Retired General of the Indonesian National Army H.M.

Soeharto was the second

president of Indonesia. He was born on June 8th, 1921 in the small village of
Kemusuk, west of Yogyakarta.

He is the third son of the couple Mrs. Sukirah (mother) and Mr. Kartosudiro
(Father). His father worked as a regulator of the water in Kemusuk village.

He is commonly known by the name ‘Pak Harto’ or ‘The father of development’.

Even as a child he was also called ‘Den Bagus Tahi Mabul’ (Tahi Kering).

Before becoming the second president of Indonesia, he began his career

completely from the bottom, very hard and discipline.

At the age of just turned 8 years old, he has been entrusted to her aunt in
Waryantoro, Wonogiri (Region east of the Yogyakarta).

There, he obtained his education more feasible than in the Kemusuk. It is because
of his uncle (Prawirowihardjo) is a paramedic farmer.

Although less than one year, his beloved mother had missed him. So, he was
picked up to Kemusuk.

Then, a year later, he was picked up again by the family of Prawirowihardjo to

settle down again and studied in Wonogiri.
After completion of primary school for 5 years, he finally went to school at
Schakel School in Wonogiri.

At that time he moved to his sister’s house (Citratani) in Selogiri located around 6
KM from Wonogiri.

After moving, he finally managed to complete his studied at the age of 18 years in
Schakel Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta.

But the fateful for him, his parents could not afford him to continue his study. So,
he chose to work.

He has worked as a clerk bank, tidy the barns, dig the trenches, build the mosque,
and other works.

His career began when he passed the entrance test of KNIL (Koninlijk Nederlands-
Indisch Leger) or any other name is Royal Netherlands Indies Army.

Within three years, he was finally able to complete his education as the best
graduate and was assigned as deputy commander of the squad practices Battalion
XIII at Rampal, Malang.

However, when his career was going up, he had to go back to fight. It’s because
the Dutch surrendered to the Japan. So, at that time, there were many changes.
Indonesian flag was forbidden to be displayed and changed by Hinomaru (the
Japanese flag), Indonesian national anthem was also replaced by Kimigayo.

One day, the Japan opened the reception member of Keibuho (Japan police). He
eventually enrolled and passed the test. Moreover, he managed to become the best
graduates.

The Chief Constable of Japanese officer ordered him to learn Japanese and
enrolled him into the army PETA (Pembela Tanah Air).

The top of his career was in 1967, after the G-30S / PKI incident. He was
appointed as the second president of Indonesia after replacing Ir. Sukarno, who
was the first President of Indonesia.

The period of his reign is known as the ‘The New Orde‘. On September 28th,
1966, Indonesia was back into the members of UN (United Nations).

After ruling for 32 years, ended on May 21st, 1998 he read a speech ‘Statement to
Stop being a President “. Until now, he was still listed as the oldest president who
led Indonesia.

Finally, at the age of 87, he breathed his last. At 13:00 pm on January 27th, 2008
he died at Pertamina Hospital in Jakarta.
Suharto was the second President of the Republic of Indonesia. He was born in
Kemusuk, Yogyakarta, on June 8, 1921. His father was a farmer named
Kertosudiro well as auxiliary fields irrigation headman in the villag e, while his
mother was Sukirah. Suharto entered school when he was eight, but often moving.
Originally schooled in the Village School (SD) Scores, Godean. Then move to SD
Pedes, because her mother and her husband, Mr. Pramod moving house, to
Kemusuk South. However, Mr. Kertosudiro then move it to Wuryantoro. Suharto
left at home his sister who is married to Prawirowihardjo, a paramedic farmer.

Until finally chosen as exemplary soldier NCO School, Gombong, Central Java in
1941. He officially became a member of TNI on October 5, 1945. In 1947, Suharto
was married to Siti Hartinah Mangkunegaran a young employee.

Marriage Lt. Col. Suharto and Siti Hartinah held on December 26, 1947 in Solo. At
that time the age of 26 years and Hartinah Soeharto 24 years. They had six sons
and a daughter; Siti Hardiyanti Hastuti, Sigit Harjojudanto, Bambang Trihatmodjo,
Siti Hediati Herijadi, Hutomo Mandala Putra and Siti Hutami Endang Adiningsih.

