Murdani (or Moerdioni), ‘Benny’ (1932– )

Indonesian soldier and politician, head of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the intelligence branch of the Indonesia Armed Forces (ABRI).

Murdani was a hero in the war for independence and led the invasions of Irian Jaya in 1962 and East Timor in August 1975. He was commander of ABRI 1983–88 and defence minister 1988–96. As head of ABRI, Murdani – a Catholic – was also responsible for the wave of Muslim unrest that spread throughout Indonesia in 1984 after soldiers opened fire on a crowd of Muslim demonstrators near Jakarta.