebroto Army Hospital is a hospital in Jakarta, Indonesia. The name of the hospital is derived from Gatot Soebroto, a National Hero of Indonesia. Established in 1819, the hospital is the main hospital for the Indonesian Army. The hospital also provides limited services for civilians. Wikipedia
What happened to Suharto in Indonesia?
By the 1990s the unrestrained corruption and favoritism of his regime had begun to alienate even the middle class and business circles, but continuing high rates of economic growth and the government’s tight political controls insulated Suharto from any genuine opposition. In 1997, however, Indonesia became caught up in a currency crisis sweeping across Southeast Asia. The value of the Indonesian national currency, the rupiah, plummeted, and the resulting financial crisis exposed deep flaws in the national economy. Suharto resisted demands for structural reforms even while the economy went into recession, inflation skyrocketed, and living standards collapsed for the poor. Antigovernment demonstrations turned into rioting in Jakarta and other cities in May 1998, and Suharto, having lost the support of the military, was forced to resign the presidency on May 21. He was succeeded in office by the vice president, B.J. Habibie.
What did Suharto do?
Like many Javanese, Suharto used only his given name, without a surname. The son of a minor official ...
How did Suharto influence Indonesia's economy?
During Suharto’s three decades in power, Indonesia’s economy grew an average of 7 percent annually , and living standards rose substantially for the bulk of the population. Education and mass literacy programs were used to propagate the national language, Bahasa Indonesia, and to unify the country’s disparate ethnic groups and scattered islands. The government also initiated one of Asia’s most successful family-planning programs in order to slow down the growth of Indonesia’s large population. These successes were increasingly marred, however, by the inequitable distribution of the nation’s expanding wealth, with relatively small urban elites and military circles receiving a disproportionately large share of the benefits of modernization and development. Suharto allowed his friends and his six children to assume control of key sectors of the economy and amass enormous fortunes by means of monopolies and lucrative trade arrangements.
How long was Suharto president?
In March 1967 the People’s Consultative Assembly (the national legislature) appointed Suharto acting president, and in March 1968 it elected him to a five-year term as president. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Subscribe Now.
What was Suharto's government?
Though he was careful to follow constitutional forms, Suharto’s government was basically an authoritarian regime based on the power of the military, which insinuated itself deeply into every branch of the government and the economy. As head of the armed forces and the government, Suharto maintained complete control of the country’s political life. His government-sponsored political party, Golkar, repeatedly scored landslide victories in elections to the People’s Consultative Assembly, and that body in turn reelected Suharto unopposed to the presidency in 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, and 1998. Civil liberties were restricted, and little dissent was tolerated.
What was Suharto's purge?
In the following months, Suharto directed a purge of communists and leftists in public life, and his example was followed in exaggerated form by vigilantes in a grand massacre of communists throughout the country in which hundreds of thousands lost their lives.
When did Suharto resign?
Antigovernment demonstrations turned into rioting in Jakarta and other cities in May 1998, and Suharto, having lost the support of the military, was forced to resign the presidency on May 21. He was succeeded in office by the vice president, B.J. Habibie. This article was most recently revised and updated by Michael Levy, Executive Editor.
MIXED FEELINGS
While some Indonesians look back on the Suharto era with nostalgia, others have called for the former general and his family to be brought to justice.
ECONOMIC, SOCIAL CHAOS
Suharto rose to power after he led the military in 1965 against what was officially called an attempted communist coup. Up to 500,000 people were killed in an anti-communist purge in the months that followed.
Where was Suharto admitted?
Suharto had been ailing in a hospital in the capital, Jakarta, since he was admitted on Jan. 4 with failing kidneys, heart and lungs. Dozens of doctors prolonged his life using dialysis and a ventilator, but he stopped breathing on his own overnight before slipping into a coma Sunday.
When did Suharto become an officer?
When Indonesia gained independence from the Dutch in 1949 , Suharto quickly rose through the ranks of the military to become a staff officer.
How much money did Suharto embezzle?
State prosecutors accused Suharto of embezzling about US$600 million via a complex web of foundations under his control, but he never saw the inside of a courtroom. In September 2000, judges ruled he was too ill to stand trial, though many people believed the decision really stemmed from the lingering influence of the former dictator and his family.
What resources did Suharto squander?
But critics say Suharto squandered Indonesia's vast natural resources of oil, timber and gold, siphoning the nation's wealth to benefit his cronies, foreign corporations and family like a mafia don.
How many miles did Suharto's rule span?
Suharto had ruled with a totalitarian dominance that saw soldiers stationed in every village, instilling a deep fear of authority across this Southeast Asian nation that stretches across more than 3,000 miles.
How many people were killed in the East Timor war?
The bulk of killings occurred in 1965-1966 when between 300,000 and 800,000 alleged communists were rounded up and slain during his rise to power. Over the next three decades, a further 300,000 people were killed, disappeared or starved in the independence-minded regions of East Timor, Aceh and Papua, human rights groups and the United Nations say.
What percentage of Indonesia's development budget was embezzled during Suharto's rule?
The World Bank estimates 20 percent to 30 percent of Indonesia's development budget was embezzled during his rule.
How old was Suharto when he died?
Suharto of Indonesia, whose 32-year dictatorship was one of the most brutal and corrupt of the 20th century, died Sunday in Jakarta. He was 86. He had been admitted to a Jakarta hospital on Jan. 4 with heart, lung and kidney problems, and placed on a dialysis machine and then a ventilator to support his final days of life.
