Ratih Hardjono
Encyclopedia
Ratih Hardjono is an Indonesia
n journalist for Kompas
, an author, and a public affairs consultant. Her first book, White Tribe of Asia, a discussion of Australia's culture, history and politics, was published in 1993. She was Presidential Secretary to Abdurrahman Wahid
, and in 2000, she served as Programme Coordinator Information and Publication for United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Indonesia. Two years later, she co-edited a book, The Poor Speak Up, 17 Stories of Corruption, for the World Bank
. Hardjono married Fajrul Falaakh, vice dean of law at Gadjah Mada University
.
, East Jakarta
and was born on 6 December 1960. Her father followed the Javanese beliefs
of Kejawaen, while her mother, Joan Hardjono, was born in Australia and was Catholic. Hardjono studied at the University of Sydney
, Australia. In 1993, it was announced that she had received a Nieman Fellowship
(1994) from Harvard University
, Boston. She was the third Indonesian to receive such a scholarship, after the journalist Sabam Siagian and poet Goenawan Mohamad
.
for several years. She was one of their correspondents in Australia but also wrote much about the transition of countries from military rule to democracy, as well as the dissolution of the Soviet Union
, military coups, and elections in the United States and Australia.
35 years prior. Her other duties included the preparation for state functions attended by the president and vice president as well as presidential tours. She also dealt with the press and performed administration duties, which included the supervision of 500 civil servants in charge of the maintenance of the presidential residences. However, according to The Jakarta Post
sources at the Merdeka Palace reported that she did not get along well with Wahid's wife Sinta Nuriyah; Furthermore, she was also unpopular with clerics within the Muslim organisation Nahdlatul Ulama, which served as Wahid's political power base, because they disputed her claims that she was descended from an eminent 19th century kyai
. Ratih was also accused of being an Australian spy due to her connections to Australia.
Hardjono resigned in mid-March 2000 with effect from 1 April to prepare for her wedding and to "avoid corruption, collusion, and nepotism". She was replaced by Djoko Mulyono.
, representing Indonesia. She also coedited The Poor Speak Up, 17 Stories of Corruption in 2002. She still writes as a freelancer.
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n journalist for Kompas
Kompas
Kompas is the most widely read newspaper in Indonesia. Published by Kompas-Gramedia Group Publishing since June 28, 1965, it has a reputation in Indonesia for high-quality writing and investigative journalism...
, an author, and a public affairs consultant. Her first book, White Tribe of Asia, a discussion of Australia's culture, history and politics, was published in 1993. She was Presidential Secretary to Abdurrahman Wahid
Abdurrahman Wahid
Abdurrahman Wahid, born Abdurrahman Addakhil , colloquially known as , was an Indonesian Muslim religious and political leader who served as the President of Indonesia from 1999 to 2001...
, and in 2000, she served as Programme Coordinator Information and Publication for United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Indonesia. Two years later, she co-edited a book, The Poor Speak Up, 17 Stories of Corruption, for the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
. Hardjono married Fajrul Falaakh, vice dean of law at Gadjah Mada University
Gadjah Mada University
The Gadjah Mada University is the largest and the oldest national university in Indonesia . founded on December 19, 1949; although the first lecture was given on 13 March 1946. The name was taken from the name of Majapahit's Prime Minister, Gajah Mada.UGM is located in Yogyakarta, Daerah Istimewa...
.
Early years
Hardjono is from Kramat JatiKramat Jati
Kramat Jati is a subdistrict of East Jakarta, Indonesia. The boundaries of Kramat Jati are Jagorawi tollway to the east, Ciliwung to the west, and Jakarta-Cikampek Tollway to the north....
