TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - There was an air of festivity at Pendopo Agung Sasono Utomo in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, East Jakarta, on Sunday, May 8, 1983. That day, some 3,000 pairs of eyes watched as Prabowo Subianto, the second son of Sumitro Djojohadikusumo, sat beside Siti Hediati Hariyadi, the fourth daughter of Suharto. At the time, Suharto was serving his fourth presidential term.
Tempo's May 14, 1983 edition captured the bustle surrounding the New Order ruler as he personally helped prepare for his daughter's wedding. Three days before the celebration, Suharto canceled all state activities. The General gave final instructions on-site and even personally supervised the installation of the ceremonial canopy at his residence on Jalan Cendana in Central Jakarta.
Dressed in a traditional Yogyakarta surjan jacket and blangkon headgear, Suharto climbed a ladder to install coconut-leaf ornaments marking the celebration in front of his home. Later that afternoon, he led ceremonial proceedings at the reception venue in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah.
The wedding was clearly more than a celebration of two individuals joining in marriage. That day, two important figures became family. Suharto, the General and ruler of the Republic, became in-laws with Sumitro Djojohadikusumo, the thinker widely regarded as one of the architects of the New Order economy
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