Portal:Indonesia/BOTW/41, 2007

Amien Rais (born Surakarta, Central Java 26 April 1944) is a prominent Indonesian politician. He was a leader of the reform movement that forced the resignation of the authoritarian ruler, President Suharto, in 1998. Rais was the leader of Muhammadiyah, one of the two biggest Muslim organizations in Indonesia, in 1995 - 2000. He was the chairman of Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in 1999 - 2004.

Amien married his childhood friend, Kusnasriyati Sri Rahayu in 1969. The couple have 5 children ( Ahmad Hanafi, Hanum Salsabiela, Ahmad Mumtaz, Tasniem Fauzia and Ahmad Baihaqi). Amien earned his master degree from University of Notre Dame, Indiana in 1974 and a Ph.D degree in political science from the University of Chicago.

Amien Rais and other reformists established The National Mandate Party ( Partai Amanat Nasional / PAN ) on 6th August 1998. In May 1998, Jakarta experienced a chaotic situation following the riots in some parts of the city. The political and economical decay in Indonesia during the 90s had Rais call a comprehensive issue : the political reform. Amien Rais was eventually a forerunner in crushing the New Order regime. (Read more...)