IndonesianTalk.com — Nation bids farewell to former defense minister Juwono Sudarsono
Indonesia is mourning the passing of Prof. Juwono Sudarsono, a respected scholar of international relations and former defense minister who served under two administrations. He died at Pondok Indah Hospital in Jakarta at around 1:45 p.m. on Saturday.
The University of Indonesia professor will be laid to rest at Kalibata Heroes Cemetery on Sunday morning in a military funeral led by Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.
Since Saturday, a steady stream of national figures, colleagues and family members have paid their last respects at the funeral home on Alam Asri VIII Street in South Jakarta.
Among those were former State Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief A.M. Hendropriyono, former industry minister Saleh Husin, presidential envoy for international trade and multilateral cooperation Mari Elka Pangestu, and Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Iman Kusumo.
Also seen at the residence were Transmigration Minister Iftitah Sulaiman, lawyer Kiky Marcel and Presidential Security Detail (Paspampres) commander Maj. Gen. Edwin Sumantha. Former coordinating minister for people’s welfare Aburizal Bakrie also attended.
Wreaths from prominent figures, including President Prabowo Subianto and former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, lined the entrance to the residence.
Among the mourners was businessman Ismeth Wibowo, a commissioner at PT Sunra Asia Pacific Hi-Tech, who recalled his personal connection with the late professor.
“Prof. Juwono Sudarsono was a very humble person. He was my undergraduate thesis supervisor at the University of Indonesia’s School of Social and Political Sciences,” Ismeth said, as he paid his respects alongside entrepreneur Mora Dharma Silitonga.
Ismeth also highlighted the late professor’s family background, noting that Juwono’s father, Sudarsono, had served as home affairs minister and social affairs minister, and was a contemporary of Indonesia’s last prime minister, Juanda Kartawidjaja.
Before the burial, the body was scheduled to lie in state at the Defense Ministry’s Hall of Silence at 7:30 a.m., followed by a send-off ceremony at the ministry’s Bela Negara field, led by the deputy defense minister, according to Brig. Gen. Rico Ricardo Sirait, head of the ministry’s information bureau.
The funeral procession will then proceed to Kalibata for a military burial ceremony.
A life in public service
Born in Ciamis, West Java, on March 5, 1942, Juwono was widely regarded as one of Indonesia’s foremost experts in defense and international relations.
He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Indonesia in 1965 before pursuing a master’s degree at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1970. He later obtained a Ph.D. from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1975.
Juwono began his government career as state minister for the environment during the late New Order era under president Soeharto. During the Reform era, he served as education and culture minister under president B.J. Habibie.
He was first appointed defense minister by president Abdurrahman Wahid in 1999, becoming one of the few civilians to hold the post. He later returned to the same position under president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, serving from 2004 to 2009.
During his tenure, Juwono played a key role in drafting several major defense-related bills, including those on reserve components, national security, state secrecy, military justice and veterans.
His passing marks the loss of a prominent figure who bridged academia and public service, leaving a lasting imprint on Indonesia’s defense policy and intellectual landscape.
