Sukarjo Wiryopranoto

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.