, East Jakarta
East Jakarta
East Jakarta is a city within Jakarta Special District, Indonesia. It had a population of 2,687,027 at the 2010, making it the most populous of the five cities within Jakarta....
and was born on 6 December 1960. Her father followed the Javanese beliefs
Javanese beliefs
Javanese beliefs have principles embodying a search for inner self but at the core is the concept of peace of mind. Although Kejawen is not strictly a religious affiliation, it addresses ethical and spiritual values as inspired by Javanese tradition. It is not a religion in usual sense of the...
of Kejawaen, while her mother, Joan Hardjono, was born in Australia and was Catholic. Hardjono studied at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
, Australia. In 1993, it was announced that she had received a Nieman Fellowship
Nieman Fellowship
The Nieman Fellowship is an award given to mid-career journalists by The Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. This award allows winners time to reflect on their careers and focus on honing their skills....
(1994) from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, Boston. She was the third Indonesian to receive such a scholarship, after the journalist Sabam Siagian and poet Goenawan Mohamad
Goenawan Mohamad
Goenawan Mohamad is a renowned Indonesian poet and man of letters.Goenawan Mohamad was born in Batang, Central Java. His early writings include Potret Seorang Penyair Muda Sebagai Si Malin Kundang and Seks, Sastra, Kita ,'"Kesusastraan dan Kekuasaan' Goenawan Mohamad (born 29 July 1941) is a...
.
Press career
Harjono worked with the Indonesian daily KompasKompas
Kompas is the most widely read newspaper in Indonesia. Published by Kompas-Gramedia Group Publishing since June 28, 1965, it has a reputation in Indonesia for high-quality writing and investigative journalism...
for several years. She was one of their correspondents in Australia but also wrote much about the transition of countries from military rule to democracy, as well as the dissolution of the Soviet Union
Dissolution of the Soviet Union
The dissolution of the Soviet Union was the disintegration of the federal political structures and central government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , resulting in the independence of all fifteen republics of the Soviet Union between March 11, 1990 and December 25, 1991...
, military coups, and elections in the United States and Australia.
Political career
Hardjono became an assistant to Abdurrahman Wahid in 1998. After Wahid was elected president, she served as his State Secretary beginning in November 1999. As State Secretary, she worked to promote freedom of the press and is noted as having built the first civilian Presidential office since the fall of SukarnoSukarno
Sukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
35 years prior. Her other duties included the preparation for state functions attended by the president and vice president as well as presidential tours. She also dealt with the press and performed administration duties, which included the supervision of 500 civil servants in charge of the maintenance of the presidential residences. However, according to The Jakarta Post
The Jakarta Post
The Jakarta Post is a daily English language newspaper in Indonesia. The paper is owned by PT Bina Media Tenggara, and the head office is in the nation's capital, Jakarta....
sources at the Merdeka Palace reported that she did not get along well with Wahid's wife Sinta Nuriyah; Furthermore, she was also unpopular with clerics within the Muslim organisation Nahdlatul Ulama, which served as Wahid's political power base, because they disputed her claims that she was descended from an eminent 19th century kyai
Kyai
A Kyai is an expert in islam. The word is of Javanese origin, and is sometimes spelled kiai. Traditionally, students of Islam in Indonesia would study in a boarding school known as a pesantren. The leader of the school was called kyai, as a form of respect. The traditional word for a teacher in...
. Ratih was also accused of being an Australian spy due to her connections to Australia.
Hardjono resigned in mid-March 2000 with effect from 1 April to prepare for her wedding and to "avoid corruption, collusion, and nepotism". She was replaced by Djoko Mulyono.
After politics
After her resignation, Hardjono became Programme Coordinator, Information and Publication for the United Nations Development ProgrammeUnited Nations Development Programme
The United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to...
, representing Indonesia. She also coedited The Poor Speak Up, 17 Stories of Corruption in 2002. She still writes as a freelancer.
Personal life
Hardjono is married to Fajrul Falakh, vice dean of law at Gadjah Mada University, a politician and once deputy chair of the Nahdlatul Ulama with whom she resides in Jakarta and by whom she has twin sons. Her first husband was Australian journalist Bruce Grant.Partial works
- 1992, Suku putihnya Asia : perjalanan Australia mencari jati dirinya
- 1993, White tribe of Asia : an Indonesian view of Australia
- 1995, Australian business people in Asia
- 2001, Women and Journalism – Reporting on War, Listening to Women
- 2002, The poor speak up : 17 stories of corruption