Major General H.M. Soeharto had walked a long way in the military and political
career. In the military, Suharto start of KNIL sergeant, then commander of the
MAP, the commander of the regiment with the rank of Major and battalion
commander Lieutenant Colonel.

In 1949, he successfully led his troops to retake the city of Yogyakarta from the
hands of the Dutch at that time. He also served as Commander of the Guards
Sudirman. In addition, once the commander Mandala (liberation of West Irian).

Dated October 1, 1965, erupted G-30-S/PKI. Suharto took over the leadership of
the Army. Apart confirmed as Army Commander, General Suharto appointed
Commander by President Soekarno. In March 1966, General Suharto received a
Decree of March 11 of President Soekarno. His job, restore security and order and
safeguard the teachings of the Great Leader of the Revolution Bung Karno.
Because of the political situation worsened after the outbreak G-30-S/PKI, MPRS
Special Session, March 1967, appointed Soeharto as Acting President, was
inaugurated as the second President of Indonesia, in March 1968. Suharto ruled for
more than three decades past six elections, until he resigned, May 21, 1998.

After being treated for 24 days at Pertamina Central Hospital, South Jakarta,
former president Soeharto finally died on Sunday, January 27, 2006). Suharto died
at 13:10 noon at the age of 87 years.
Soeharto was known as Indonesian President who had the longest leadership
period of 32 years. He is called as the father of development. He was the second
president of Indonesia who was successful in developing agricultural sector of
Indonesia. Soeharto was born in Kemusuk, Yogyakarta, on June 8, 1921. His
parents were Sukirah and Kertosudiro. When he was eight years old, Soeharto
started going to school, but he often moved fom one school to another school
because his family also moved from the village.

In 1945, Soeharto officially became the member of TNI. After that, in 1947,
Soeharto married with Siti Hartinah or she was famous by Ibu Tien. From the
marriage, Soeharto had six children. They are Siti Hardiyanti Hastuti, Sigit
Harjojudanto, Bambang Trihatmodjo, Siti Hediati Herijadi, Hutomo Mandala Putra
dan Siti Hutami Endang Adiningsih.

Many versions of stories said that the role of Soeharto when Indonesia took back
Yogyakarta from the Netherlands in Serangan Umum 1 Maret cannot be separated.
The purpose of serangan umum 1 Maret was to show the existence of TNI in
defending Indonesia to international world. He built his carrier in military until he
became the Major General.

Through the extraordinary meeting of the parliament, Soeharto was pointed as the
second president of Indonesia, replacing President Soekarno. During his leadership
as president, Soeharto changed many political policies. One of them was Indonesia
came back to be the member of United Nations.

In his presidency, Soeharto intimidated the communist party and punished

everyone who was related to the communist party. The programs of Soeharto were
directed to save the stability and rehabilitation of Indonesia’s economy condition.
Here, Soeharto controlled the inflation so that the price of local products didn’t rise
extremely. He also repaired the facilities. The basic purpose of these policies was
maintaining the planned economy system which could guarantee the democracy of
economy to the justice and wealthy society as it was mentioned in Pancasila. Due
to his success in establishing political stability which brought economy stability, he
is called as the Father of Development. The other achievement of Soeharto was the
United Nations Population Award which was the highest award from United
Nations because Soeharto was successful in holding KB program.

Soeharto was a president who was full of controversy. Some people supported him
as the Father of Development, but some of them show disrespect because of the
tragedy in 1998 which many people become the victims of the crisis. In 1998,
Soeharto faced dark era because many university students with the society did big
demonstration as result of their unsatisfactory feelings toward Soeharto’s
presidency, in which the stability of the economy started to fall down. Indonesia
faced crisis for the recent 6 months at that time. On May 21, 1998, Soeharto
declared that he stepped back for good as the president of Indonesia.

After treated for 24 days at Pertamina Centeral Hospital, South Jakarta, former
president Soeharto finally died on Sunday, January 27, 2008. Soeharto died at age
86 years.