No: 195/PEN/XII/08
Former Indonesian Foreign Minister, Ali Alatas Passed Away
Former Foreign Minister Ali Alatas died of a heart attack on Thursday morning (11th December 2008) at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore. He was 76.
Mr. Ali Alatas was born in Jakarta on Nov. 5, 1932. In his late teenage years, Ali became a journalist for the Niewsgierf daily (1952) and worked as an editor for Aneta News Portal (1953-54).
Following his marriage at the age of twenty two, Ali was assigned as Secretary II in Bangkok (1956-1960), after which he held the post of Information and Cultural Relations Director at the Foreign Ministry (1965-66), going on to become a Councilor at the Indonesian Embassy in Washington DC (1966-70).
Upon his return to Indonesia, Ali was again appointed Director of Information and Cultural Relations, a post he held from 1970-72. He was later appointed Secretary of the Foreign Ministry Directorate General (1972-75), following which he became a member of Special Staff and Head of the Foreign Ministry's private secretariat (1975-76).
Ali became the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia to the UN in Geneva from 1976-78 and, on his return, was Secretary to the Vice President for four years. He was reassigned as Indonesia's Permanent Representative from 1983-87 -- this time in New York.
As Foreign Minister from 1988 to 1999, Ali Alatas was the public face abroad during President Soeharto's era. The late Ali Alatas continued as Foreign Minister under Soeharto's successor, B.J. Habibie. He continued to act as foreign policy advisor to successive presidents -- Abdurrahman Wahid, Megawati Soekarnoputri and now Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Indonesia has a lot to thank him for, as he managed to maintain the nation's standing and integrity in the international community when the country was beset with problems at home that could have sullied its image. His biggest contributions as Indonesia's chief diplomat included helping to negotiate peace in Cambodia and to some extent, the southern Philippines.
He was also the main driver in the development and expansion of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the 1990s, which would become one of the most successful regional organizations in the world.
His leadership, personality, character, negotiating skills and articulation helped to bring international accolades for Indonesia.
Last but not least, he was also one of the leading Hadramy communities in Indonesia that surely play an important. In June 2005, he visited Yemen, and had a chance to have a trip to Hadramout as his ancestral hometown in which he was greeted with proud and honor by the people of the town.
The Book of Condolences would be prepared at the Indonesian Embassy in Sana’a starting on Monday, 15th December 2008.
Sana’a, 13th December 2008