Abdurrahman Gunadirdja

Abdurrahman Gunadirdja
Ambassador of Indonesia to China
In office
24 October 1990 – December 1993
PresidentSuharto
Preceded byDjawoto (1966)
Succeeded byJuwana
Ambassador of Indonesia to Iraq
In office
20 November 1982 – April 1986
PresidentSuharto
Preceded bySagiri Kartanegara
Succeeded byAbdullah Alwi Murtadho
Ambassador of Indonesia to Afghanistan
In office
14 December 1977 – 1980
PresidentSuharto
Preceded byAbdul Habir
Succeeded byHavid Abdulgani (1993)
Personal details
Born(1926-04-26)26 April 1926
Tangerang, Dutch East Indies
Died20 November 2017(2017-11-20) (aged 91)
Jakarta, Indonesia
Spouse
Mastura
​
(m. 1958)​
Children3
EducationSinology Academy
University of Indonesia (Drs.)
Far Eastern University (MA)

Abdurrahman Gunadirdja (26 April 1926 – 20 November 2017) was an Indonesian diplomat who served as ambassador to three countries; he was the ambassador to Afghanistan from 1977 to 1980, to Iraq from 1982 to 1986, and to China from 1990 to 1994. He played a major role in the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with China in 1990 after it was severed for more than three decades.

Early life and education

Abdurrahman was born on 26 April 1926 in Tangerang. He studied at the Sinology Academy, an education institute established by Sutan Mohammad Rasjid to train indigenuous Indonesian sinologists.[1] During the Indonesian National Revolution, he fought within the Indonesian Navy with the rank of second lieutenant.[2] The academy was later disbanded at the end of the revolution and Abdurrahman, having been recruited as an employee at the foreign department, studied Chinese literature at the University of Indonesia.[2]

Abdurrahman was an active member of the Muslim Students' Association (HMI) during his college years,[3] being a close associate of Deliar Noer, the leader of the Jakarta branch.[4] When Deliar was elected as the general chairman in 1953, he appointed Abdurrahman as his secretary general, or second-in-command.[5] On one occasion, Deliar sent Abdurrahman to deliver a speech at an HMI event in Yogyakarta on his behalf, a decision he later regretted as Gunadirdja's speech were mostly flat. A board member of HMI in Yogyakarta complained to Deliar about Gunadirdja's speech, which he described as having no lasting impression.[6] Abdurrahman completed his college education with a doctorandus in 1955, the same year he stepped down as HMI's secretary general.[2]

Diplomatic career

Abdurrahman began his career at the consulate general in Hong Kong, where he served as a vice consul in 1956.[2][7] A year later, he was transferred to the consulate general in Singapore with the same diplomatic rank, receiving his exequatur on 18 December 1957.[8] Abdurrahman was in charge of information affairs in Singapore.[9] He was then assigned to the embassy in Manila as press attaché, where he helped prepare the Indonesian contingent for the 10th World Scout Jamboree in 1959.[10] He also pursued master's degree in political sciences at the Far Eastern University.[2]

Abdurrahman was appointed to the embassy in China in 1963 with the diplomatic rank of second secretary. He was promoted to first secretary before being reassigned to Tokyo in 1965.[2] After a three-year stint of handling press and public relations for the embassy,[11] in 1968 he was recalled for a domestic posting. He was sent to the embassy in Washington in early 1970s and became the chief of information of the embassy with the diplomatic rank of minister counsellor.[12][13][14]

Abdurrahman became the director of foreign information of the foreign department in 1974, with his primary duty as the department's spokesperson. In 1975 he was entrusted to chair the committee for preparation of the foreign ministry's 30th anniversary.[15] He announced the government's policy of allowing foreign diplomats to observe the 1977 elections[16] and regarding the government's decisions and policies on East Timor.[17] He also denied any sort of military operations in Papua by the government[18] and defended the mass arrests conducted by the government towards alleged communist symphatizers by stating that Indonesia has different standards on human rights.[19] Abdurrahman stepped down from his position and was replaced by Mohammad Hatta on 17 January 1978.[20][21]

