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Abdul Nasution, Indonesian politician (born Dec. 3, 1918, Kotanopan, North Sumatra, Dutch East Indies—died Sept. 6, 2000, Jakarta, Indon.), was a leader in winning (1949) Indonesian independence from The Netherlands and thereafter served in a number of capacities, including defense minister (1959–66). He missed an opportunity to seize power when he was the only survivor among a group of seven generals targeted during an uprising (1965) against President Sukarno; instead, General Suharto took over, and Nasution became a critic of his authoritarian rule.
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