image source, BETWEEN PHOTOS/Aditya Pradana Putra
President Prabowo Subianto is said to have deliberately accelerated the designation of Suharto as a national hero so as not to damage the image of his government at the end of his term of office. Because at the beginning of this leadership he could still control the power support from political parties, observers said.
But more than that, the Executive Director who is also a senior researcher at the Populi Center, Afrimadona, explained that the awarding of Suharto as a national hero was actually related to perceptions among the majority of lower class society who viewed Suharto and the New Order military-authoritarian regime positively.
They consider Suharto and the New Order synonymous with strong leaders, having stable governments, and being able to create low inflation.
In fact, the results of his research show that the majority of each generation—be it baby boomers, X, millennials, to Z—have a favorable view of Suharto.
On the other hand, Suharto’s designation as a hero continues to be rejected by a number of groups. In a number of cities there were demonstrations.
So, what will happen after Suharto is declared a national hero?
image source, Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
President Prabowo Subianto officially awarded national hero status to Suharto, Indonesia’s second president and former father-in-law, Monday (10/11).
In a ceremony at the State Palace, Jakarta, national hero status was symbolically handed over to two of Suharto’s children, namely Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana alias Mbak Tutut and Bambang Trihatmodjo.
Tutut and Bambang stood in the front row of representatives receiving the national hero award. Suharto’s name is mentioned second, after Indonesia’s third president Abdurrahman Wahid, who was also given national hero status.
In the front row, there was also the family of Marsinah, a female worker who was killed while working at PT Catur Putra Surya, Sidoarjo, in 1993.
Referring to Prabowo’s decision, Suharto received the status of a national hero in the fields of struggle and politics.
“Soeharto has been prominent since the independence era as deputy commander of BKR Yogyakarta. Soeharto led the disarmament of Japan in Kota Baru in 1945,” said the ceremony guide.
The other eight names named were former President Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur), labor activist Marsinah, former Minister of Law Mochtar Kusumaatmadja, Rahman el Yunusiyyah, and former Commander of the Army Para Commando Regiment (RPKAD) Sarwo Edhie Wibowo.
Then, there were Sultan Muhammad Salahuddin, Syaikhona Muhammad Kholil, Tuan Rondahaim Saragih, and Sultan Tidore Sultan Zainal Abidin Syah.
After the reading, Prabowo, wearing a gray suit with blue top and black cap, greeted representatives of the hero’s family.
What was the Suharto family’s response?
Table of Contents
- What was the Suharto family’s response?
- What was the reason for the Palace to give Suharto the title of hero?
- ‘Cancel Suharto’s national hero title’
- Demonstrations reject Suharto’s hero title
- What is the meaning of being awarded the title of national hero?
- Why did Prabowo assign Suharto the title of hero at this time?
- What will happen after Suharto’s decision to become a national hero?
- Who are the other new national heroes and what is their controversy?
After the ceremony, Tutut said that the pros and cons that accompanied giving his father hero status were normal.
“We saw what my father had done since he was young until he died, all his struggles for the Indonesian nation,” he said.
“So it’s okay to oppose, but also don’t be extreme. The important thing is that we maintain unity and unity,” said Tutut.
More than that, Tutut also said “for those who are against it, our family does not feel any resentment or disappointment.” According to him, the public can make any judgment about Suharto’s figure.
“People are getting smarter, especially journalists, they can see what you are doing. They can judge for themselves,” he said.
“We don’t need to defend ourselves, everything is visible, there is nothing to cover up.”
image source, Presidential Secretariat
In particular, Tutut said his family was grateful to Prabowo and community groups who supported Suharto’s nomination to become a national hero.
“Because of him [Prabowo] soldiers, maybe you know what you have been doing since a long time ago,” said Tutut.
“But he also did that based on the aspirations of the community,” he said, making the claim.
What was the reason for the Palace to give Suharto the title of hero?
Palace spokesman, and Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, said that giving the title of national hero to Suharto was part of respecting the nation’s previous leaders.
He said that Suharto had extraordinary services to the nation and state during his leadership.
“That’s part of how we respect our predecessors. Especially national leaders, who of course have extraordinary services to the nation and state,” he said on Jalan Kertanegara IV, Sunday (09/11).
He said that before being officially awarded the title of national hero, President Prabowo had also received input from various parties including the leaders of the MPR and DPR.
