Yunus Yosfiah
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Yunus Yosfiah, (also Muhammad Yunus Yosfiah), (b. 1944 08 07, Rapang, South Sulawesi, Indonesia)[1], (ethnicity; Bugis[2]), is the most decorated member of the Indonesian army[3]. Yosfiah served as Minister of Information in the Indonesian Government in 1998 and 1999.
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[edit] Action in East Timor
[edit] Balibo Five allegations
He is alleged[4] to, in 1975, when a Captain leading an Indonesian special forces unit into Balibo, East Timor, have opened fire on Australian based journalists attempting to surrender and ordered his men to do the same. After being killed some of the journalists bodies were dressed in Portuguese army uniforms and photographed with machine guns as if they had been killed fighting against the Indonesian forces. In February 2007 Mark Tedeschi, QC, the counsel assisting the coroner at the inquest into the death of one of the journalists killed, Brian Peters, said Yosfiah had not responded to invitations to appear at the inquest. New South Wales Deputy State Coroner Dorelle Pinch issued a report on 16 November 2007 that concluded he had participated in a war crime in being involved in the murders with recommendation for prosecution to go to the (Australian) Federal Attorney General.
[edit] Other
He is also claimed[3] to have killed Nicolau dos Reis Lobato, leader of the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor in 1978.
[edit] Minister of Information
Yosfiah served as Minister of Information in the Habibie government in 1998 and 1999. His actions in removing restrictions on media and other forms of communication, including lifting media bans, have been described as, "One of the great breakthroughs of the Habibie administration"[5].
[edit] Alleged funding of East Timor militias
It has been alleged that in 1999 Yosfiah was involved in channeling Indonesian government money to East Timorese militia groups prior to the East Timor independence vote and its bloody aftermath.[6][7]
[edit] After retiring from TNI
Yosfiah retired from the TNI in 1999[8]. In 2002 Yosfiah became a member of the Muslim-based United Development Party (PPP)[9]. Yosfiah was General Secretary of PPP in December 2003[10]. In February 2007 Yosfiah unsuccessfully contested the election for party chairmanship of the PPP[11].
[edit] Timeline
Except where previously or otherwise cited the information in the timeline is from "Indonesia[12][13][2]" a Southeast Asia Program Publications journal of Cornell University.
- 1944 born
- 1965 AMN 6 (National Military Academy Class 6)
- 1966 - 197? RPKAD/Kopassandha (Platoon Commander, Group 2; Company Commander, Group 2; Company Commander, Group 4)
- 197? -1978 Commander Infantry Battalion 744, East Timor (Possible conflict with Jakarta Post source below)
- 1975 leads Indonesian forces into Bilibo where alleged killings of 5 journalists take place.
- 1977 -1979 first commander of 744/Satya Yudha Bhakti Infantry Battalion[14], East Timor.
- 1978 alleged killing of Nicolao Lobato, marries East Timorese woman.
- 1979 Training at Fort Leavenworth, then, Colonel, Deputy Commander of the Special Forces' Group III in Makassar
- ? - 1985 Assistant for Operations to Chief of Staff, Kodam XVI(Special Forces Command), training at Armed Forces Staff and Command School, West Java.
- mid 1985 - 1987 Commander of Korem 164/Dili
- 1987 - 1990 Brig. Gen., Director of Educational Upbuilding, Military Academy. Royal College of Defense Studies in Britain('89 and '90)
- 1990 Chief of Staff, Kodam VI Tanjungpura
- 1993 Major General, Commander of the Army Infantry Weapons Center
- 1997 (July) Chief of ABRI sociopolitical affairs.[15] "Of previous heads ..., not one came from the Special Forces Command."
- 1998 -99 Minister of Information in Habibie government.
- 1999 retires from TNI Lt. Gen.[8]
- 2002 joins PPP.
- 2007 contests election for PPP party chairmanship.
[edit] Classmates in National Military Academy, Class 6
Traditions within the Indonesian military link together the advancement of members of an Academy class[12]. Yosfiah's classmates were:
- Budi Sujana
- Haris Sudarno
- Musa
- M. Yacob Dusto
- R. Karyono
- R.W. Warouw
- R. Widagdo
- Theo Syafei
- Syamsir Siregar[16]
[edit] References
Archived "The Jakarta Post" articles require free registration before viewing.
- ^ Yale University Genocide Studies Program retrieved 2007-02-5
- ^ a b Indonesia journal 59 (April 1995), pg 45--64Current Data on the Indonesian Military Elite: Selected Biographies
- ^ a b GlobalSecurity KASSPSPOL - Sociopolitical Affairs Section.retrieved 2007-02-05
- ^ Hamish McDonald, Sydney Morning Herald Journos' bodies 'dressed as soldiers'. February 5, 2007retrieved 2007-02-05
- ^ The Reform of the Indonesian Armed Forces Journal article by Damien Kingsbury; Contemporary Southeast Asia, Vol. 22, 2000. viewed at [1] retrieved 2007-02-08
- ^ Yale University Genocide Studies Program retrieved 2007-02-5
- ^ Mark Davis, Dateline SBS February 16, 2000[2]Timor Terror Fund, retrieved 2007-10-16
- ^ a b The Jakarta Post 593 senior officers opt to leave military. June 02, 1999 retrieved 2007-02-08
- ^ The Jakarta Post14 Ex-generals to join PPP. December 19, 2001 retrieved 21007-02-08
- ^ International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development Profile of political parties contesting the 2004 elections. December 9, 2003 retrieved 2007-02-09
- ^ The Jakarta Post Minister Suryadharma elected PPP chairman. February 07, 2007 retrieved 2007-02-08
- ^ a b Indonesia journal 53 (April 1992), pg 93--136Current Data on the Indonesian Military Elite: July 1, 1989 -- January 1 1992
- ^ Indonesia journal 55 (April 1993), pg 177--198Current Data on the Indonesian Military Elite: January 1, 1992 -- April 3 1993
- ^ The Jakarta PostMass wedding for infantry troops. September 05, 2001retrieved 2007-02-08
- ^ GlobalSecurityKOPASSUS - Army Special Force Command retrieved 2007-02-09
- ^ Imanuddin Razak, The Jakarta Post Syamsir Siregar, seasoned intelligence officer. December 15, 2004 retrieved 2007-02-08
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