13 Facts About Soepardjo Rustam

Soepardjo Rustam was an Indonesian military officer, politician and diplomat.

Soepardjo Rustam served in a number of government positions, including as the Coordinating Minister of People's Welfare, Minister of Home Affairs, and as governor of Central Java.

Soepardjo Rustam was born on 12 August 1926 in the village of Sokaraja, in what is today Banyumas Regency of Central Java.

Soepardjo Rustam graduated from a Hollandsch-Inlandsche School, and later the colonial middle school.

Soepardjo Rustam remained in the army after the end of the revolution.

Early in Suharto's presidency, Soepardjo Rustam first became the Director for Asia Pacific Affairs in the foreign ministry, before becoming ambassador to Yugoslavia in 1971 and to Malaysia in 1972.

On 28 December 1974, at that time holding the rank of major general, Soepardjo Rustam was appointed as the acting Governor of Central Java.

Soepardjo Rustam was sworn in for a second term on 4 June 1980, having been promoted to lieutenant general.

In contrast to his predecessor Amir Machmud, who had significantly centralized the governance of the country, Soepardjo Rustam adopted a more decentralized view.

Soepardjo Rustam had ordered a review into a law on village governance passed during Machmud's ministership.

Soepardjo Rustam became the Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare in the Fifth Development Cabinet, starting on 23 March 1988 and serving until 17 March 1993.

Soepardjo Rustam died on 11 April 1993 at the Metropolitan Medical Center in South Jakarta due to his illness.

Soepardjo Rustam was buried the following day in a military ceremony at the Kalibata Heroes' Cemetery.