‘Cancel Suharto’s national hero title’
However, the granting of national hero status to Suharto and Sarwo Edhie was strongly criticized by Amnesty International Indonesia and the Alliance for the Openness of Indonesian History (AKSI).
They demanded that the award of the title be cancelled.
This decision was called “a distortion of history, a betrayal of the ideals of the 1998 reformation and an insult to millions of victims of human rights violations during the 32 years of the New Order government.”
“Giving the title of hero is contrary to the constitutional mandate and justice mandated by the 1998 Reformation,” they said in a written release received by BBC News Indonesia, Monday (10/11).
According to them, the state should side with the victims, not the perpetrators of human rights violations.
It was further said that the awarding of the hero title cannot be separated from systematic efforts to rewrite Indonesian history by erasing traces of state violence.
“The title of hero for Suharto must be canceled immediately as a form of moral and political responsibility towards the history of the nation and the future of Indonesia,” they wrote.
Demonstrations reject Suharto’s hero title
A number of demonstrations against awarding former President Suharto the title of hero took place in several regions, Monday (10/11).
The demonstration in Yogyakarta took place at the Jalan Sudirman intersection, not far from the Dharma Wiratama TNI AD Museum and the regional representative office of the Golkar Party.
This action was initiated by the ‘Jogja Calling’ group and was attended by dozens of people.
“Historically in 1998, people poured out in various cities, including in Yogya, in large protests to demand that Suharto step down from office. This [pemberian gelar pahlawan] “This means that today’s rulers, namely the Prabowo-Gibran regime, are challenging the people,” he said.
Bung Koes also highlighted the title of hero to Suharto which was given at the same time as the 4th president Gus Dur and female labor activist Marsinah.
image source, Adji G Rinepta/detikJogja
Marsinah, who was passionate about fighting for the fate of workers, was murdered in May 1993. Before she was found dead in a forest in Nganjuk, East Java, she was arrested and taken to the headquarters of Kodim 0816 Sidoarjo.
Meanwhile, Gus Dur was one of the people who actively pushed for Suharto’s resignation during the New Order era.
“Marsinah was allegedly killed by the military, Suharto’s New Order military. At that time, Gus Dur urged Suharto to step down because of the many violations he had committed. This means that this really betrayed reform,” continued Bung Koes.
“You could say reform is dead. The gong is for Suharto to become a hero”
Apart from Yogyakarta, a demonstration rejecting Suharto’s hero title also took place in Gorontalo, which was initiated by the Gorontalo University Student Executive Board (BEM).
Dozens of students demonstrated in front of the Gorontalo DPRD office, holding up various posters with a tone of rejection.
The President of the Gorontalo University BEM, Erlin Adam, in his speech called giving Suharto the title of hero as a form of obscuring the history of the Indonesian nation.
He also believes that giving the title of hero does not reflect the value of historical justice and hurts the feelings of the families of victims due to human rights violations during the Soeharto government era.
“As is known, during Soeharto’s leadership there were many human rights violations, KKN practices, and authoritarian attitudes in leading the nation,” said Erlin.
What is the meaning of being awarded the title of national hero?
image source, BETWEEN PHOTOS/Andreas Fitri Atmoko/nz
Historian, who is also an academic from the National University (Unas), Andi Achdian believes that conferring the title of national hero on Suharto was like slowly extinguishing the spirit of Reformation.
This is because, during the Reformation period, Indonesia instilled new values which also gave birth to many new institutions.
For example, the Constitutional Court was formed as a result of the 1998 Reformation to strengthen democracy and uphold the supremacy of the constitution.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) was also established in the Reformation era. Its formation was a response to the rise of corruption during the New Order era, the peak of which was seen after the 1998 economic crisis, so that stronger independent institutions were needed to eradicate corruption.
“All of these institutions are products of corrections to the New Order under Suharto’s leadership,” Andi told BBC News Indonesia.
“But now Suharto is a hero. Reform seems to have disappeared [arti],” he continued.
Why did Prabowo assign Suharto the title of hero at this time?
A number of observers suspect that President Prabowo Subianto deliberately hastened the title of national hero to Suharto – not at the end of his reign – so as not to damage the image of his government, according to the Executive Director and senior researcher at the Populi Center, Afrimadona.
