Sunawar Sukowati (EVO: Soenawar Soekawati; 6 September 1922 – 12 January 1986) was an Indonesian politician from Central Java, who served as the third chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party from 1980 until 1986.[1] Prior to serving as party chairman, he served as minister of State for People's Welfare and minister of National Development.[2]

Sunawar Sukowati
Official portrait in 1973
Official portrait, c. 1973
3rd Chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party
In office
16 October 1980 – 12 January 1986
Preceded bySanusi Hardjadinata
Succeeded bySuryadi
4th Minister of State for
People's Welfare
In office
28 March 1973 – 31 March 1978
PresidentSuharto
Preceded byIdham Chalid
Succeeded bySurono Reksodimedjo
11th Minister of
National Development
In office
10 June 1968 – 9 September 1971
PresidentSuharto
Preceded byRuslan Abdulgani
Succeeded byWidjojo Nitisastro
Personal details
Born
Sunawar Sukowati

(1922-09-06)6 September 1922
Surakarta, Dutch East Indies
Died12 January 1986(1986-01-12) (aged 63)
Bandung, Indonesia

Biography

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According to Sunawar Sukowati in 1983:

The Republic of Indonesia does not mix constitutional issues with religious issues. Therefore, in a country with Pancasila philosophy, no one should be allergic to call that the Republic of Indonesia adheres to the ideology of secularism. The notion of secularism that separates religious matters from state matters can be found in Soeharto's presidential speech. The head of state explicitly stated that Pancasila is not a religion. For this, the Indonesian Democratic Party must have the courage to assert that the Republic of Indonesia is a 'Secular State'![3]

In 1983, he sparked latent controversy by informing his colleagues in the Indonesian Democratic Party faction that the Pancasila state, as mentioned in Suharto's presidential speech, is a secular state. He argues that this view is inferred from the fact that Indonesia is not a religious state, and religious authority is separated from state authority.[4] His opinion was approved by K.H Hasbullah Bakry and Abdurrahman Wahid.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Lay 2010, p. 278.
  2. ^ Perpusnas (2022). "Pejabat Menteri: Sunawar Sukowati" [Cabinet Minister: Sunawar Sukowati] (in Indonesian). National Library of Indonesia. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  3. ^ "Negara sekular ditinjau dari pemikiran Pancasila" (PDF). lib.ui.ac.id. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  4. ^ Wahid 1983; 1999: 93
  5. ^ Bakry, Hasbullah (November 1983). "Hasbullah Bakry ~ Semua Negara di Dunia adalah Secular State (Kiblat_No. 13, November 1983)". warungarsip.co (in Indonesian).

Sources

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