When the Tiger Escorted Suharto from Cendana to the UN Headquarters

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Jakarta –

It’s not really clear why Nugroho Budi Wiryanto earned the nickname the Tiger in every military operation. However, the 1987 Military Academy graduate then led the Siliwangi Military Command which has the Maung alias Tiger logo in 2019-2021. He retired after serving as Deputy Inspector General of the Indonesian Army (AD), August 2021-March 2022.

When he was a first and middle officer, Nugroho underwent a number of military operations ranging from eradicating Fretilin in East Timor, freeing hostages in Papua, to eradicating the Security Disturbance Movement in Aceh. This officer, born in Solo, March 23 1964, was once the Commander of SAT (Anti-Terror Unit)-81, the most prestigious unit in Kopassus.

However, of his many assignments, one of the most interesting was when he was tasked with guarding President Soeharto during his overseas visits and guarding his private residence on Jalan Cendana. When Soeharto visited Cartagena, Colombia, to attend the Non-Aligned Movement Summit, 17-20 October 1995, Nugroho, who had the rank of Captain, was on the team. advance (predecessor).

Together with nine members, he brought two bulletproof cars that the President would use. The journey using the Hercules from Halim to Cartagena took 8 days. It takes a long time because every 8 hours the plane has to land to refuel.

While in Cartagena, Nugroho and a colleague were assigned to guard in front of President Soeharto’s room. “President Soeharto used to wake up in the middle of the night to perform his prayers,” wrote Nugroho in the book ‘The Story Behind the Helmet’ by Andre Syahreza. The 221-page book has been on bookstore shelves since late 2023.

Occasionally, he continued, President Soeharto used to look through the door and casually chat with his bodyguards. Ask about their regional origins or health conditions. “How are you, not sleepy?” wrote Nugroho imitating one of Suharto’s questions.

From Colombia he and his team moved to the United States. There President Soeharto stopped by Washington DC, then to New York to attend the 50th anniversary of the UN, 20-26 October. Nugroho admitted that he received pocket money of 125 dollars per day while in the US, and 80 dollars per day while in Colombia. “Also received an additional 500 dollars from Mba Tutut,” he said.

In November 1996, Nugroho was again assigned to accompany President Soeharto who would visit Rome, Italy, for World Food Day held by the UN.

In Indonesia, the man who was born on March 23 1964 also twice guarded Suharto. Exactly after the riots on July 27 1996, Nugroho, who had served as Commander of Detachment 81 Kopassus, was given the task of guarding the presidential residence on Jalan Cendana for a week.

Some time before President Soeharto stepped down, in May 1998, Nugroho, who had become Deputy Commander of Battalion 51 Group 5 Kopassus, was again given the task of securing houses in Cendana. He witnessed the moment on May 21 1998, when Suharto headed to the Merdeka Palace to declare his resignation as President. A few hours later he returned to Cendana accompanied by Mba Tutut.

(jat/rdp)