biography
| name: |
Sukarno or Soekarno, (Achmed)
|
pronunciation:
[sukah(r)noh]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1902–70)
|
| biography:
| Indonesian statesman, and first president of Indonesia (1945–66), born in Surabaya, Java. As is common in Java, he used only his given name. He formed the Indonesia National Party in 1927, was imprisoned by the Dutch in Bandung (1929–31), and lived in exile until 1942, when he was made leader during the Japanese occupation. He became president when Indonesia was granted independence in 1945. His popularity waned as the country suffered increasing internal chaos and poverty, while his government laid themselves open to charges of corruption. An abortive Communist coup (1965) led to student riots and a takeover by the army, his powers gradually devolving onto General Suharto. Sukarno finally retired in 1968. |
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