Suharto

About Suharto

The Indonesian President who governed for 31 years from 1967 to 1998. Suharto came to power after a coup attempt that triggered anti communist massacres killing 500,000 to 1 million people. His New Order regime brought economic development and stability but suppressed political freedom. Suharto was a key US ally in Southeast Asia during the Cold War. His family amassed enormous wealth through corruption. The Asian Financial Crisis of 1997 devastated Indonesia and led to his resignation in 1998. Suharto died in 2008 without facing justice for his crimes.