His coffin lay in state at the Defense Ministry office on Sunday morning, with the procession attended by former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, former vice president Jusuf Kalla, and both current and former government officials. The ministry flew the red-and-white flag at half-staff in his honor.
After the procession at the Defense Ministry, his coffin was transported to the heroes' cemetery, arriving at 11 a.m. Jakarta time.
Sudarsono was laid to rest in a military funeral, marked by a ceremonial procession led by officers and a formal volley salute. The ceremony was presided over by Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.
Besides Sjamsoeddin, other officials who attended the funeral ceremony at Kalibata Heroes Cemetery were Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago, Deputy Minister of Environment Diaz Hendropriyono, and Police Reform Committee Head Jimly Asshidiqie.
The former minister passed away after receiving medical attention at a hospital in South Jakarta on Saturday at 1:45 p.m.
Sudarsono, born in 1942, completed his education at the University of Indonesia (UI) and obtained his Ph.D. from the London School of Economics. A professor in international relations at UI's Faculty of Social and Political Studies, he served as the faculty dean from 1988 to 1994.
His career in Indonesian cabinets spanned four presidents, starting from the state minister for environment under President Soeharto in 1998 and minister for education and culture under Habibie's presidency from 1998 to 1999.
Sudarsono later served two non-consecutive terms as defense minister under two presidents: from 1999 to 2000 under President Abdurrahman Wahid, and again from 2004 to 2009 under Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
He was also a diplomat, serving as Indonesia's envoy to the United Kingdom from 2003 to 2004 under the presidency of Megawati Soekarnoputri.
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Translator: Fianda Sjofjan R, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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