Sukarjo Wiryopranoto

Sukarjo Wiryopranoto
4th Representative of Indonesia to the United Nations
In office 1960–1962
Preceded by	Ali Sastroamidjojo
Succeeded by	L.N Palar
2nd Indonesian Ambassador to China
In office 1956–1960
Preceded by	Arnold Mononutu
Succeeded by	Sukarni
1st Indonesian Ambassador to Italy
In office 1952–1954
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Sutan Mohammad Rasjid
1st Indonesian Ambassador to the Holy See
In office 1950–1952
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Djumhana Wiriaatmadja
Personal details
Born	(1903-06-05)5 June 1903 Kesugihan, Cilacap, Dutch East Indies
Died	23 October 1962(1962-10-23) (aged 59) New York City, U.S

Soekardjo Wirjopranoto (5 June 1903 – 23 October 1962) was a politician, diplomat, and prominent figure in the Indonesian nationalist movement. In 1962, he was posthumously awarded the country's highest honour, recognised as a National Hero of Indonesia.

Biography

Soekardjo was born in the Cilacap region of central Java in June 1903, the son of a railway worker. In 1923, he graduated from the Jakarta Law College, and secured a role at the Purwokerto District Court. He then worked in several cities before setting up his own law office called 'Vishnu' in Malang, East Java.

Soekardjo become a member of the Volksraad in 1931. He also co-founded the National Association of Indonesia with Dr. Sutomo, Soekardjo was a strong advocate for Indonesia's independence from the Netherlands, and was a senior figure of the Indonesian political party Parindra. He was also chief editor of weekly publication Mimbar Indonesia.

Following Indonesia's independence in 1947, Soekardjo was appointed a spokesperson for the newly formed Indonesian Cabinet of Ministers, led by President Sukarno. He subsequently served as Indonesia's first Envoy to the Vatican in 1950, and then Indonesia's first Ambassador to Italy in 1952.

He also served as Indonesia's Permanent Representative at the United Nations (UN) until his death in October 1962.

He died of a heart attack after a short illness at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, and is buried in Kalibata Heroes' Cemetery, Jakarta.

A major thoroughfare in central Jakarta, Jalan Sukarjo Wiryopranoto, is named in his memory.

In 2024, Soekardjo's Lepas dari Belanda ('Free from the Netherlands'), first published in 1946, was republished by the Tjilatjap History Community, which outlined Soekardjo's opposition to the Dutch Linggajati agreement of the same year.