In the early days, according to him, Prabowo felt he could still make “controversial policies” so he had enough time, namely four years, to “wash away his sins”.
Moreover, if Prabowo can record historical economic growth of 8%, observers say.
“If he [Prabowo] successful with the goal of 8% economic growth, who else will remember that Suharto became a national hero? “No one will remember and want to know,” Afrimadona told BBC News Indonesia.
“Because when the election is approaching, politicians must be careful in their steps.”
image source, BETWEEN PHOTOS/Aditya Pradana Putra/nz
Historian Andi Achdian agrees.
He believes that Suharto’s designation as a national hero at this time will not shake his power because support from political parties is still on his side and he can control it.
It’s a different story, if it’s decided at the end of his term.
“Yes [Prabowo] He cannot guarantee how long political party support will remain on his side. Towards the end, the parties may have jumped ship. “Because power has limits,” explained Andi.
But more than that, Afrimadona said that the awarding of Suharto as a national hero was actually related to the perception among the majority of lower class people who viewed Suharto and the New Order military-authoritarian regime positively.
They consider Suharto and the New Order synonymous with strong leaders, having a stable government, and being able to create low inflation and orderly life.
image source, BETWEEN PHOTOS/Andreas Fitri Atmoko/nz
In fact, the results of his research published in 2024 show that most of each generation—either baby boomerX, millennials, to Z—have a good view of Soeharto.
“In general, almost the average for most of each generation [pandangan] they are positive [terhadap Soeharto],” he said.
“And, the level of positivity towards Suharto was high.”
In generations Baby boomerfor example, the figures show 54.1% have a positive view of Suharto.
Generation X as much as 59.9% had a positive view of Suharto; then the millennial generation 41.1%; and generation Z at 39.1%.
The survey conducted by the Populi Center was conducted in 2022 and 2023 with 1,200 respondents in Indonesia, both in urban and rural areas.
The analysis method includes statistical regression analysis to examine the relationship between authoritarian nostalgia and variables such as support for democracy and leaders with a military background.
“But it must be noted that this view only occurs in lower class society. Indeed, in educated middle class society, they tend to be more critical. However, this criticality occurs in groups with more established socio-economic conditions,” he explained.
“When stomach problems, life problems and so on are resolved, they start to become critical.”
Afrimadona suspects that these findings were also used as a “tool of justification” for the proposer of the title of national hero to propose Suharto’s name.
Moreover, he continued, the new generation is relatively unconcerned with issues of human rights violations in the past.
“We even conducted a survey, many of whom, especially Prabowo voters, did not mind the militaristic approach to solving problems in the past, such as the G30S PKI,” he explained.
What will happen after Suharto’s decision to become a national hero?
Historian Andi Achdian said that after Suharto was awarded the title of national hero, what was clear was that a new rewriting of history would begin.
The new history created by the government, he claims, will contain a narrative that seems to justify Suharto’s violent actions in carrying out his reign for 32 years.
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image source, BETWEEN PHOTOS/Andreas Fitri/nz Atmoko
It contains Komnas HAM’s findings regarding human rights violations that occurred during the Soeharto government, paying special attention to incidents of genocide and crimes against humanity.
“Referring to these findings, it can be strongly suspected that Suharto, who was in the position of president, had been involved in serious human rights violations of both the nature and by commission nor by omission,” said Komnas HAM in its report.
Violation by commission is a situation where the state actively does actions that are against human rights.
Then the offense by omission is a situation where the state does nothing, neglects, or ignores its obligations in fulfilling and/or protecting human rights.
“With this new history, it means that what is a fundamental problem in Indonesian politics such as violence, corruption, collusion and nepotism has become a kind of normal thing,” said Andi Achdian.
Andi is also worried that the decision to title Suharto a national hero will be “used as capital” to persecute activists, human rights defenders and alternative history activists who speak critically.
“That’s possible [terjadi]. “In every democratic country, however, it is the citizen’s right to express their opinion,” he said.
However, a senior researcher at the Populi Center, Afrimadona, said it was unlikely that such persecution would occur.
According to him, the current government in power will likely allow critical narratives to appear in public spaces as long as they do not trigger major actions like last August.
“The government seems to have learned from past experience, when protests are just protests, they will just have thick ears. Until then they disappear by themselves.”
Who are the other new national heroes and what is their controversy?
