Indonesian President. He served as the 4th President of Indonesia from 1999 to 2001. Born in Jombang, Dutch East Indies, He was the oldest of his five siblings. In 1943, he moved to Jakarta where his father was involved with the Consultative Council of Indonesian Muslims. In 1945, after the Indonesian Declaration of Independence, he moved back to Jombang and remained there during the fight for independence from the Netherlands during the Indonesian National Revolution. In 1949, he moved to Jakarta as his father had been appointed the Minister of Religious Affairs of Indonesia. In 1963, he attended Al Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt. In 1966, he attended the University of Baghdad and earned his degree in 1970. In 1974, he became a Muslim Legal Studies teacher at Pesantren Tambakberas. In 1977, he joined the Hasyim Asyari University as Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Beliefs and Practices. In 1984, he became the chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama, and in 1998, founded the National Awakening Party (PKB). On 20 October 1999, he was elected as Indonesia's fourth president. As president, he visited East Timor to apologize for Indonesian atrocities there and tried unsuccessfully to put in place a truth commission. He worked for peaceful solutions to secessionist efforts in Aceh and West Papua. He also declared Chinese New Year a public holiday for the ethnic Chinese people in Indonesia. He was impeached and removed from office in 2001 after he issued a decree to dissolve the Indonesian legislature and suspending the Golkar party. He was succeeded by his vice president, Megawati Sukarnoputri. He died in 2009 due to complications of kidney disorders, heart disease and diabetes.
Indonesian President. He served as the 4th President of Indonesia from 1999 to 2001. Born in Jombang, Dutch East Indies, He was the oldest of his five siblings. In 1943, he moved to Jakarta where his father was involved with the Consultative Council of Indonesian Muslims. In 1945, after the Indonesian Declaration of Independence, he moved back to Jombang and remained there during the fight for independence from the Netherlands during the Indonesian National Revolution. In 1949, he moved to Jakarta as his father had been appointed the Minister of Religious Affairs of Indonesia. In 1963, he attended Al Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt. In 1966, he attended the University of Baghdad and earned his degree in 1970. In 1974, he became a Muslim Legal Studies teacher at Pesantren Tambakberas. In 1977, he joined the Hasyim Asyari University as Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Beliefs and Practices. In 1984, he became the chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama, and in 1998, founded the National Awakening Party (PKB). On 20 October 1999, he was elected as Indonesia's fourth president. As president, he visited East Timor to apologize for Indonesian atrocities there and tried unsuccessfully to put in place a truth commission. He worked for peaceful solutions to secessionist efforts in Aceh and West Papua. He also declared Chinese New Year a public holiday for the ethnic Chinese people in Indonesia. He was impeached and removed from office in 2001 after he issued a decree to dissolve the Indonesian legislature and suspending the Golkar party. He was succeeded by his vice president, Megawati Sukarnoputri. He died in 2009 due to complications of kidney disorders, heart disease and diabetes.
Bio by: Tasik Austin
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