Wiranto

Wiranto (born 4 April 1947) is an Indonesian politician and retired army general, who is serving as the chairman of the Presidential Advisory Council, since December 2019. Previously, he was the Commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces from February 1998 to October 1999 during Indonesia's transition from authoritarian rule to democracy, he ran unsuccessfully for President of Indonesia in 2004 and for the vice-presidency in 2009. On 27 July 2016, Wiranto was appointed Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, replacing Luhut Binsar Panjaitan.

Wiranto
Official portrait, 2019
5th Chairperson of the Presidential Advisory Council
Assumed office
13 December 2019
PresidentJoko Widodo
Preceded bySri Adiningsih
6th Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs
In office
27 July 2016  20 October 2019
PresidentJoko Widodo
Preceded byLuhut Binsar Panjaitan
Succeeded byMahfud MD
In office
26 October 1999  15 February 2000
PresidentAbdurrahman Wahid
Preceded byFeisal Tanjung
Succeeded bySoerjadi Soedirdja
1st General Chairman of the People's Conscience Party
In office
21 December 2006  21 December 2016
Preceded byNew political party
Succeeded byOesman Sapta Odang
19th Minister of Defense and Security
In office
14 March 1998  20 October 1999
President
Preceded byEdi Sudradjat
Succeeded byJuwono Sudarsono
12th Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces
In office
16 February 1998  26 October 1999
President
  • Suharto
  • B. J. Habibie
Preceded byGeneral Feisal Tanjung
Succeeded byAdmiral Widodo Adi Sutjipto
19th Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army
In office
7 June 1997  16 February 1998
PresidentSuharto
Preceded byGeneral Raden Hartono
Succeeded byGeneral Subagyo Hadi Siswoyo
Personal details
Born (1947-04-04) 4 April 1947
Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Political partyIndependent
Other political
affiliations
Spouse
Rugaiya Usman
(m. 1975)
Alma mater
Occupation
WebsiteArchived website
Military service
AllegianceIndonesia
Branch/serviceIndonesian Army
Years of service1968–1999
RankGeneral
UnitInfantry
Commands
Battles/warsOperation Lotus
Service no.22166

Wiranto played a significant role in facilitating severe human rights violations by the Indonesian army and Jakarta-backed militias, during Indonesia's withdrawal from the occupied territory of East Timor in 1999. Both the United Nations and domestic groups have gathered evidence on this, but he continues to deny the charges. In January 2000, an Indonesian commission placed general responsibility for these injustices on Wiranto. In May 2004, the United Nations-backed Special Panels of the Dili District Court indicted Wiranto and charged him with war crimes. Wiranto claimed the move was an effort to discredit his political ambitions.

Some claim that Wiranto played a key role as a moderating influence during the turbulent times of 1998 when Suharto resigned. He had the power to impose military rule, but refused to do so, thereby allowing the civilian process to develop. Taufik Darusman labeled him a "military reformist" because Wiranto reduced the military's role in Indonesian politics. He initiated the reduction of their seats in parliament and separated the police from the military. Nonetheless, more than 2,000 East Timorese were killed in violence under his watch, as well as 500,000 forced into displacement. Other atrocities were perpetrated by the Indonesian security forces at the time Wiranto was their top commander, including the Biak massacre in July 1998.

On October 10, 2019, Wiranto was stabbed with a sharp weapon by a man in Menes Square, Pandeglang, Banten. As a result, Wiranto suffered a stab wound to the front of his body. Apart from Wiranto, the attack injured the Head of the Sector Police, Menes Commissary Police Dariyanto, who was at the location. Wiranto's men were also injured in the attack. The suspect is Syahril Alamsyah, alias Abu Rara, born in Medan on August 24, 1968, and a woman who is suspected to be with the perpetrator on behalf of Fitri Andriana, born in Brebes on May 5, 1998, was arrested. The head of the Public Information Bureau of the National Police Headquarters Brigadier General Dedi Prasetyo said the two perpetrators of the attack on Wiranto were suspected of being exposed to Islamic State radicalism and after the incident, he had to be rushed to the nearest hospital for first aid and referred to Gatot Soebroto Army Hospital, Jakarta.

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