Budiman Sudjatmiko

An Indonesian activist and politician.

He is the son of Wartono (father) and Sri Sulastri (mother). When he was just a high school student, he began to create discussion forum on politics, which was an unpopular move during Suharto’s dictatorial regime.[citation needed] He pursued Economics at Gadjah Mada University where he immersed himself with leftist student movements and started to organize peasants movements in Java. Inspired by revolutionary movement, he dropped out of college to focus in leftist movement, and became a chairman of People’s Democratic Association (Perhimpunan Rakyat Demokratik). In July 1996, he founded the People’s Democratic Party (PRD) and led street demonstration in Jakarta.

Shortly after the party declaration, 27 July Riot took place. Sudjatmiko was accused as riot perpetrator by the Soeharto government, and then arrested in August 1996. He received 13 years jail sentence, but then was released in 10 December 1999 after Suharto’s downfall. He then continued as the chairman of the party until 2001.

In 2002, after resigning from his chairman position and leaving his party, he pursued Master degree in Department of Political Studies, School of Oriental and African Studies. He continued to pursue MPhil degree in University of Cambridge.¹

1. Wikipedia ↩