The Smiling General: Suharto, Power, and Plunder in Indonesia

For over three decades, Suharto ruled Indonesia with a calm smile and an iron grip — promising order, unity, and development. Behind that façade, he built one of the most corrupt empires in modern history. The Smiling General traces Suharto’s rise from army general to dictator, his vast network of family wealth and military power, and the quiet fear that silenced a nation. From the massacres of the 1960s to his fall in 1998, this episode explores how corruption became a system — and how, when it finally collapsed, the people reclaimed their voice.#history #Currentevents #indonesia This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rejil.substack.com