14 Facts About Moenadi

Moenadi was an Indonesian military officer and politician who served as the Governor of Central Java between 1966 and 1974.

Moenadi had previously served in the military, and was a subordinate officer of Suharto.

Moenadi was born on 26 December 1923 in the town of Tuban, today in East Java.

Moenadi was educated at Dutch colonial schools, and during the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies he joined the Japanese-backed Defenders of the Homeland militia organization.

Moenadi fought on the Republican side during the Indonesian National Revolution, and in 1948, he was made territorial commander around Pati Regency with the rank of major, under Gatot Subroto's 2nd division.

In independent Indonesia, Moenadi continued to serve in the army, becoming a staff officer of the Diponegoro Military Region.

When future president Suharto became Diponegoro's commander during the 1950s, Moenadi was under his command as commander of the Semarang Military District.

Moenadi would organize night markets in Semarang in order to fund the unit, which local military police units believed was a cover for illegal gambling activities.

In 1960, with Suharto serving as commander of the Army's General Reserves, Moenadi would assist him in forming a new corps intended as a more mobile reserve unit.

Moenadi was made a full governor on 29 December 1969, following a unanimous provincial legislature vote to elect him on 29 September with no other candidates eligible.

Moenadi's tenure ended in December 1974, and he was replaced by Soepardjo Rustam.

Moenadi held the final rank of major general before retiring from active service.

Moenadi was buried two days later at the Kusuma Bhakti Heroes' Cemetery within the city.

Moenadi's first wife Istriati Moenadi was a member of the People's Consultative Assembly, and the couple had three children prior to Istriati's death in 1974.