Ambassador to Afghanistan

Abdurrahman (left) in a courtesy call with Hafizullah Amin, 1979

Abdurrahman was installed as ambassador to Afghanistan on 14 December 1977[22] after receiving approval from the Afghan government a month before.[23] He departed for Kabul on 20 January 1978[24] and presented his credentials to Mohammad Daoud Khan, the President of Afghanistan, on 13 February.[25] He led a four-staff embassy, and throughout his two years of ambassadorship witnessed three violent regime changes.[26] He met with head of government Hafizullah Amin for a courtesy call on 8 October 1979, just two months before his assassination.[27] Shortly after the arrival of Soviet troops in Kabul, Abdurrahman complained about the noise of Soviet planes to the new Soviet ambassador Fikryat Tabeyev, which was ironically agreed by Tabeyev.[26]

As a protest against the Soviet invasion,[28] foreign minister Mochtar Kusumaatmadja recalled Abdurrahman from his post on 2 February 1980.[29] Mochtar's official reason, as stated in his meeting with the parliament, was due to communication difficulties.[30] After reporting the situation in Afghanistan to president Suharto on 21 February,[31] Abdurrahman returned to Kabul to relinquish his ambassadorship,[32] and the post remained vacant until 1988.[33] He was then appointed as the director of Africa and Middle East within the foreign department.[2]

Ambassador to Iraq

After two years of his directorship, President Suharto nominated Abdurrahman for a second ambassadorial term in Iraq. His nomination was approved by the Iraqi government in October[2] and he was installed as ambassador on 20 November 1982.[34][35] He presented his credentials to president Saddam Hussein on 20 March 1983.[36] His term ended in April 1986[37] and he was recalled to took up domestic posting as the director of the foreign department's junior diplomatic education.[38] As part of the foreign department's direct recruitment program, Abdurrahman visited elite universities in Indonesia to gather prospective candidates for the foreign department. Among his interviewees was Arif Havas Oegroseno, who was recruited despite his blunt responses and went on to become the vice foreign minister.[39]

Ambassador to China

Abdurrahman (first from left) witnessing the signing of agreements between Indonesia and China in 1990.

As the most senior sinologist in the foreign department, Abdurrahman emerged as a front-runner for ambassador to China after the restoration of diplomatic ties on 8 August 1990. Other candidates included military officers Soenarso and Roestandi,[40] as well as journalist Sabam Siagian.[38] Abdurrahman was eventually selected by president Suharto[41] and was sworn in on 24 October 1990.[42][43] He presented his credentials to the president Yang Shangkun on 13 November.[44] A day after the ceremony, president Suharto made his first state visit to China, where he made a donation of $30,000 to assist the renovation of the Dongsi Mosque in Beijing. Shalih An Shiwei, the grand imam of the mosque, delivered a Chinese and Arab calligraphy to Abdurrahman as a gift to Suharto after the renovation was finished in 1991.[45] He held a reception to introduce himself and his deputy, Colonel H. Ali Sabri Sunaryo, in February 1991.[46]

Early in his term, Abdurrahman had to facilitate an overwhelming influx of visiting ministers, delegations, and athletes, which he managed to handle despite being short-staffed. Abdurrahman counted that by September 1991 he had received seven different cabinet ministers and dozens of entourages.[45] In 1993, Abdurrahman complained about Chinese Indonesian businessmen who invested in China without informing the embassy,[47] emphasizing that investments from Indonesia should always support national development, as directed by the president.[48] The government then announced the appointment of a trade attaché in June 1993, a move viewed by international relations observer Makmur Keliat as stemming from the reinforcement of bilateral relations and the need for an accurate recording of bilateral trade data.[49]

On 21 May 1993, Abdurrahman and his Marshall Island counterpart signed a joint communique on the establishment of Indonesia–Marshall Islands bilateral relations. The joint communique approved the accreditation of Indonesia's ambassador in Beijing to Marshall Islands, while the Marshall Islands ambassador in Beijing is accredited to Indonesia.[50] Abdurrahman never presented his credentials to the Marshall Islands, as he vacated his ambassadorial position on December that year.[44]

Personal life and later life

Abdurrahman was married to Mastura[51] from Padang Sebang, Malacca, whom he met while representing Indonesia at the Malay Cultural Congress in 1957. At that time, Mastura was working in the secretariat of the congress.[52] The couple has three children.[53]

In the lead-up to the 1999 Indonesian legislative election, Abdurrahman joined the Party of Muslims, initiated by Deliar, and became one of the party's chair in its executive council.[54][55] He was also nominated for a seat in the House of Representatives by the party.[56] The party only obtained less than one percent of the national vote—not enough to secure a single seat—and was disqualified in the next election.[57] He continued his involvement in diplomacy as Indonesian government's delegate to the Boao Forum for Asia in 2001,[58] the honorary consul of Burkina Faso in Indonesia,[59] and as the editor-in-chief of the foreign ministry's Image magazine. He was hospitalized in early 2011 due to an unspecified illness.[60]

