Suharto (1921-2008) was an Indonesian military leader and politician who served as the second President of Indonesia from 1967 to 1998, establishing the authoritarian New Order regime. Born into a poor Javanese peasant family in Kemusuk, Yogyakarta, he received limited formal education before joining the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army in 1940 and later fighting for Indonesian independence. His military career advanced rapidly; he played a key role in suppressing regional rebellions in the 1950s and was instrumental in the 1965-1966 events that led to the overthrow of President Sukarno, during which an estimated 500,000 to 1 million people suspected of communist sympathies were killed under his oversight. As president, Suharto implemented policies that drove significant economic growth, earning Indonesia the moniker of an 'Asian Tiger' economy through agricultural reforms, industrialization, and oil exports, lifting millions out of poverty. However, his regime was marked by severe human rights abuses, including the 1975 invasion and occupation of East Timor (resulting in up to 200,000 deaths), suppression of dissent via the military and intelligence apparatus, and rampant corruption. His family and associates amassed vast wealth through monopolies and crony capitalism, with estimates of embezzlement reaching billions of dollars. Suharto's rule centralized power, curtailed press freedom, and manipulated elections to maintain control. He was backed by the United States during the Cold War despite these human rights abuses. Facing economic turmoil from the 1997 Asian financial crisis and widespread protests, Suharto resigned in May 1998, ending 32 years in power. Post-resignation, he faced investigations for corruption and human rights violations, but health issues prevented trials. He died in 2008, leaving a polarizing legacy: credited with modernization but condemned for authoritarianism, mass atrocities, and kleptocracy that contributed to Indonesia's democratic transition.