Indonesia has officially named former President Suharto a national hero, sparking widespread criticism from activists, academics, and human rights organizations. The announcement was made during Monday’s National Hero Day ceremony, presided over by sitting President Prabowo Subianto, Suharto’s former son-in-law.
Suharto, who ruled Indonesia with an iron fist from 1967 to 1998, is known for his long-standing authoritarian regime, marked by corruption, political repression, and human rights abuses. Despite this, he was named among ten new national heroes, joining more than 200 figures on the national honor roll that includes Indonesia’s first democratically elected president, women’s rights advocates, Islamic scholars, and independence activists.
In response to the decision, around 500 civil society members, activists, and academics sent a letter to President Prabowo urging him not to confer the title. The letter described the designation as a betrayal of Suharto’s victims, a distortion of history, and a threat to democratic values.
The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (Kontras) condemned the move, calling it immoral and a dangerous normalization of impunity. “Suharto, as someone suspected of being involved in human rights violations, state violence, and various offenses, does not deserve to be awarded the title of national hero,” said Kontras coordinator Dimas Bagus Arya.
Despite the criticism, State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi defended the government’s decision. “It is part of how we honour our predecessors, especially our leaders, who undoubtedly have made extraordinary contributions to the nation and the country,” he said.
Suharto’s family attended the ceremony, including his daughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana and son Bambang Trihatmodjo. Siti urged the public to remember her father’s contributions to Indonesia, praising his lifelong dedication to the country.
Other figures honored as new national heroes include slain labor activist Marsinah and former President Abdurrahman Wahid, who passed away in 2009. The designation of Suharto has ignited a national debate over Indonesia’s historical memory, human rights, and the legacy of its authoritarian past.
