Flowing in the Path of Devotion

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

Sidarto Danusubroto

Sidarto Danusubroto, 84, never dreamed of becoming a high-ranking official. He simply followed the flow of his life, like water, and did his best with every task he was handed.

When Sidarto was appointed as the adjutant to President Soekarno at a critical time for the regime, he accepted it wholeheartedly and accepted the path it set for him.

On 27 Aug. 2020, the Indonesian Museum of Records (MURI) entered Sidarto as the longest serving state official with his service record of 56 years. In response to the recognition, Sidarto said that everything that came his way was God’s will.

I did not dare to have ambitions. So my mind back then held no ambitions of becoming a policeman or any other [civil servant].

He is very grateful that he was able to retire as a senior police officer with the rank of major general, equivalent to today’s rank of inspector general. When he was a child, he did not have the slightest inclination to become a policeman because of the simple life his family led.

"I did not dare to have ambitions. So my mind back then held no ambitions of becoming a policeman or any other [civil servant]. I just didn\'t think about it. Anyway, I had to go to school on a scholarship," Sidarto said in his acceptance speech at the MURI award ceremony.

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Wearing a red, long-sleeved batik shirt, at 84, Sidarto is still healthy, fresh, fit and energetic. His voice is deep and commanding.

Born into a family of sinder (forest ranger) in Pandeglang, Banten, Sidarto lived a simple life. Sidarto spent his childhood and adolescence in Yogyakarta, where his father was relocated on an assignment. He wanted to help his parents by finding a school that offered scholarships.

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KOMPAS/ LUCKY PRANSISKA

Sidarto Danusubroto

After graduating high school, destiny led Sidarto to enroll in 1955 at the Police Staff College (PTIK) in Jakarta. He enrolled at the college purely because of his original aim, to find a school that offered scholarships. He found the school when he came across a newspaper advertisement in which PTIK offered a monthly scholarship of Rp 550 for students who passed the entrance exam. Sidarto recounted this experience in Jalan Terjal Perubahan: Dari Ajudan Soekarno sampai Wantimpres Joko Widodo (The winding path: From Soekarno’s adjutant to Joko Widodo’s Presidential Advisory Council), published in (2016).

"So, I did not dream of becoming a police officer. That was God’s choice," he said when contacted on Monday (7/9/2020).

On graduating the PTIK in June 1962, Sidarto was assigned as a middle-ranking officer to the Foreign Relations Office of National Police (Polri) Headquarters. In 1964, he was sent to study at the International Police Academy in Washington D.C., the United States.

By ‘Bung’ Karno’s side

What could I do, this was life that was given to me. Take life as it comes and make the best of it

On 6 Feb. 1967, he was appointed as adjutant to President Soekarno. It was not easy to be an adjutant to a president who had just been stripped of his power with the issuance of the presidential executive order (Supersemar) on 11 March 1966. Many friends and colleagues advised him to resign, because being Soekarno\'s adjutant at that critical point in the regime could mean the end of his career. His predecessor, Comr. Gen. Sumirat, had been detained following the enactment of the Supersemar.

“That’s what they said. But I accepted the job as a blessing. Bung (Mr.) Karno had done an amazing job for this country, but he was later arrested. I accompanied Bung Karno at the end of his life, and that was an honor for me,” he said.

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As a matter of fact, after he accepted the post as the President’s adjutant, Sidarto was made an inactive police officer and removed from all operational duties. For the next four years, he was constantly debriefed on his close ties to Sukarno and Sukarno loyalists. It was not until 1973 that he received a "clean" status from Polri Headquarters.

As a result, he did not receive any promotions while his colleagues had been promoted to the rank of police general. His superior told him that the highest rank he could hope to attain was colonel (senior commissioner today). Sidarto accepted this news with open arms.

"What could I do, this was life that was given to me. Take life as it comes and make the best of it,” he said, citing his oft-repeated motto.

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Kompas/Heru Sri Kumoro

President Joko Widodo congratulated Sidarto Danusubroto (left), a member of the Presidential Advisory Council for the 2019-2024 period who was just inaugurated at the State Palace, Jakarta, Friday (13/12/2019).

