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Front: Haji Mohammad Suharto (1921-), second President of Indonesia
Suharto was trained in a Dutch-run military academy. During World War II, he
was a battalion commander in the Japanese-sponsored local military. After WWII
he joined the Indonesian National Revolution against Dutch and Western attempts
to re-establish colonial rule.
In 1962 he was promoted to the rank of major general and took command of the
Diponegoro division. By 1965, the armed forces split into two factions, one
left wing and one right wing, with Suharto in the right-wing camp. During the
1965-66 Civil War between the left and right factions Suharto's power grew. On
Feb 1, 1966, President Sukarno promoted Suharto to the rank of Lieutenant
General.
On March 11, 1966 the ailing Sukarno formally granted Suharto emergency
powers over the nation. Suharto proceeded to establish the New Order. He
permanently banned the Communist Party of Indonesia, purged the parliament and
cabinet of Sukarno-loyalists, eliminated labor unions and instituted press
censorship. His foreign policy shifted toward more closer ties with the United
States.
Indonesia's Provisional Parliament named Suharto President on
March 12, 1967 and he was formally elected President on March 21.
Financial crisis and dissension within the ranks of his own party forced him
to resign the presidency on May 21, 1998.
Back: Jakarta's Sukarno - Hatta International Airport
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