Indonesian political figure Hasto Kristiyanto recalls a meeting two decades ago with Karen Brooks, a lobbyist who has cultivated close ties with key figures in Indonesian politics, including current presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto and former President Megawati Soekarnoputri. The meeting occurred at a forum organized by the United States-Indonesia Society, where Brooks presented insights into Indonesian democracy.
Kristiyanto, at the time accompanying Taufiq Kiemas – the husband of then-PDI-P General Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri – attended the forum as PDI-P considered its position regarding President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s newly formed governing coalition. Yudhoyono had recently established the Democrat Party, a move that strained his relationship with Megawati after he was dismissed as Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs prior to the 2004 General Election.
Following the discussion, Kristiyanto engaged with Brooks, noting her fluency in Indonesia’s political landscape. He stated Brooks assisted PDI-P in communicating its views to US senators, emphasizing the compatibility of Pancasila, Indonesia’s state ideology, and Islam with democratic principles. “She helped us meet with US senators and briefed them that (state ideology) Pancasila and Islam could head hand in hand with democracy,” Kristiyanto told Tempo on January 21, 2026.
Brooks’ understanding of Indonesian politics stems, in part, from her 1995 Cornell University thesis, “The Rustle of Ghosts: Bung Karno in the New Order,” which was conducted as part of the Indonesia Project under the direction of prominent Indonesianist Benedict Anderson.
Recent reports indicate Brooks continues to be a significant figure in Indonesian political circles. A Tempo report from February 23, 2026, identifies her as a lobbyist who has influenced President Prabowo. She was observed during a discussion at the Forestry Ministry in Jakarta on February 14, 2026.
