Suharto Seized Power in Indonesia 60 Years Ago

Indonesian General Suharto took control of Indonesia sixty years ago, marking the beginning of what would become one of the longest military dictatorships in modern history. Suharto had joined the newly formed Indonesian army during the country's independence struggle and rapidly rose through the ranks to become a major general shortly after Indonesia achieved full sovereignty. His seizure of power in the 1960s would eventually lead to a 32-year authoritarian rule that lasted until 1998, during which he suppressed political opposition and oversaw both economic growth and widespread human rights abuses.