In Memoriam: Soeharto

Today, one of Indonesia's former president, actually the second and longest serving president of Indonesia, Soeharto passed away at the age of 87. Soeharto who has been suffering from multi-organs failure for almost a month died in Rumah Sakit Pertamina Pusat at 1.10 PM in the afternoon. The formal burial will be held tomorrow at Astana Giri Bangun, Karanganyar, Central Java.

Soeharto was born in Kemusuk, Yogyakarta on June 8th, 1921. Soeharto joined the military when he was accepted at Keibuho Police Academy in 1943. When PKI (Indonesia's communist party) attempted a coup against the government on September 1965, he was the Commander of KOSTRAD, the Army Strategic Reserve. He was then given the command by the current President Soekarno to suppress the rebellion. Everyone know how the story ends, Soeharto became the second president replacing Soekarno. He was then elected seven times in a row, thus becoming the longest president in charge in Indonesia. But on June 21st 1998, due to people demonstrations and monetary crisis which has been going on for almost two years, Soeharto resigned and replaced by his vice president, Habibie. From then on he was brought to trial several times for violation of human rights. He was never sentenced until he passed away. President Yudhoyono said that to commemorate Soeharto, there will be 7 days of national mourning. People are advised to put a half pole flag.

So long Soeharto may you rest in peace...