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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The newly elected president and vice president of Indonesia are names that are familiar within the Indonesian political landscape. Prabowo Subianto, in particular, brings a blend of military and political experience, along with a history of controversy, to the forefront of governance.
As Indonesia enters this new chapter, it is crucial to delve into the background of President Prabowo Subianto—a figure who has never missed an opportunity to appear on the presidential election ballot for over a decade.
Citing from various sources, this article will provide you with information on Prabowo profile, consisting of his political journey and pasts.
Prabowo's Profile
Born on October 17, 1951, Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo is an Indonesian politician and former general recognized for his role in the country’s political and military landscapes, as well as controversy. He is the third child of the economist Sumitro Djojohadikusumo, who served in the cabinets of Sukarno and Suharto.
Ever since he was a kid, Prabowo lived comfortably abroad, which allowed him to master three foreign languages and achieve a great education. However, after Suharto got elected as president, his family went back to Indonesia, and he got into the military academy.
Prabowo's Military Career
He graduated in 1974 with the rank of second lieutenant and became one of the youngest combat commanders in Indonesian military history, leading operations in Timor-Leste. His military career was marked by exceptional performance by leading numerous military operations and earning rapid promotions, which culminated in his appointment as the Commander of the Army Strategic Reserve Command in 1998.
Prabowo is among Suharto’s allies; he even married his daughter, Siti Hediati Hariyadi, known as Titiek Soeharto, but got divorced 15 years later. However, Prabowo’s military career turned down as he was proven for making violations under the order of his father-in-law government. Kidnapping, deprivation of another person's liberty, and non-compliance are some of the accusations he faced. He was tried, and the Officers Honorary Council decision letter was issued on August 21, 1998.
Prabowo's Political Career
According to the journal article by Rizky, Harris, et al. (2023) in UNESA, Prabowo spent some of his time living in Jordan and some European countries after his discharge. When he went back to Indonesia, he started his journey as a businessman by managing approximately 27 companies across various sectors.
In the political field, he made his first attempt in the presidential election back in 2004 by running as the presidential candidate from the Golkar Party. After failing in that election, he didn’t give up and subsequently ran in three presidential elections in 2014, 2019, and 2024, both as a vice presidential and presidential candidate. Additionally, Prabowo founded the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) in 2008, positioning himself as a key player in Indonesian politics.
One of the main highlights of his political journey is him taking part in the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet. Despite being rivals in the 2019 election, he was appointed Minister of Defense in President Joko Widodo’s cabinet. For that, he got the nickname “the most sincere person in Indonesia.”
Leading up to the 2024 elections, Prabowo worked to reinvent his public image, transforming from a distant leader into a more approachable figure. He portrayed himself as a "cute grandpa," successfully connecting with voters alongside his vice president, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the first son of Joko Widodo, the seventh president of Indonesia. This strategy helped him secure victory in the 2024 election with 58.62% of total votes, defeating Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD.
Prabowo's Dark Past
Prabowo’s name has always been in the conversation when talking about violations of human rights. With the chaos of the 1998 demonstration aiming to turn down the New Order regime, numerous college students and activists were killed, kidnapped, and raped. Under Suharto’s government, those abuses even occurred ever before the demonstration.
Prabowo, as the Commander of the Army Strategic Command Lieutenant General of the TNI, monitored the protests here and there. Yet he was accused of doing more than that, even worse. He was said to be the culprit of the kidnapping and killing of those who vocalized their disappointment towards Prabowo’s father-in-law regime in 1997–1998.
The human rights organization Kontras has asserted that Prabowo played a direct role in the kidnapping of activists. They allege that he led and issued commands to Tim Mawar (Rose Team), a covert unit under the Group IV Special Forces (KOPASSUS). The team’s 11 members were accused of abducting 23 activists, with one found dead. While nine of these activists were eventually released, the fate of the remaining 13 remains unknown to this day.
Beyond the 1998 incident, Prabowo has also faced accusations related to human rights abuses in East Timor and West Papua. In East Timor, he is alleged to have led a mission in 1978 to capture Nicolau dos Reis Lobato, the country's first prime minister, shortly after Indonesia’s invasion. He is also accused of commanding the special forces team responsible for the Kraras massacre in 1983, where over 200 people lost their lives.
Cited from Koran Tempo, according to letter number KEP/03/VIII/1998/DKP dated July 24, 1998, the Officers Honorary Council recommended the dismissal of Prabowo from military service. Four months later, on November 20, 1998, President B.J. Habibie issued Presidential Decree Number 62/ABRI/1998, officially relieving Lieutenant General Prabowo from his military duties with honor.
In light of the allegations, Prabowo was banned from traveling to the United States, which remained in place until 2020 when he was appointed as the Minister of Defense by President Joko Widodo.
Prabowo's Plan on the Future of Indonesia
The Prabowo-Gibran campaign in the presidential election was branded as “Continuity,” indicating their commitment to continue the programs initiated by President Joko Widodo’s administration. They outlined 17 priority programs, developed by experts, ranging from achieving food self-sufficiency to preserving cultural arts.
Prabowo and Gibran were inaugurated on Sunday, October 20, 2024. With Prabowo’s long experience in military and politics and Gibran’s experience as a mayor, it is hoped that they can carry out their duties in accordance with the constitution, as well as develop democracy and law enforcement.
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