Susilo Sudarman

General Soesilo Soedarman (EYD: Susilo Sudarman) (10 November 1928 – 18 December 1997) was the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs at the Fourth Development Cabinet (1993–1998) and the Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications at the Fifth Development Cabinet (1988–1993). Serving as the Indonesian Ambassador to the United States, in Washington, D.C from 18 February 1986 to 11 April 1988 and Member of the People's Consultative Assembly representing Golongan Karya for the Constituency of North Sumatra until his death.

Profile

Early life

Soesilo was born the second of eleven children on 10 November 1928 in Maos, Cilacap with the name Soemarlan. When he was weaned, he was then cared for by his grandfather who changed his name to Soesilo. Soesilo's grandfather was a wealthy landlord, at the time of his birth, he received several gifts from his grandfather in the form of land of around 100 ''bau'' (70 hectares) and a sum of 10 thousand gulden. The prize was intended so that Soesilo would be able to go to medical school to become a doctor because Soesilo's grandfather had a personal doctor named Doctor Katung, and wanted his grandson to become a doctor. However, during the Japanese occupation, his grandfather was subject to land reform regulations'','' and eventually fell into poverty.Majalah Kartini, 17 April 1988. "Orang-orang baru di kabinet bercerita tentang masa kecil mereka: Dari yang menjadi komandan gembala sampai mata-mata kecil" (In Indonesian)

Name

Since his childhood, his name was only the mononym Soesilo. When Soesilo became an ambassador in United States someone asked for Soesilo's surname, Soesilo replied that he didn't have one, but the questioner said that he should have surname and Soesilo then gave the name Soedarman which was the name of his father (Soedarman Wiryosoedarmo). On the next occasion, Soesilo was then called by the name Mr. Soedarman.

Military career

After graduating from High School in Yogyakarta, he then continued his education an Military Academy (MA), deviating from his grandfather's wish on becoming a doctor. At the Military Academy (MA) he was a classmates with Subroto (future Minister of Mines and Energy) and Sayidiman Suryohadiprojo (future Indonesian Ambassador to Japan). Graduating from the academy, as one of its top graduates, he was obliged to become an instructor. He was tasked in student mobilization during the Indonesian Revolution, and with training students at the Middle and High school levels when Dutch troops reached Gombong, Kebumen. He served as Commander of the Regional Military Command (Pangkowilhan) of Sumatra and West Kalimantan from 1980 to 1985.

Personal life

He was married to Widaningsri Putri daughter of Major General Muhammad Mangundiprojo and the younger brother of Lieutenant General Himawan Soetanto, they knew each other since he was a cadet of the Military Academy. The wedding took place in Ponorogo, 15 April 1951. They had 5 children, 1 daughter and 4 sons.

Soesilo Soedarman died on December 18, 1997, at the age of 69 years at Harapan Kita Hospital, Jakarta. Soesilo Soedarman's body was buried at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sudarman, Susilo
1928 births
1997 deaths
20th-century Indonesian politicians