Suharto has passed on, finally. bless him.

I have never been a fan of dictatorship as a ruling regime for any state, nation or country. However, aural shared with me an insight that provided me food for thought while we were driving along north bridge road a few months ago. he told me that countries such as iraq and third world countries NEED dictatorship in order to thrive, for the nations' people have little education and democracy to them is not a political option suitable for them. it makes a lot of sense to me. if competent dictators assumed political leadership roles, it will be good for the nations' development.

In that sense, i guess Suharto played the correct role in Indonesia during his reign that saw economic development in her economy. I find this particular article under Yahoo news to be very useful, amidst his other funeral reports.

By The Associated Press AP - Monday, January 28

Key dates in the life of Indonesia's former dictator Suharto:


_June 8, 1921: Born in village of Godean, central Java, to poor rice-farming family.

_June 1941: After working at bank, enlists in Dutch colonial army.

_1942: Joins collaborationist unit that was set up by Japanese occupation army and, after World War, II leads fight to win independence from Dutch colonial rule in 1949.

_1953: Appointed regional army commander in central Java.

_1959: Accused of engaging in corrupt business ventures.

_1961: Participates in unsuccessful military effort to drive Dutch out of West Papua colony, but territory ceded to Indonesia through U.S.-brokered agreement.

_1964: Appointed commander of army's reserve force.

_Sept. 30, 1965: Leads effort to put down military rebellion he blames on communists.

_March 11, 1966: Assumes power from Indonesia's founding President Sukarno, leads purge that kills up to 1 million communists, trade unionists and other leftists over next four years.

_1968: Unanimously elected by legislature to first five-year term as president. Re-elected unopposed in 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993 and 1998.

_1969: Oversees vote by 1,000 West Papuans hand-picked by secret police, who opt unanimously for integration into Indonesia. Vote widely seen as sham.

_Dec. 7, 1975: Orders army to invade East Timor, newly independent from Portuguese rule.

_1976: Faces separatist uprising in Aceh province, which continued for nearly three decades.

_1980: Hears appeals from former government and military commanders to crack down on corruption as his children and cronies enrich themselves.

_1997-98: Finds hold on power undermined as Asian financial crisis devastates economies in Southeast Asia, with Indonesia's hit hardest.

_May 21, 1998: Resigns amid widespread street protests and riots.

_2000: Indicted for allegedly embezzling nearly US$600 million, but judges rule him not healthy enough to stand trial.

_May 4, 2006: Hospitalized for fourth time since ouster, suffering from internal bleeding.

_May 12, 2006: Corruption indictment withdrawn by government, citing Suharto's poor health.

_Sept. 10, 2006: Indonesia's Supreme Court orders Time magazine to pay US$106 million for defaming Suharto by alleging his family amassed billions of dollars during his rule. Magazine vows to appeal.

_Jan. 27, 2008: Dies in Jakarta of multiple organ failure.


May this political leader's complex life be laid to peace up there.