In 1976, then-Lt. Prabowo Subianto arrived for his first tour of responsibility in East Timor, the previous Portuguese colony that Indonesia had invaded and occupied the earlier yr. The youngest particular person to steer a unit of the Indonesian army’s particular forces arm, Kopassus, the 26-year-old Prabowo was despatched to Timor looking for Nicolau Lobato, a distinguished chief of the area’s independence motion.
Two years later, Prabowo’s unit situated, arrested and killed Lobato. His severed head was mailed to then-Indonesian President Suharto as proof of his dying.
With that mission, Prabowo started his lengthy army and political profession. It might be a profession affected by abuses, together with alleged struggle crimes. It might additionally culminate in his inauguration as Indonesia’s eighth president on Oct. 20.
