Harmoko

Harmoko (born 7 February 1939 in Kertosono, Nganjuk, East Java, Dutch East Indies) is an Indonesian politician and former Minister of Information.

Harmoko
Information Minister of Indonesia
In office
1983–1997
Preceded byAli Murtopo
Succeeded byAlwi Dahlan
Chairman of Golkar
In office
1993–1998
Preceded byWahono
Succeeded byAkbar Tanjung
12th Speaker of the People's Representative Council
In office
1997–1999
Preceded byWahono
Succeeded byAkbar Tanjung
Personal details
Born (1939-02-07) 7 February 1939
Kertosono, Nganjuk, East Java, Dutch East Indies
NationalityIndonesian
Political partyGolkar
Spouse(s)Sri Romadhiyati

Early career

After attending journalism school in Jakarta, Harmoko began working as a journalist with Merdeka weekly news magazine in 1960. He worked on a number of newspapers, and in 1970 became editor of the Pos Kota and Terbit Jakarta dailies. In 1975, he became a member of the Press Council and of the Film Censorship Board.[1][2]

Political career

In 1977, Harmoko became a member of the Indonesian legislature, the People's Consultative Assembly. He served as information minister in the New Order regime of President Suharto in three successive cabinets (Fourth Development Cabinet, Fifth Development Cabinet and Sixth Development Cabinet) from 1983 until 1997, during which time it was said that his name was an abbreviation for hari-hari omong kosong (talking nonsense every day). Harmoko used his authority to extend the remit of the press publication enterprise permit (SIUPP). Withdrawal of the SIUPP from a publishing company meant it could no longer legally function, and it could also be used to effectively ban individual publications. After the weekly news magazine Tempo published an article critical of the purchase of East German warships by Research and Technology B. J. Habibie, the magazine's SIUPP was revoked on 21 June 1994 and it ceased publishing. Two other news publications, Detik and Editor were banned at the same time.[2][3][4][5]

Following a term as deputy chairman, from 1993 to 1998 Harmoko was chairman of the Golkar ruling political organization, becoming the first civilian to hold this position. In June 1997, he was appointed state minister for special affairs, a post he held for only three months as in October 1997, he was chosen as chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly and People's Representative Council, a post he held until 1999. Despite years of loyalty to President Suharto, following widespread student demonstrations calling for a change of government, on 18 May 1998, Harmoko caused great surprise at a press conference by asking the president to step down within five days. This may have been because Harmoko was upset by his dismissal as information minister and his not being considered for the vice-presidency, or possibly because Harmoko was upset after rioters set fire to his house in Surakarta.[6][7][8][9]

Suharto later saw Harmoko's request as a betrayal, and later on, when Harmoko attempted to visit Suharto on his deathbed, he was refused.[10] Tadjus Sobirin, Golkar's Jakarta chairman in 1998, called Harmoko "Brutus" during a leadership meeting of the party.[11]

Honours

Foreign honour

Notes
  1. Sekretariat Jenderal DPR 1999, p. 147-148.
  2. Editors (Indonesia) 1993, p. 170.
  3. Zaid Salim 2015.
  4. Sekretariat Jenderal DPR 1999, p. 148-149.
  5. Cory Rogers 2014.
  6. Schwarz 1999, p. 418, 478.
  7. Sekretariat Jenderal DPR 1999, p. 143-151.
  8. Friend 2003, p. 341.
  9. Schwarz 1999, p. 620, 845.
  10. "Akhirnya Ungkap Bukti Rahasia". detiknews (in Indonesian). 21 May 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  11. Novianto, Kholid. Akbar Tandjung dan Partai Golkar era reformasi (in Indonesian). Sejati-Press. p. 32. ISBN 978-979-99100-0-4.
  12. "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat".

References


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