Abdurrahman died on 20 November 2017 and was interred at the Tanah Kusir Public Cemetery.[61]

References

  1. ↑ Kwartanada, Didi (24 June 2021). "The Making of the "Chinese Problem": Indonesian Local Agencies' Perceptions of Ethnic Chinese and Communist China, 1950-1979". Lembaran Sejarah. 16 (2): 189. doi:10.22146/lembaran-sejarah.66958. ISSN 2620-5882.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "A. Gunadirdja Dubes baru RI di Irak" [A. Gunadirdja new Indonesian Ambassador to Iraq]. Kompas. 16 October 1982. p. 12. (English translation of the article, page 5 of document )
  3. ↑ "A fight for existence". The Jakarta Post. 31 January 1995. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  4. ↑ Noer, Deliar (2007). 80 tahun Deliar Noer (in Indonesian). Hilal Publishing House. p. 147. ISBN 978-979-16083-0-5.
  5. ↑ Mahasiswa dan wacana kenegaraan: kumpulan rekomendasi Kongres HMI 1971-1999 (in Indonesian). Fosal PB. HMI Lintas Periode. 2002. p. 226. ISBN 978-979-96881-0-1.
  6. ↑ Noer, Deliar (1996). Aku bagian ummat, aku bagian bangsa: otobiografi Deliar Noer (in Indonesian). Mizan. p. 344.
  7. ↑ Kong, Hong (1956). The Hong Kong Government Gazette. p. 803.
  8. ↑ Office, Great Britain Foreign (1959). The Foreign Office List and Diplomatic and Consular Year Book for ... Harrison and Sons. p. 537.
  9. ↑ "TRAVEL BAN: 'A SURPRISE'". The Straits Budget. 25 June 1958. p. 18. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  10. ↑ Djojodibroto, R. Darmanto. Kepanduan: Metode Pendidikan Karakter Menurut Baden-Powell (in Indonesian). PT Kanisius. p. 136. ISBN 978-979-21-6907-2.
  11. ↑ Directory of Foreign Establishments in Japan (1968). Heavy & Chemical Industries News Agency. 1968. p. 392.
  12. ↑ Shuck, L. Edward (1972). "The Outward Reach of Indonesia". Current History. 63 (376): 254–276. ISSN 0011-3530.
  13. ↑ Diplomatic list. George A. Smathers Libraries University of Florida. Department of State. May 1972. p. 54.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  14. ↑ Paxton, John (1974), "OF INDONESIA IN THE USA", in Paxton, John (ed.), The Statesman’s Year-Book: Statistical and Historical Annual of the States of the World for the Year 1974–1975, London: Palgrave Macmillan UK, p. 1028, doi:10.1057/9780230271036_96, ISBN 978-0-230-27103-6, retrieved 23 May 2026
  15. ↑ "PRESIDEN SOEHARTO AKAN RESMIKAN GEDUNG PANCASILA DI PEJAMBON" [PRESIDENT SOEHARTO WILL INAUGURATE THE PANCASILA BUILDING IN PEJAMBON]. Antara. 13 August 1975. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  16. ↑ "Foreign diplomats posted in Indonesia will be permitted..." Indonesian News and Views. Information Division, Embassy of Indonesia in Washington D.C. 19 March 1977.
  17. ↑ "Oost-Timor". Limburgsch dagblad. 30 November 1977. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  18. ↑ Utama, Abraham (3 February 2025). "Kisah orang asli Papua tolak blok minyak terbesar di Indonesia – Tak mau 'tragedi bom' 1977 terulang". BBC News. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  19. ↑ Hertel, Ingo (16 December 1977). "Political prisoners sailing home to doubtful future". The Canberra Times. p. 6. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  20. ↑ "Drs Mohammad Hatta Dilantik sebagai Kepala Direktorat Penerangan Deplu" [Drs Mohammad Hatta Inaugurated as Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Information Directorate]. Kompas. 18 January 1978. p. 12. Retrieved 24 May 2026. (English translation of the article)
  21. ↑ "Moh. Hatta Direktur Penerangan Luar Negeri Deplu". Jawa Pos. 12 January 1978. p. 1. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  22. ↑ G. Dwipayana; Nazaruddin Sjamsuddin, eds. (2003). Jejak Langkah Pak Harto 27 Maret 1973 – 23 Maret 1978. Jakarta: Citra Kharisma Bunda. p. 579. Archived from the original on 7 August 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  23. ↑ "A. Gunadirja dubes RI untuk Afghanistan" [A. Gunadirja Indonesian Ambassador to Afghanistan]. Kompas. 8 November 1977. p. 12.