What was Suharto known for?
Suharto and his family became notorious for controlling state enterprises and taking kickbacks for government contracts, for siphoning money from state charities and for committing gross violations of human rights. Yet Mr. Suharto remained virtually untouchable to the end, ...
How did Suharto get out of office?
Mr. Suharto was driven from office in 1998 by widespread rioting, economic paralysis and political chaos. His rule was not without accomplishment; he led Indonesia to stability and nurtured economic growth. But these successes were ultimately overshadowed by pervasive and large-scale corruption; repressive, militarized rule; and a convulsion of mass bloodletting when he seized power in the late 1960s that took at least 500,000 lives.
Why did Suharto become the chief beneficiary of the subsequent crackdown?
In any event, he became the chief beneficiary of the subsequent crackdown as he moved quickly to consolidate his control. When Mr. Suharto took over from Sukarno, the country was bankrupt. Inflation was rampant and hunger was commonplace in a country rich in natural resources.
Why did Suharto send crack troops?
Contemporary dispatches reported that the general sent crack troops of the army’s Strategic Reserve Command to organize the liquidation of the Communists. Hamish McDonald, a journalist with wide experience in Asia, wrote in his book “Suharto’s Indonesia” that General Suharto later dispatched Col. Sarwo Edhi Wibowo with a force of commandos “to encourage the anti-Communist civilians to help with the job.” The colonel said, “We gave them two or three days’ training, then sent them out to kill the Communists.”
What happened to Indonesia's currency in 1996?
The currency lost 30 percent of its value in 1996 , a drought made rice scarce, unemployment rose and the widening income gap led to rioting and violence. Mr. Suharto turned to the International Monetary Fund, which agreed to a $43 billion bailout if Indonesia would abide by its terms.
What happened to the student protests in 1998?
In May 1998, student rallies spilled from the campuses into the streets and across the archipelago. Hundreds died in fires and clashes with security forces.
Biography - A Short Wiki
For three decades, this Golkar Party politician served as President of Indonesia. Earlier in his life, he was the Indonesian Army’s Chief of Staff and the Secretary General of Indonesia’s Non-Aligned Movement.
Quotes by Suharto
The New Order wants to put our national interest in the driving seat while continuing with our ideology to fight against colonialism and imperialism.
What was the fall of Suharto?
Find sources: "Fall of Suharto" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2019) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) Having consolidated the power in 1967 on the aftermath of the attempted coup in 1965 and anticommunist purges, Suharto launched by middle-ranking officers in the Indonesian army and air force ...
When did Suharto resign?
Suharto resigned as president of Indonesia on 21 May 1998 following the collapse of support for his three-decade-long presidency. The resignation followed severe economic and political crises over the previous six to twelve months. Vice president B. J. Habibie took over the presidency.
How many electoral reforms did Suharto make?
In order to maintain a veneer of democracy, Suharto made several electoral reforms. He stood for election before electoral college votes every five years, beginning in 1973. According to his electoral rules, however, only three entities were allowed to participate in the election: two political parties and Golkar.
Why did Suharto not attend the ASEAN summit?
In December 1997, Suharto for the first time did not attend an ASEAN presidents' summit, which was later revealed to be due to a minor stroke, creating speculation about his health and the immediate future of his presidency. In mid-December, as the crisis swept through Indonesia and an estimated $150 billion of capital was being withdrawn from the country, he appeared at a press conference to assure he was in charge and to urge people to trust the government and the collapsing rupiah.
What was the name of the massacre in East Timor?
In 1991, the murder of East Timorese civilians in a Dili cemetery, also known as the "Santa Cruz Massacre", caused US attention to focus on its military relations with the Suharto regime and the question of Indonesia's occupation of East Timor.
What happened to Suharto after the Cold War?
Following the end to the Cold War, Western concern over communism waned, and Suharto's human rights record came under greater international scrutiny.
What was the effect of Suharto's rule on the protests?
Only token prosecution of cases recommended by the commission was pursued. The pattern of co-opting a few of his more powerful opponents while criminalising the rest became a hallmark of Suharto's rule.
How many Timorese died from Suharto?
However, he was criticized for his repressive rule and for Indonesia’s 1975 invasion of East Timor, which left an estimated 100,000 Timorese dead from famine, disease, and warfare. Suharto died in 2008.
Who was the Indonesian president in 1967?
On February 22, 1967, Indonesian President Sukarno surrenders all executive authority to military dictator General Haji Mohammad Suharto, remaining president in title only. In 1965, Suharto, a senior army officer, narrowly saved Sukarno from a communist coup. In the aftermath, he moved to replace Sukarno and launched a purge ...
Who won the first Daytona 500?
Lee Petty wins first Daytona 500. On February 22, 1959, Lee Petty defeats Johnny Beauchamp in a photo finish at the just-opened Daytona International Speedway in Florida to win the first-ever Daytona 500.
Who is the leader of the Sinaloa cartel?
On February 22, 2014, one of the world’s most-wanted criminals, Joaquin “ El Chapo” (“ Shorty”) Guzmán Loera, head of the Sinaloa cartel, the world’s biggest drug trafficking organization, is arrested in a joint U.S.-Mexican operation in Mazatlán, Mexico, after outrunning law ...read more