Aarush Chiu

Aarush Chiu Chi-kwok (August 31, 1917 - October 2, 2012) was a Cadasan politician and former military general who served as the 10th President of Cadasa from 1963 to 1996, and as vice-president from 1957 to 1963, and 2000 to 2002. He was the longest serving President of Cadasa and one of the world's longest serving non-royal head of state, a total of 33 years. His rule is controversial. Often called the Cadasan "", Chiu is credited with forming modern Cadasa, making it a developed country and uniting all Cadasans, regardless of race, age, or gender. His rule is also described as authoritarian, with heavy political and press suppression and the implementation of martial law. Approximately 40,000 Cadasans died during the 32-year period of martial law.

Name
His name is from Hindi, meaning "first ray of the sun", and his Chinese name means "ruling the country".

Early life
Chiu was born on August 31, 1917, to an Indian mother from (Calcutta) and a Chinese-Malay father from. He was the eldest child of 10 siblings. His twin brother, Aayush Chiu, would later work with him in politics. At school, Chiu excelled and eventually got a master's in politics at Cambridge in 1943. Chiu then briefly served for the British in World War II.

Rise in politics
In 1946, Chiu joined the Cadasan Armed Forces, serving in the army. In 1952, getting annoyed with then-president Tan Yeng Sen's inability to fix Cadasa's increasing violent race riots, he joined the National Party (PNC). Soon, powerful friends and family members like S. P. Situmorang, A. Dheeran, Aayush Chiu, and his wife Kwo Su Geok joined. The PNC was transformed from a minor party to the main opposition party by 1957. When the PNC failed to win that election, Chiu decided to act.

President of Cadasa (1957-1996)
On March 15, 1957, Chiu, along with the military, lead by S. P. Situmorang, took control of the government in the 1957 Cadasan coup d'etat. In 1963, Situmorang died from diabetes and Chiu became president.

During his tenure, Cadasa became a developed country. The economy grew at a high rate, and by the 1980s Cadasa had one of the highest GDPs in Southeast Asia.

However, although Chiu had a more "benevolent" image than his predecessor, he still supported the continuation of martial law and increased the powers of the feared secret police Komilcad. In addition, his government was unusually cruel when dealing with Baratlamuri affairs, and considered the Tufur and Alyatakan peoples as "genetically inferior to any Cadasan born in Mapu". Chiu apologized for his past comments in 1995, and supported Baratlamuri's independence.

Chiu was re-elected in 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, and 1987. Due to protests and international pressure, he lifted martial law in 1989 and oversaw democratic reforms. His work for democracy led him to be reelected for a eighth term in 1992, the first fair and free elections since 1957.

Later life
Due to his popularity, Chiu was nominated as Elijah Chan's vice-president in 2000. Chiu served as vice-president until 2002, when he officially retired from Cadasan politics.

Death
"Main article: Death and state funeral of Aarush Chiu"On October 2, 2012, concidentially Cadasa's Independence Day, Chiu died in C.V. Aarvi General Hospital after choking on a piece of steak a few days before. While choking he fell from his chair and broke his hip and pelvis. Infection and pneumonia eventually killed him.

Family
"Main article: Chiu-Kwo family (Cadasa)"

Legacy
Chiu remains a divisive figure in Cadasa. Supporters praise him for uniting the country and greatly improving the economy. Critics attack Chiu due to his anti-communism and oppressive rule (especially how he reacted to the 1119 Incident and 1967 Pekhoi riots, when many people died as a result of his actions.)

In 1994 he and former enemy Tan Yeng Sen made amends, and he joined the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 1995. On September 22, 1996, his last day in office, Chiu made a speech officially apologizing for his dictatorship. Afterwards, Chiu started to get involved in improving human rights and preserving democracy in Southeast Asia until his death in 2012.