Military confirms death and funeral plans
Maj. Gen. Muhammad Nas, head of the TNI Public Information Center, confirmed Widodo's death and the burial arrangements to Kompas.com on Sunday.
Widodo died at his Jakarta home at 9:30 p.m. WIB on Saturday, October 24, at age 82, according to a profile published by Liputan6.com on October 25.
Nas conveyed the military's sorrow over the loss of its former commander. "We are all grieving his departure, and let us pray together for his peaceful resting place," he said.
From the Naval Academy to TNI commander
Widodo became the first Navy officer to lead the TNI when President Abdurrahman Wahid, also known as Gus Dur, appointed him on October 26, 1999. He remained commander until June 2002, according to profiles published by Liputan6.com and detikNews on October 25. Liputan6.com reported that he handed the post over to Gen. Endriartono Sutarto.
His appointment followed a career that included service as chief of staff of the Indonesian Navy from June 26, 1998, to July 17, 1999. President B.J. Habibie promoted him to deputy commander of ABRI in 1999, according to detikNews.
Widodo graduated from the Indonesian Naval Academy (AAL) in 1968, detikNews reported. Born in Boyolali, Central Java, on August 1, 1944, he was the son of Adi Sutjipto and Siti Fatonah, according to Liputan6.com.
Cabinet and presidential advisory roles
After retiring from the military, Widodo joined President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's government as coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs (Menko Polhukam). He held the position from October 21, 2004, to October 20, 2009, according to detikNews.
During that tenure, he also served as minister of home affairs ad interim from April 2 to August 29, 2007, and minister of state for administrative reform ad interim from October 1 to October 20, 2009, Liputan6.com reported.
Widodo later served on the Presidential Advisory Council (Wantimpres) during Yudhoyono's second term, from 2009 to 2014, according to detikNews.