  24. ↑ "Envoys Depart for Posts". Daily Report. 20 January 1978. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  25. ↑ Service, British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring (1978). Summary of World Broadcasts: The Far East. Part III. Monitoring Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation.
  26. 1 2 "Situasi Afghan" [Afghan Situation]. Tempo. 1 March 1980. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  27. ↑ "H. Amin meets Indonesian ambassador". Kabul Times. 9 October 1979. p. 1. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  28. ↑ "Babrak Karmal menjelang akhir kekuasaan" [Babrak Karmal towards the end of power]. Suara Karya. 5 February 1980. p. 1, 7. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  29. ↑ "Dubes RI untuk Afghanistan Sudah di Jakarta" [Indonesian Ambassador to Afghanistan Is Already in Jakarta]. Kompas. 6 February 1980. p. 12.
  30. ↑ "Menlu: Dubes Abdurachman Gunadirdja Dipanggil karena Sulitnya Komunikasi" [Foreign Minister: Ambassador Abdurachman Gunadirdja Recalled Due to Communication Difficulties]. Kompas. 7 February 1980. p. 6.
  31. ↑ "Dubes RI di Afghanistan Menemui Presiden" [Indonesian Ambassador to Afghanistan Meets the President]. Kompas. 22 February 1980. p. 9.
  32. ↑ Gunadirdja (20 February 1980). "Gunadirdja Kembali ke Posnya" [Gunadirdja Returns to His Post]. Kompas. p. 12.
  33. ↑ "Kedutaan Besar Republik Indonesia" [Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia]. Kedutaan Besar Republik Indonesia di Kabul, Afghanistan. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  34. ↑ "Tujuh Dubes Dilantik Presiden Sabtu Ini". Merdeka. 20 November 1982. Archived from the original on 5 August 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  35. ↑ "Presiden Soeharto di Bina Graha kemarin siang menerima..." [President Soeharto at Bina Graha yesterday afternoon received...]. Berita Yudha. 6 January 1983. p. 1. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  36. ↑ "AMBASSADOR ABDURRAHMAN GUNADIRDJA" (PDF). Southeast Asia Report. No. 1287. p. 8.
  37. ↑ "Daftar Duta Besar Republik Indonesia untuk Irak" [List of Ambassadors of the Republic of Indonesia to Iraq]. Kedutaan Besar Republik Indonesia di Baghdad. Archived from the original on 15 October 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  38. 1 2 "'Diplomasi Berkawan' Sabam" [Sabam's 'Friendly Diplomacy']. Kedaulatan Rakyat. 18 May 1991. p. 12. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  39. ↑ "Profil Arief Havas Oegroseno: Terdorong Menjadi Diplomat Karena Diplomasi RI Lemah". Tabloid Diplomasi. 22 August 2009. Archived from the original on 13 August 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  40. ↑ Soeriawidjaja, Ahmed K.; Djalil, Linda; Chudori, Leila S. (18 August 1990). "Menggulung karpet, mencari dubes" [Rolling up the carpet, looking for an ambassador]. Tempo. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  41. ↑ "Abdurahman Gunadirdja, Dubes RI untuk RRC" [Abdurahman Gunadirdja, Indonesian Ambassador to the PRC]. Kompas. 19 October 1990. p. 1.
  42. ↑ "Presiden Lantik Dubes Gunadirdja" [President Inaugurates Ambassador Gunadirdja]. Harian Neraca. 25 October 1990. p. 12. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  43. ↑ "Surat Kepercayaan Dubes RRC & Siprus Jakarta" [Letters of Credential of the Ambassadors of the PRC & Cyprus Jakarta]. Harian Neraca. 29 October 1990. p. 1. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  44. 1 2 Juwana; Djafar, Hamdani; Wicaksono, Heru; Danoerahardja, Soelfan S.; Husin, Etti Dumiati; Suradjaja, Hadad (1996). Informasi SIngkat Mengenai Fakta Perkembangan Hubungan RI-RRC Sejak KBRI Di Beijing Didirikan Pada Tahun 1950 [Brief Information on the Facts of the Development of RI-PRC Relations Since the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing Was Established in 1950]. Beijing: Embassy of Indonesia in Beijing. p. 10.
