Mochtar Kusumaatmadja Dies In Today's Memory, June 6, 2021

Mochtar Kusumaatmadja, who served as Minister of Justice in the 1973-1978 era and Foreign Minister in the 1978-1988 era. (Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA Memories of today, four years ago, June 6, 2021, the former Minister of Justice and Minister of Foreign Affairs (Menlu), Mochtar Kusumaatmadja passed away. The departure of the Minister of the New Order (Orba) era brought deep sorrow to the whole archipelago.

Previously, Mochtar was known as a reliable international legal expert. The narrative made him have the opportunity to become a high official: minister. He was able to carry it out well. Moreover, within the scope of being a Foreign Minister. He is often known to advance cultural diplomacy.

Mochtar Kusumaatmadja is not new to international law. The man who was born in Batavia (now: Jakarta), February 17, 1929, is known to have focused on studying international law since studying at the University of Indonesia.

He successfully completed his legal education specializing in international law in 1955. He then became the originator of the concept of Nusantara insight. His curiosity regarding international law continues.

He then continued his education at Yale Law School in the United States and graduated in 1956. This condition made him strengthen his steps to become a teacher at Padjadjaran (Unpad). In fact, until he became the Chancellor of Unpad in 1972.

Later fate took him off campus. President Soeharto needed his services to become Minister of Justice from 1974-1978. Suharto and New Order then took advantage of their existence in international law by establishing Mochtar as Foreign Minister for the 1978-1988 era.

His work as Foreign Minister is brilliant. He began to make many breakthroughs in diplomacy. He began to make soft power diplomacy or diplomacy in the path of persuasion through cultural arts as the spearhead of international diplomacy.

Mochtar considered the strength of diplomacy to be so great. Indonesia is considered to be collapsed durian. All kinds of desires and cooperation with friendly countries can be realized soon. These methods were then continued by his successor to become a lubricant for foreign diplomacy.

During his time as a diplomat, Mochtar sparked the need for cultural diplomacy. He is of the view that cultural diplomacy aims to introduce the image of Indonesian culture abroad in order to create a better understanding of the people of Indonesia. The hope is that development cooperation will be created through tourism relations, investment, and non-oil and gas exports," said Luki Aulia in his writings in Kompas Daily entitled The Father of Indonesian International Law Has No (2021).

Mochtar's existence as a high official did end in 1988. However, that does not mean that his services will be forgotten immediately. The Indonesian government has repeatedly given him awards. Likewise with other institutions.

The Indonesian nation is having difficulty losing Mochtar. This condition was proven when Mochtar died due to illness at his residence in Jakarta on June 6, 2021. Deep sorrow was felt. Condolences also arose from everywhere, especially from among officials.

Mochtar is considered an official with high dedication to the nation and state. He is also considered an example of a highly dedicated official. This narrative made his life behave as an official imitated by his successor.

"My deepest condolences for the passing of Mr. Mochtar Kusumaatmadja. The deceased gave extraordinary service to this country as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Justice in the previous era".

"He is also a Professor of the Faculty of Unpad Law and had time to guide my father's doctoral late Atje Misbach regarding the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the context of International Marine Law. God willing, Husnul Khatimah and his Islamic faith will be accepted and his grave will be cleared. And the family left behind will be given patience and fortitude. Amen. Goodbye Mr. Mochtar, "said West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil as quoted on the page detik.com, June 6, 2021.