Sudharmono (EVO: Soedharmono; 12 March 1927 – 25 January 2006),[1] also known by his nickname Pak Dar,[2] was an Indonesian Army officer and politician who served as the fifth vice president of Indonesia from 1988 until 1993 under the New Order regime. Previously, he served in several positions in the government and military, including as the Chairman of Golkar, State Secretary of Indonesia, and a lieutenant general in the army.[3]
Sudharmono was born on 12 March 1927, in Gresik, East Java.[4] He completed his Middle School education in 1945. Following the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence, he dropped out from any further education to join the army in the Indonesian National Revolution. He became the Commander of the Ronggolawe Division in the army, a position which he held throughout the war. After the Dutch retreated from Indonesia in 1949, Sudharmono completed his Secondary education before going to Jakarta in 1952 to join the Military Law Academy, which he completed the course in 1956.[5] He then served in Medan, North Sumatra, as an Army Attorney from 1957 to 1961. He remained in the army until 1968 and served in the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation and the Supreme Operations Command (KOTI).[6]
Following the Fall of Sukarno, after the 30 September Movement, and after the rise of Suharto, Sudharmono left the army after being named Cabinet Secretary as well as Chairman of the Economic Stability Council by Suharto. In 1970, Sudharmono was moved from the position of Cabinet Secretary to the State Secretary, a position which allowed him to assist Suharto in the day-to-day running of the government.[7] At the 1983 Golkar National Conference, with Suharto's support, Sudharmono was elected as the Chairman of Golkar.[8] In 1988, during the election of vice president at the General Assembly of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), he was elected as vice president to accompany Suharto.[9]
As vice president, Sudharmono was extremely active in governing.[10] Despite this, however, the military showed their displeasure at Sudharmono's election as vice president, as he represented the civil and bureaucratic wing of Golkar. This culminated in March 1993, during the General Assembly of the MPR, where the army nominated Try Sutrisno as vice president without the consent of Suharto. Although Suharto was likely displeased, Suharto did not want an open conflict with the military deputies and accepted Try as his vice president.[11] Following the end of his term, he published two books, both autobiographies. In May 1998, on the eve of Suharto's fall, Sudharmono, together with former vice presidents Umar Wirahadikusumah, and Try Sutrisno, visited Suharto at his residence to discuss possible options.[12] Sudharmono died on 25 January 2006, after being treated at Metropolitan Medical Center hospital.[7] His body was interred in the Kalibata Heroes' Cemetery, Jakarta.[4]
