|
Indonesia's first indepdent president, Sukarmo, was a popular national hero. Unlike some left-wing nationalist leaders, Sukarno was no aestetic. On a state visit to Japan he met a beautiful 19-year old art student at the Ginza hostess bar in Tokyo, near the Imperial Hotel -- Naoko Nemoto (1959). Sukarno at the time was president of Indonesia. Sukarno and 59 years old. They married in Indonesia (1962). Sukarno at the time was already married. Dewi became his ninth and last wife. Polygamy is allowed for men by Islam--although nive wives was unusual by the 20th century. She converted to Islam, and Sukarno gave her the Indonesian name Ratna Sari Dewi Soekarno 'the jewel essence of a goddess'. She became known as Dewi Sukarno. They had a daughter--Kartika. She now calls herself 'Carina'. Suharto tried to distance himself from the failed 1965 Communist Party of Indonesaia (PKI) coup. The Army was aware of his involvement and Sukarno was overthrown by General Suharto (1967). He died of natural causes 3 years later. Dewi Sukarno had moved to Europe after Sukarno's ouster. It is not clear as to the details, but Sukarno no longer had access to huge sums of graft money. She lived in several different countries, including Switzerland, France, and the United States and traveled wudely, in part because of her business activities. She eventually gravitated toward her native Japan. She established a residence in Shibuya, Tokyo. Dewi became known as a Japanese businesswoman, socialite, television personality, and philanthropist. Her rise as a sucessful business woman is believed to have been fuled by money Sukarmo spirited oit if the coynrry before his ouster. Her home is notable for her collection of memorabilia. Even before her husban's ouster, Dewi has had little involvement in Indonesian politics. She has supported the work of the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP). She has been sympathetic toward the plight of refugees as well as people living under desptic regimes like North Korea. Unlike Dewi, Sukarno's other wives stayed in Indonesia. They prudently stayed out of politics. After the fall of military rule, Dewi's stepdaughter, Megawati, became politically active. She became the first female president of the country. She was helped by the continuing popularity of her father who was ot tained by the years of military rule. As Dewi was the youngest of Sukarno's nine wives and a foreigner, she had virtually nothing to do with raising Megawati. She was quoted as commenting, "It's not easy being a Muslim woman president." Dewi has been involved in several high-profile incidents.
Indonesia's first indepdent president, Sukarmo, was a popular national hero. Unlike some left-wing nationalist leaders, Sukarno was no aestetic. On a state visit to Japan he met a beautiful 19-year old art student at the Ginza hostess bar in Tokyo, near the Imperial Hotel -- Naoko Nemoto (1959). Sukarno at the time was president of Indonesia. Sukarno and 59 years old. They married in Indonesia (1962). Sukarno at the time was already married. Dewi became his ninth and last wife. Polygamy is allowed for men by Islam--although nive wives was unusual by the 20th century. She converted to Islam, and Sukarno gave her the Indonesian name Ratna Sari Dewi Soekarno 'the jewel essence of a goddess'. She became known as Dewi Sukarno. The marriage is of some political significance. It would have been politically impossible for a prominent politician at the time in China, Korea, Philippines, Taiwan, or most other countries occupied by Japan to marry a Japanese woman as result of the barbarous conduct of the Japanese military. Indonesiaas an exception. Indinesians nationalits cooperated with the Japanese despite the fact hat some 5 million Indonesians perished as a result of a famine caused by he Japanese.
We have no details about Sukarno's family life. With nine wives, it must have been a little complicated. Sukarno and Dewi had on child. They had a daughter--Kartika. She now calls herself 'Carina'. Unlike Dewi, Sukarno's other wives stayed in Indonesia. They prudently stayed out of politics. After the fall of military rule, Dewi's stepdaughter, Megawati, became politically active. She became the first female president of the country. She was helped by the continuing popularity of her father who was ot tained by the years of military rule. As Dewi was the youngest of Sukarno's nine wives and a foreigner, she had virtually nothing to do with raising Megawati. She was quoted as commenting, "It's not easy being a Muslim woman president."
Sukarno tried to distance himself from the failed 1965 Communist Party of Indonesaia (PKI) coup. The Army was aware of his Sukarno's links o the PKI, but not initially of his degree of involvement in the coup. Sukarno was overthrown by General Suharto (1967). He died of natural causes 3 years later.
Dewi moved to Europe after Sukarno's ouster. It is not clear as to the details, but Sukarno no longer had access to huge sums of graft money. She was still very young and beautiful. She lived in several different countries, including Switzerland, France, and the United States and traveled widely, in part because of her business activities. She eventually gravitated toward her native Japan. She established a residence in Shibuya, Tokyo. She established a residence in Shibuya, Tokyo. Dewi became known as a Japanese businesswoman, socialite, television personality, and philanthropist.Her rise as a sucessful business woman is believed to have been fuled by money Sukarmo spirited oit if the coynrry before his ouster. Her home is notable for her collection of memorabilia. Even before her husban's ouster, Dewi has had little involvement in Indonesian politics. She has supported the work of the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP). She has been sympathetic toward the plight of refugees as well as people living under despotic regimes like North Korea.
Dewi raised eyebrows when she married the much older Sukarno who already had eight wives. She did not disappear from the world spot-light adter Sukarno's disappearance. She never quite dropped out of the social press spotlight.
She has been involved in several high-profile incidents.
Dewi was involved in an Aspen, Colorado altercation (1992). She got ito it with anothe international socialite and heiress--Minnie Osmeņa. Dewi and Osmeņa disliked each other. The feud began at a party when Dewi laughed at Osmeņa's political plans (including running for Vice-President of the Philippines). Minnie was a granddaughter of a former President. According to the gossip press, Osmeņa at an Aspen party derisively commented on Dewi's past. The encounter became heated. Dewi ultimately broke a wine glass on Osmeņa's face. The bleeding Osmeņa was rushed to the hospital and required 37 stitches to close the gash. Dewi spent 34 days in the Aspen city jail for 'disorderly conduct'.
Dewi even as she grew older, was a beautiful woman. She decided to pose for a book of photographs that was published in Japan (1994). Some of the photographs images featured her partially naked, and others showed what appeared to be tattoo body art. The Indonesian public was outraged. The book was not published in Indonesia. But news of it appeared in the Indonesian press. Indonesian authorities banned the book. Sukarno was still revered by many Indonesians and they felt that all of his many wives should lead desrete, modest lives to honor a national hero.
Dewi appeared on Japanese news programs when the man who ousted her husband, Gen. Suharto, died (2008). She blamed him for years of repressive military rule. She compared him to Cambodian dictator Pol Pot who egineered tht country's terrible genocide. She conveniently ignored the killing oprations the PKI planned in Indonesia.
Navigate the Children in History Website:
[About Us]
[Introduction]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Climatology]
[Clothing]
[Disease and Health]
[Economics]
[Freedom]
[Geography]
[History]
[Human Nature]
[Ideology]
[Law]
[Nationalism]
[Presidents]
[Religion]
[Royalty]
[Science]
[Social Class]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Children in History Home]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing national pages:
[Return to the Main Sukarno page]
[Return to the Main Indonesian history page]
[Return to the Main Indonesian page]
[Return to the Main Oceania history page]
[Australia]
[Belgium]
[China]
[England]
[France]
[Germany]
[Ireland]
[Italy]
[Japan]
[Korea]
[Malaysia]
[Mexico]
[The Netherlands]
[Portugal]
[Scotland]
[Spain]
[United States]