His experience as Soekarno’s adjutant, however, became a valuable support for Sidarto’s life and his future career. Sidarto recalled what Soekarno used to say about managing natural resources.

“Darto, I am not anti-foreigner. But I will only invite foreign capital when our systems and human resources are able to manage it. Because if these are not strong, I am worried that one day our republic will be controlled by [...] foreign capital," he said, recounting Soekarno’s words.

Turning Point

Only in 1974 did destiny begin to favor him. Sidarto was appointed chief of the Tangerang Police after receiving his "clean" status. In mid-April 1975, he was appointed as the head of the Police Information Center. He then served the next six years as the head of the International Police Cooperation Agency. In late 1982, following a change in leadership of the National Police force, he was promised a promotion.

That same year, he was promoted to brigadier general and was appointed as the head of the Samapta (security and patrol) Central Command (Komapta; 1982-1985). Subsequently, he served as the West Java Police deputy chief (1985-1986), the South Sumatra Police chief (1986-1988) and the West Java Police chief (1988-1991). In 1991, he retired with as a two-star police officer, which was wholly unexpected.

During the seven years after he retired from the police force, Sidarto worked in the private sector. However, he still kept track of developments in national politics.

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The 1998 reform movement presented another turning point for Sidarto, propelling him to enter the world of politics. The subsequent rise of Megawati Soekarnoputri as a national figure with grassroots support, especially ahead of the 1999 elections, prompted Sidarto to become a member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). He did not find it difficult to adjust, because he had maintained good ties with the Soekarno family over many years.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

Speaker of the People\'s Consultative Assembly Sidarto Danusubroto (center) and the General Manager of Kompas Daily, Jakob Oetama, talk after a discussion on national issues at the Kompas Daily Office, Jakarta, Friday (3/1/14).

His renewed service to the country began as a lawmaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) in 1999-2004, 2004-2009 and 2009-2014. In 2013, he was appointed as Speaker of the People\'s Consultative Assembly (MPR) to replace the late Taufiq Kiemas.

To honor Taufiq, Sidarto refused to use Taufiq\'s chair and desk at the MPR Speaker\'s office. He instead used a smaller table in the corner of the room. He chose to do so because he felt that Taufiq was irreplaceable, and that he was just someone who happened to be appointed to succeed Taufiq.

As a House lawmaker, Sidarto consistently advocated for human rights (HAM) issues and for security reform. He was involved in the deliberations of crucial laws, including those on the Human Rights Court, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (KKR), Terrorism Eradication and Corruption Eradication.

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Setara Institute head Hendardi said that Sidarto actively lobbied for settling past gross human rights violations. He also did not hesitate to take up a political cause and to fight for it in real terms, including protecting human rights activists from the threat of power.

“This was a severe blow to young politicians who focused more on gimmicks, but were unconcerned about important issues. They also did not use their political positions for the benefit of ordinary people or the oppressed. Pak (Mr.) Sidarto [takes these concerns to heart], which is not found much in other politicians," Hendardi said.

Inside his party, Sidarto is seen as the inheritor of Bung Karno\'s spirit, that ideas, thoughts, dreams and the fighting spirit cannot be killed.

"Pak Sidarto is a figure who fully understands what Bung Karno said, that there is no futile struggle, no sacrifice is a waste, especially when the sacrifice is made for the Indonesian motherland," said PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto.

Sidarto Danusubroto

Born: Pandeglang, Banten, 11 June 1936

Experience:

- Adjutant to President Soekarno (1967-1968)

- Head of Polri Komapta (1982–1985)

- Deputy Chief of West Java Police (1985–1986)

- Chief of South Sumatra Police (1986-1988)

- Chief of West Java Police (1988-1991)

- lawmaker, House of Representatives, three sessions (1999-2014)

- Speaker of People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) (2013-2014)

- member, Presidential Advisory Council (Wantimpres) member (2015-present)

Wife: Sri Artiwi (deceased)

Children: five