  45. 1 2 "Nama dan Peristiwa: Abdurrahman Gunadirdja MA Duta Besar Luar Biasa Sangat Sibuk Akhir-akhir ini" [Names and Events: Abdurrahman Gunadirdja MA, Extraordinary Ambassador, Very Busy Lately]. Kompas. 27 September 1991. p. 16.
  46. ↑ "Apa, Siapa?: Kedutaan RI Di Beijing Mengadakan Perkenalan Dubes" [What, Who?: Indonesian Embassy in Beijing Introduces the Ambassador]. Kompas. 24 February 1991. p. 11.
  47. ↑ "Kapitaalvlucht naar zuiden van China wekt beroering in Indonesië; "Boosdoeners' zijn Indonesische tycoons van Chinese afkomst; Concerns zouden al 800 miljoen dollar hebben genvesteerd" [Capital flight to southern China causes stir in Indonesia; "Culprits" are Indonesian tycoons of Chinese descent; Concerns have reportedly already invested 800 million dollars]. NRC Handelsblad. 22 June 1993. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  48. ↑ "Kalau Modal Minggat ke Negeri Orang" [When Capital Escapes to Someone Else's Country]. Tempo. 10 April 1993. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  49. ↑ Keliat, Makmur (11 June 1993). "Di Balik Pengangkatan Atase Perdagangan di Beijing". Surabaya Post. Pengumuman pemerintah untuk segera menempatkan seorang atase perdagangan di Kedubes RI di Beijing patut disambut dengan hangat. Setelah hampir lebih dua tahun membuka hubungan kembali, interaksi Jakarta-Beijing memang makin intensif...Pada titik pemahaman ini, atase perdagangan di Beijing akan memiliki tugas yang cukup berat. Paling tidak ia harus dapat memberikan data-data konkret tentang hubungan ekonomi, baik perdagangan maupun investasi antara Indonesia-Cina. Tidak adanya seorang atase perdagangan jelas akan merumitkan pendataan seberapa besarkah sebenarnya volume interaksi dagang, dan investasi kedua negara, karena hanya akan tergantung dari data yang diberikan oleh kepala bidang ekonomi.
  50. ↑ Juwana; Djafar, Hamdani; Wicaksono, Heru; Danoerahardja, Soelfan S.; Husin, Etti Dumiati; Suradjaja, Hadad (1996). Informasi SIngkat Mengenai Fakta Perkembangan Hubungan RI-RRC Sejak KBRI Di Beijing Didirikan Pada Tahun 1950 [Brief Information on the Facts of the Development of RI-PRC Relations Since the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing Was Established in 1950]. Beijing: Embassy of Indonesia in Beijing. p. 47.
  51. ↑ "Malam Peragaan Busana dan Kesenian ASEAN di Beijing" [ASEAN Fashion and Arts Show Night in Beijing]. Harian Ekonomi Neraca. 6 December 1993. p. 7. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  52. ↑ Hussain, Abdullah (2005). Sebuah perjalanan (in Malay). Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. p. 773. ISBN 978-983-62-8341-2.
  53. ↑ "Ketika datang tugas untuk mewawancarai..." Pertiwi. 1991. pp. 86–87. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  54. ↑ Suryanegara, Ahmad Mansur (15 January 2017). Api Sejarah 2 (in Indonesian). Surya Dinasti. p. 560. ISBN 978-602-71237-2-4.
  55. ↑ Muhtadi, Asep Saeful (2005). "Dinamika Islam Politik Pasca Orde Baru Perspektif Komunikasi Politik". Mimbar: Jurnal Sosial dan Pembangunan (in Indonesian). 21 (2): 224.
  56. ↑ Gamma (in Indonesian). Garda Media Mandiri. May 1999. p. 50.
  57. ↑ Saptohutomo, Aryo Putranto (30 May 2022). "Hasil Pemilu 1999, dari Partai Politik Peserta hingga Pemenang" [1999 Election Results, from Participating Political Parties to the Winner]. Kompas.com. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  58. ↑ Bayuni, Endy M. (28 February 2001). "Forum on Asia by Asia launched". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  59. ↑ "Consulate of Burkina Faso in Jakarta". Consulate-Info.com. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  60. ↑ "JENGUK SAHABAT" [VISITING A FRIEND]. RMOL.id. 25 April 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  61. ↑ DATA PEMAKAMAN
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