After attending journalism school in Jakarta, Harmoko began working as a journalist with Merdekaweekly news magazine in 1960. He worked on a number of newspapers, and in 1970 became editor of the Pos Kota and Terbit Jakarta dailies. In 1975, he became a member of the Press Council and of the Film Censorship Board.
Political career
In 1977, Harmoko became a member of the Indonesian legislature, the People's Consultative Assembly. He served as information minister in the New Order regime of President Suharto in three successive cabinets from 1983 until 1997, during which time it was said that his name was an abbreviation for hari-hari omong kosong. Harmoko used his authority to extend the remit of the press publication enterprise permit. Withdrawal of the SIUPP from a publishing company meant it could not longer legally function, and it could also be used to effectively ban individual publications. After the weekly news magazineTempo published an article critical of the purchase of East German warships by Research and Technology B. J. Habibie, the magazine's SIUPP was revoked on 21 June 1994 and it ceased publishing. Two other news publications, Detik and Editor were banned at the same time. Following a term as deputy chairman, from 1993 to 1998 Harmoko was chairman of the Golkar ruling political organization, becoming the first civilian to hold this position. In June 1997, he was appointed state minister for special affairs, a post he held for only three months as in October 1997, he was chosen as chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly and People's Representative Council, a post he held until 1999. Despite years of loyalty to President Suharto, following widespread student demonstrations calling for a change of government, on 18 May 1998, Harmoko caused great surprise at a press conference by asking the president to step down within five days. This may have been because Harmoko was upset by his dismissal as information minister and his not being considered for the vice-presidency, or possibly because Harmoko was upset after rioters set fire to his house in Surakarta.