- Abdurrahman Wahidthe field of political struggle and Islamic education.
This man, born on September 7 1940, is the grandson of the founder of Nahdlatul Ulama, Hasyim Asy’ari, who in 1964 received national hero status.
Gus Dur is attached to the pros and cons. He once issued a Presidential Decree on July 23 2001 “to maintain the stability of the country from political turmoil”. Through this regulation, he suspended the MPR and DPR.
This regulation became part of the political dynamics that led to the MPR’s decision to impeach Gus Dur.
Meanwhile, the controversial issue attached to Gus Dur is the diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Israel.
Gus Dur flew to Israel in October 1994. At that time he was invited to witness the signing of the Israeli peace agreement with Jordan.
Greg Barton, professor of political science at Deakin University wrote an account of this event in the book Abdurrahman Wahid: Muslim Democrat, Indonesian President.
After the visit, Gus Dur encouraged the current Indonesian government to open diplomatic relations with Israel – which sparked criticism from some Islamic groups in Indonesia.
Read other articles related to Gus Dur:
image source, Getty Images
- Marsinahhero of struggle and humanity.
During a ceremony at the State Palace, Marsinah was said to be a symbol of courage, morals and the struggle for human rights among ordinary people.
“He grew up in a poor farming family that instilled the values of work and social justice,” said the ceremony guide.
- Mochtar Kusumaatmadjalegal and political fields. The idea of the island nation concept was used by Djuanda Kartawijdaya in 1953.
- Rahmah El Yunusiyahthe field of struggle for Islamic education.
Rahmah is a scholar, educator and freedom fighter. Her most prominent dedication is claimed to be pioneering Islamic women’s education.
image source, prabowosubianto.com
- Sarwo Edhie Wibowothe field of armed struggle. Its track record begins with the People’s Security Army during the 1945-1949 War of Independence.
Sarwo Edhie is the father-in-law of the third President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and grandfather of Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono who is currently the Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development.
Just like Suharto, Sarwo Edhie had traces of the 1965 tragedy. Referring to journalistic reports Tempo Magazine In October 2012, Sarwo Edhie led RPKAD (now Kopassus) troops to crush people who were considered part of the PKI.
Quoting Professor of Politics and History from the Australian National University, Robert Cribb, Sarwo Edhie once said that three million people died in the series of crackdowns on people who were considered leftists.
“Before I formally became Pak Sarwo Edhie’s subordinate, I had heard many stories about Pak Sarwo from my parents. How Pak Sarwo led the RPKAD at the critical moments of October 1965,” wrote Prabowo.
Sarwo was assigned as Commander of the Cenderawasih Regional Military Command in Jayapura from 1968 to 1970. He was the top military leader in the Land of Papua when the controversial Popular Opinion Determination (Pepera) stated that native Papuans chose to integrate into Indonesia.
Leading up to and during the Pepera, Sarwo headed Operation Wibawa, which aimed to “win the Pepera for Indonesia”, according to the book History of the Irian Jaya Integration Process compiled by the National Historical Inventory and Documentation Project in 1992.
image source, Wikimedia
- Zainal Abidin Syah Sangajithe field of political struggle and diplomacy. He is the 37th Sultan of Tidore.
Zainal was the first person appointed by the Indonesian government to be Governor of West Irian, the name given by the Old Order regime to the Land of Papua. He held that position in 1956, a period when the sovereignty of the Land of Papua was still contested by Indonesia and the Netherlands.
Because at that time Indonesia did not have sovereign rights over the Land of Papua, Zainal Abidin Syah carried out his role as governor of his hometown in Soasiu, Tidore.
Zainal’s appointment as Governor of West Irian at that time was part of the Indonesian government’s propaganda strategy, according to Robert Bone Jr, a political expert who wrote The Dynamics of The Western New Guinea Problem in 1958.
At the end of the 1950s, according to Bone’s notes, Soekarno traveled around the world to get UN support in the sovereignty dispute between West Irian and the Netherlands.
- Sultan Muhammad Salahuddineducation and diplomacy.
- Shaykhona Kholilthe field of Islamic education.
- Mr. Rondahaim Saragihthe field of armed struggle. Claimed to be Napoleon from Batak Land because his troops fought Dutch colonialism.
This article will continue to be updated, including expert analysis and official historical files or documents