Andi M. Jusuf, 76; Army Chief Played Key Role in Suharto’s Rise
Andi Muhammad Jusuf, 76, a former Indonesian army chief who played a pivotal role in the rise to power of former Indonesian dictator Suharto nearly four decades ago, has died.
The retired four-star general died Wednesday in Makassar.
Jusuf joined the Indonesian army in 1945, as the new state fought to prevent the return of Dutch colonizers after World War II. He rose through the ranks and was eventually promoted to general.
In 1966, Jusuf was involved in events that led to the ouster of then-President Sukarno and his replacement by Suharto after mutinous junior officers assassinated six top generals.
After Suharto assumed power, he launched a massive purge of the Communist Party in which up to 800,000 people died.
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