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Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

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Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is a prominent Indonesian politician and retired military officer.

SBY military potrait
SBY military potrait

He served as the sixth president of Indonesia from 2004 to 2014. This period was significant because he won the first direct presidential election in the nation's history. He was the second president to come from a military background following the era of Suharto. In Indonesia, he is widely recognized by his initials, SBY. His name has deep Javanese and Sanskrit roots. It roughly translates to a "well behaved knight on a war mission."

Born on September 9, 1949, in Tremas, Yudhoyono grew up in a lower-middle-class family.

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono & family (2003)
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono & family (2003)

His father, Raden Soekotjo, had a career in the military. As a child, Yudhoyono was an academic achiever who enjoyed writing poems and short stories. He was also active in music and sports, even starting a volleyball club and a band. His desire to become a soldier grew after he visited the Indonesian Armed Forces Academy, known as AKABRI, while in fifth grade. Although he missed his initial registration after high school, he later prepared for the military through engineering and vocational studies.

Yudhoyono officially entered AKABRI in 1970 after passing his entrance tests in Bandung.

Sergeant Major Yudhoyono
Sergeant Major Yudhoyono

He spent three years at the academy and eventually became the commander of the Cadet Corps Division. In 1973, he graduated as the best student of his year. For this achievement, he received the prestigious Adhi Makayasa medal from President Suharto. His military career involved many different roles and locations. He served as a platoon commander in the 330th Airborne Battalion within the Army Strategic Reserve, or Kostrad. He also spent time in East Timor and served in various command positions across Indonesia.

Throughout his military service, Yudhoyono focused heavily on advanced education. He traveled to the United States several times for specialized training. He attended the Airborne and Ranger Courses at Fort Benning in 1975. Later, he participated in the Infantry Officer Advanced Course and training with the 82nd Airborne Division. In 1991, he earned a master's degree in Business Management from Webster University. He also earned a PhD in agricultural economics from Bogor Agricultural University on October 3, 2004. Because of this constant pursuit of knowledge, he was often called the "thinking general."

As Indonesia moved into a new era of reform, Yudhoyono transitioned into politics.

Menteri Pertambangan Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Menteri Pertambangan Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

In 1999, he was appointed as the Minister of Mining and Energy under President Abdurrahman Wahid. He ended his active military career with the rank of lieutenant general. Shortly after, he became the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs. In this role, he worked to separate the military from political affairs. This was a key part of his vision for reforming the Indonesian state and its security systems.

Yudhoyono's presidency was defined by several major political and diplomatic achievements.

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, official presidential portrait (2004)
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, official presidential portrait (2004)

He won the 2004 election by defeating the incumbent, Megawati Sukarnoputri. He was re-elected in 2009, winning an outright majority in the first round of voting. One of his most significant successes was negotiating a peace deal to end the Aceh insurgency. This conflict had lasted from 1976 until 2005. Because of his work in ending this violence, he earned the title "Father of Peace."

On the international stage, Yudhoyono was an active leader.

He chaired the 18th and 19th ASEAN Summits in 2011. Indonesia also participated in many world peace missions during his ten years in office. In 2014, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award, also known as the Champions of the Earth award. After leaving the presidency, he founded the Democratic Party of Indonesia. He served as the party's fourth chairman from 2014 until 2020. His career shows a long journey from a student soldier to a global statesman.

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🖼️ Images & Media (27)
File:Sergeant Major Yudhoyono.jpg
Sergeant Major Yudhoyono.jpg
File:SBY military potrait.jpg
SBY military potrait.jpg
File:Menteri Pertambangan Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.jpg
Menteri Pertambangan Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.jpg
File:KPN Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.png
KPN Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.png
File:Logo of the Democratic Party (Indonesia).svg
Logo of the Democratic Party (Indonesia).svg
File:Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.jpg
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.jpg
File:Yudhoyono campaign rally 2004.jpg
Yudhoyono campaign rally 2004.jpg
File:Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, official presidential portrait (2004).jpg
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, official...
File:GWBush & SusiloBambangYudhoyono , + spouse, 2006-Nov-20.jpg
GWBush & SusiloBambangYudhoyono , +...
File:Vladimir Putin with Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-3.jpg
Vladimir Putin with Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-3.jpg
File:BPJS Kesehatan logo.svg
BPJS Kesehatan logo.svg
File:Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Senate of Poland 01.JPG
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Senate of Poland 01.JPG

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