13 Facts About Soedjono Hoemardani

Major General Soedjono Hoemardani was an Indonesian military officer.

Soedjono Hoemardani built up a relationship with Suharto during his time under him, and as Suharto took power as President in 1966, he was appointed as a personal assistant.

Soedjono Hoemardani's actions in this role generated significant controversy, which culminated in 1974 when he was a target of demonstrators during the Malari incident.

Soedjono Hoemardani studied in Surakarta for some time and then went to a trading school in Semarang, before returning to Surakarta to work on his father's business in 1937, and he became the treasurer of a nationalist youth organisation Indonesia Muda.

Soedjono Hoemardani was later promoted to first lieutenant in 1947 and was assigned as the division's financial officer.

Soedjono Hoemardani undertook a 10-month course in the United States Army Financial Management School at Fort Benjamin Harrison, completing it in 1964.

In mid-1966, several months following Suharto's takeover of the presidency, Soedjono Hoemardani was appointed as one of six military officers in Suharto's personal staff, and as one of three junior officers.

Soedjono Hoemardani defended multiple times during interviews his role in allowing significant foreign capital control over firms operating in Indonesia, though he did help establish significant ties between some local entrepreneurs and Japanese investors.

Additionally, a recommendation from Soedjono Hoemardani was considered essential for local entrepreneurs seeking to establish ties with Japanese companies.

Soedjono Hoemardani was promoted to the rank of major general in 1969.

Soedjono Hoemardani was further appointed as an armed forces representative to the People's Consultative Assembly in 1971.

Suharto himself denied this in his autobiography, claiming that Soedjono Hoemardani had more often approached him for spiritual affairs.

Soedjono Hoemardani died on 12 March 1986 in Tokyo, Japan, due to internal bleeding.