Yunus Yosfiah (full name: Muhammad Yunus Yosfiah; born 7 August 1944 in Rappang, South Sulawesi, then Japanese-occupied Dutch East Indies) is an Indonesian retired military officer and politician. He is a decorated member of the Indonesian Army and served as the 25th and final Minister of Information of Indonesia in the Development Reform Cabinet under President B. J. Habibie from May 1998 to October 1999, after which the position was abolished.
Military career
Yosfiah graduated from the National Military Academy (AMN) in 1965 (Class 6) and served in the Indonesian Army from 1965 to 1999, reaching the rank of Lieutenant General at retirement. His service was largely within the special forces (Kopassus/RPKAD). Notable postings included Platoon and Company Commander in RPKAD/Kopassandha groups, Commander of Infantry Battalion 744 in East Timor, Commander of Korem 164/Dili (1985–1987), Chief of Staff of Kodam VI Tanjungpura (1990), and Commander of the Army Infantry Weapons Center (1993). In 1997 he became Chief of ABRI sociopolitical affairs. He also received training at Fort Leavenworth and the Royal College of Defense Studies in Britain.
East Timor and Balibo Five controversy
In 1975, while a Captain leading an Indonesian special forces unit into Balibo, East Timor, Yosfiah was identified in connection with the deaths of five Australian-based journalists known collectively as the "Balibo Five." According to findings by the New South Wales Deputy State Coroner (2007), the journalists died on 16 October 1975 from wounds inflicted deliberately, and not in the heat of battle, by members of the Indonesian Special Forces, including Captain Yunus Yosfiah. The coroner's report concluded that Yosfiah had participated in a war crime and recommended that the case be referred to the Australian Federal Attorney General. Yosfiah did not respond to invitations to appear at the inquest. The findings also noted allegations that some of the journalists' bodies were dressed in Portuguese army uniforms and photographed to suggest they had been killed while fighting Indonesian forces.
Yosfiah is also alleged to have been involved in the killing of Nicolau dos Reis Lobato, the leader of Fretilin, in 1979.
Minister of Information (1998–1999)
As Minister of Information under President Habibie, Yosfiah oversaw reforms that lifted media restrictions and removed bans on publications, which has been described as one of the significant breakthroughs of the Habibie administration regarding press freedom in Indonesia.
There were also allegations that in 1999 Yosfiah was involved in channeling Indonesian government funds to East Timorese militia groups prior to the East Timor independence referendum and its subsequent violent aftermath.
Later political life
Yosfiah retired from the TNI in 1999. He joined the Muslim-based United Development Party (PPP) in 2002 and served as its General Secretary in December 2003. In February 2007 he unsuccessfully contested the PPP party chairmanship election. He is currently affiliated with the Gerindra party of President Prabowo Subianto, who awarded him an honorary four-star general title.
Yosfiah is married to Hj. Antonia Ricardo, an East Timorese woman, and has children including Eric Akbar Ricardo Yunus.
Note: Information in this entry is drawn from public encyclopedic sources, including Wikipedia and its cited references. Allegations and legal findings regarding the Balibo Five and other events are reported as such and reflect documented legal and investigative conclusions.
