About 100 activists gathered in Jakarta on Nov 6 to demand that the government cancel its plan to grant late authoritarian leader Suharto the title of national hero, amid growing fears of historical revisionism.
Indonesia’s social and culture ministries have proposed Suharto, along with 48 other nominees, for President Prabowo Subianto’s approval. The title is awarded annually on Nov 10 to those deemed to have made significant contributions to the nation.
Suharto ruled Indonesia for 32 years under his military-backed “New Order”, a period marked by tight political control, censorship and alleged rights abuses. He was forced to resign in 1998 following mass protests, riots and an economic collapse.
Protesters warn of “whitewashing dictatorship”
President Prabowo, elected in 2024 and Suharto’s former son-in-law, has openly praised the late strongman and relied increasingly on the military in his policies.
On Nov 6, protesters rallied near the presidential palace, arguing that Suharto’s record of corruption and human rights violations disqualified him from being honoured.
Some carried placards reading “Stop the Whitewashing of the General of Butchery” and “Thousands Died But The Country Chose to Forget.”
Among those participating were Amnesty International Indonesia and the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS).
