 She worked first as a translator for Antara, the Indonesian news agency, then in economic research for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, later studying at the University of Indonesia's School of Economics and then lecturing at Padjadjaran University in Bandung and Res Publica (now Trisakti) University in Jakarta.She was also one of President Sukarno's speechwriter in the days leading up to 30 September Movement.After General Suharto seized power in 1966, her husband was imprisoned, spending 12 years in jail.