Jakarta. Indonesia is mourning the death of Juwono Sudarsono, a prominent scholar and statesman who helped steer the country’s post-authoritarian military reforms and became the nation’s first civilian defense minister. He died on Saturday at the age of 84.

Juwono passed away at 1:45 p.m. local time at Pondok Indah Hospital in Jakarta, according to messages circulated among officials and confirmed to Beritasatu.com.

His death marks the loss of a key figure in Indonesia’s transition to democratic governance, particularly in redefining civil-military relations after the fall of the New Order regime.

Former Chief Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD paid tribute to Juwono as a leading defense intellectual whose thinking extended beyond conventional military doctrine.

“He was a great scholar who understood defense issues from a global geopolitical perspective, not merely from a technical military standpoint,” Mahfud said, as quoted by Antara.

Mahfud, who served alongside Juwono in the early administration of President Abdurrahman Wahid, recalled his calm and composed demeanor, noting that his understated style carried significant influence.

“He was soft-spoken, not explosive, yet highly authoritative,” he said.

Born on March 5, 1942, Juwono built a distinguished career spanning academia, diplomacy, and government. He first entered the cabinet under President Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie as Minister of Education and Culture during the Reform era.

He later served as defense minister under Wahid from 1999 to 2000, before returning to the post during the administration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono from 2004 to 2009.

During his tenure, Juwono played a pivotal role in advancing the professionalization of the Indonesian military and strengthening civilian oversight. His appointment as a civilian defense minister broke decades of military dominance in the role, symbolizing a critical shift in Indonesia’s democratic consolidation.

He was widely credited with promoting a more transparent and accountable defense system, while encouraging a balanced approach that combined military strength with diplomacy in safeguarding national sovereignty.

Beyond his government service, Juwono was a respected academic. He studied at the University of Indonesia and earned a doctorate from the London School of Economics and Political Science. His intellectual contributions shaped defense discourse both domestically and internationally.

Juwono also served as Indonesia’s ambassador to the United Kingdom until 2004, a role that further broadened his global perspective on security and diplomacy.