Sjahrir, Sutar (1909-1966)

Indonesian politician, prime minister 1945-47. He negotiated the Linggadjati Agreement whereby the Dutch acknowledged Indonesia's authority in Java and Sumatra, but his conciliatory policies forced him to resign in 1947. The following year he formed the anti-communist Partai Sosialis Indonesia (Indonesian Socialist Party). President Sukarno banned it in 1960 and in January 1962 Sjahrir was arrested on charges of conspiracy but died before being tried.

Educated in law at the University of Leiden, Sjahrir established the socialist party Pendidikan Nasional Indonesia in 1931 in opposition to Sukarno's Partai Nasional Indonesis (Indonesian Nationalist Party). Exiled by the Dutch in 1934 he returned in 1942 and pushed Indonesia to declare independence.