Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1762759579496bisma-mahendra-Vo-ZnZ-xSDQ-unsplash.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Indonesian flag. Bisma Mahendra, Unsplash</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesia added former president Suharto to a list of national heroes during a ceremony on Monday, despite objections from activists and academics over the deceased military dictator&#x27;s human rights record.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/overseas/11/05/21/indonesia-seizes-land-owned-by-suharto-sons-company">Indonesia seizes land owned by Suharto son&#x27;s company</a></div><p>In a decree read by the presidential military secretary, Suharto was named among 10 honorees newly dubbed national heroes, joining a list of more than 200 people that includes the first democratically elected president, as well as prominent women&#x27;s rights advocates, Islamic scholars and independence activists.</p><p>Sitting President Prabowo Subianto, Suharto&#x27;s former son-in-law, presided over Monday&#x27;s National Hero Day ceremony.</p><p>In response to outcry over the plan to include Suharto, Prabowo&#x27;s office had insisted he has the right to bestow the title upon whomever he chooses.</p><p>Former president Suharto, who died in 2008 aged 86, ruled Indonesia with an iron fist for more than three decades after grabbing power in 1967 following a failed military coup.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/10/17/indonesia-growth-push-sparks-fight-on-deforestation-rights-1653">Indonesia growth push sparks fight on deforestation, rights</a></div><p>His rule was marred by allegations of corruption and human rights abuses, including violent crackdowns on political dissent.</p><p>Last week, around 500 civil society members, activists and academics published a letter sent to Prabowo requesting he not proceed with the hero designation.</p><p>The letter said awarding Suharto the title was a betrayal of his victims and of democratic values, and constituted a dangerous distortion of history.</p><p>Prabowo himself has faced a series of violent protests since sweeping to electoral victory last year, mainly sparked by discontent over economic inequality and lavish perks for lawmakers.</p><p>The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (Kontras), a local rights group, said designating Suharto a national hero was immoral and helped to normalize impunity.</p><p>&quot;Suharto, as someone suspected of being involved in human rights violations, state violence and various offences related to human rights abuses, does not deserve to be awarded the title of national hero,&quot; Kontras coordinator Dimas Bagus Arya told AFP.</p><p>State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi defended the government&#x27;s decision.</p><p>&quot;It is part of how we honor our predecessors, especially our leaders, who undoubtedly have made extraordinary contributions to the nation and the country,&quot; he told reporters.</p><p>Suharto&#x27;s daughter, Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, and son, Bambang Trihatmodjo, were among the attendees of Monday&#x27;s ceremony.</p><p>&quot;Please remember what my father had done, from when he was young, until he was old, all his fights for this country and the Indonesian people,&quot; Siti told reporters after the ceremony.</p><p>The other nine new heroes include slain labour activist Marsinah and former president Abdurrahman Wahid, who died in 2009.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/quVw6IFAQOU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Former president Suharto, who died in 2008 aged 86, ruled Indonesia with an iron fist for more than three decades after grabbing power in 1967 following a failed military coup.</p>

Former president Suharto, who died in 2008 aged 86, ruled Indonesia with an iron fist for more than three decades after grabbing power in 1967 following a failed military coup.

Indonesia names late dictator Suharto a national hero

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Indonesia names late dictator Suharto a national hero

Agence France-Presse

Published November 10, 2025 03:27 PM PHT

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Jakarta

Indonesia

politics

rights

suharto

dictator

Prabowo Subianto

Agence France-Presse

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