Prof. Dr. Maria Antonia Astrid Sunarti Susanto (also known as Astrid Susanto-Sunario) -- deputy chairwoman of Commission I of the Indonesian legislature, the People's Representative Council—was born 4 January 1936 in Makassar, South Celebes (now South Sulawesi), Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) and died on 13 April 2006 in Jakarta.^[1] She was also a professor in the Department of International Relations at the University of Indonesia.

Dr. Susanto received her M. Phil. at the University of Münster, then-West Germany, in 1960 and a Ph.D. in Mass Communications at the Free University of Berlin in 1964.

Career

• Dean of the publication faculty, Padjajaran University, Bandung (1971–1975)
• Adjunct Professor, Communications and Developmental Sociology, University of Indonesia (1976–2006)
• Head of the Bureau of the Study of Cultures in the Ministry of National Development (1974–1983)
• Asistent Minister in the Ministry of Development (1983–1988)
• Member, People's Consultative Assembly from Utusan Golongan (1987–1992)
• Member, PDKB DPR/MPR faction (2002)
• Member, Kesatuan Bangsa Kebangsaan Indonesia (F-KKI) faction (2002–2004)
• Adjunct Professor, in the post graduate program (S-2 dan S-3) - University of Indonesia, Jakarta; Sahid University, Jakarta; and Hasannudin University, Makassar

Family

Dr. Susanto was the second daughter of Prof. Mr. Soenario, S.H. (1902–1997), a former Indonesian minister of foreign affairs, and Dina Maria Geraldine Maranta (née Pantouw) Soenario^[2][3] (?-1995). Her husband was Ir. Bambang Susanto. She was survived by two sons, one daughter and two grandchildren.

Dr. Susanto's older sister is Prof. Dr. Sunaryati Hartono, vice-chairman of the National Ombudsman Commission of Indonesia. Another sister, Sunardien, is an economist. Her youngest sister, Wuryastuti Sunario, is managing director of the Indonesia Tourism Promotion Board. A younger brother, Irawan Sunario, lives in Jakarta.