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The General's Shadow

Monday, 10 November 2025 11:05

Summary

Indonesia’s decision to posthumously award former President Suharto the title of National Hero has ignited a fierce national and international controversy, forcing the world’s third-largest democracy to confront the unaddressed trauma of its authoritarian past. The declaration, made by President Prabowo Subianto, Suharto’s former son-in-law, on National Heroes Day, is viewed by critics as a dangerous act of historical revisionism. Suharto’s 32-year 'New Order' regime is remembered by supporters for bringing political stability and rapid economic growth, but it was also marked by systematic human rights abuses, including the mass killings of up to a million people in the mid-1960s, the brutal occupation of East Timor, and the embezzlement of billions of state funds. The move risks normalising impunity for state violence and signals a potential shift towards a more military-influenced political culture, deepening the country's polarisation over how to remember its turbulent history.

The Whitewashing of a Brutal Legacy

On Monday, 10 November 2025, the Indonesian government formally declared its second president, General Suharto, a National Hero, a decision that immediately provoked widespread condemnation from human rights organisations, activists, and victims’ families across the archipelago and the globe . The posthumous honour was bestowed during a televised ceremony at the State Palace in Jakarta to mark National Heroes Day . President Prabowo Subianto, who presided over the event, presented the award to Suharto’s children, Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana and Bambang Trihatmodjo . The move is seen by critics as a dangerous step towards historical revisionism, an attempt to whitewash the legacy of a 32-year rule that was synonymous with mass murder, corruption, and brutal repression .

Suharto, who died in 2008, had been nominated for the title multiple times since 2010, but previous Indonesian leaders had consistently rejected the idea in the face of national outcry and intense debate . The current administration’s decision to proceed with the honour, despite a public letter from around 500 civil society members, academics, and activists urging a halt to the process, has been described as a betrayal of the victims of the 'New Order' regime and a normalisation of impunity for state-sponsored violence . Protesters gathered near the presidential palace in Jakarta, carrying posters that read, 'Stop the Whitewashing of the General of Butchery' . The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (Kontras), a local rights group, stated that designating Suharto a national hero was immoral and helped to normalise impunity . The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) condemned the conferral, arguing that the title should not be bestowed upon a leader whose rule was marked by authoritarianism and human rights violations . The government, however, defended the decision, with State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi stating that it was part of honouring predecessors who had made extraordinary contributions to the nation . Culture Minister Fadli Zon, who heads the committee in charge of naming national heroes, claimed that Suharto had fulfilled all the requirements and that allegations of corruption and serious human rights abuses were unproven .

The Father of Development and the Architect of Atrocity

The controversy surrounding Suharto’s status stems from the deeply bifurcated nature of his legacy, which presents a stark contrast between economic progress and political repression . Suharto, a military officer, formally became president in 1967 after seizing control from Indonesia’s founding leader, Sukarno, following an alleged coup attempt in 1965 . His 'New Order' regime, which lasted until his resignation in 1998, is credited with steering Indonesia through three decades of sustained economic growth and political stability . Relying on American-educated economists, Suharto encouraged Western investment and foreign aid, expanded domestic oil production, and used the resulting revenues to fund infrastructure and development projects . During much of his presidency, Indonesia underwent rapid industrialisation, with the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growing at an average of approximately seven per cent per annum, leading to a substantial rise in living standards for the bulk of the population . The People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) named him the 'Father of Development' in 1982, and he was awarded the Ceres Medal by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1986 for achieving self-sufficiency in rice production . This period of economic success is the foundation for the nostalgia felt by some Indonesians today, who link the rapid improvement in living standards to his time in power .

However, the stability and development were achieved through an authoritarian state dominated by the military, which systematically suppressed civil liberties and tolerated little dissent . The regime’s darkest chapter began with the anti-communist purge of 1965–1966, which Suharto exploited to consolidate power . In this purge, the Indonesian military, often with the support of civilian militias, orchestrated the mass killing of between 500,000 and over one million people suspected of being members or sympathisers of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) . Hundreds of thousands more were imprisoned without trial, often for years, and subjected to torture, with their families facing decades of stigma and discrimination . The violence was not limited to the mid-1960s; in 1975, Suharto ordered the invasion of East Timor, beginning a brutal 24-year occupation that resulted in the deaths of an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 people from violence, starvation, and disease, according to a UN-backed commission . Military operations in regions like Aceh and West Papua were also characterised by extrajudicial killings, torture, and forced disappearances . In the 1980s, the regime was responsible for the 'mysterious shootings' (Petrus), a series of extrajudicial executions of alleged criminals, which the government later admitted was a 'shock therapy' to deter crime . The Asian Human Rights Commission has documented the extensive use of torture by the military against government critics throughout the regime .

The Culture of Corruption and Impunity

Beyond the political violence, Suharto’s rule became synonymous with widespread corruption, collusion, and nepotism (KKN), which ultimately contributed to his downfall . The regime established a system of state patronage that allowed corruption to become deeply embedded in Indonesian society, with Suharto notoriously enriching his cronies and family . Transparency International, an anti-corruption non-governmental organisation, estimated that Suharto and his family embezzled between US$15 billion and $35 billion from state funds, placing him at the top of a list of world leaders who had stolen from their countries . This 'leakage' of government spending and international aid was estimated at 20 to 30 per cent during the Suharto years, a figure that was acknowledged by international financial institutions at the time . The economic turmoil of the 1997 Asian financial crisis exposed the fragility of this patronage system, plunging the country into economic chaos and widespread unrest that ultimately forced Suharto’s resignation in May 1998 .

Despite the scale of the alleged crimes, Suharto died in 2008 without ever facing trial for either corruption or human rights abuses, with criminal charges being dropped on health grounds . His death in bed, rather than in jail, allowed him to escape personal accountability for the genocide, destruction, and corruption inflicted upon the nation . The failure of successive post-Suharto governments to prosecute the former dictator or his generals has ensured that the remnants of the 'New Order' remain a powerful force in Indonesian politics, with many of the laws and practices implemented during his rule continuing to influence the country today . The decision to grant him National Hero status is viewed by victims’ groups as the final act of official forgiveness, permanently freezing the pursuit of justice for countless victims .

The Political Echoes of the Past

The declaration of Suharto as a National Hero is inextricably linked to the political trajectory of the current head of state, President Prabowo Subianto . Prabowo, a former general, was married to Suharto’s daughter, Siti Hediati Hariyadi, from 1983 to 1998, and rose through the ranks of the Indonesian special forces unit, Kopassus, under his father-in-law’s patronage . This unit has been accused of extensive human rights abuses, and Prabowo himself was banned from travelling to the United States until 2020 . His presidency, which began one year ago, has been viewed by some political analysts as a potential return to military-dominated politics . The move to honour Suharto is interpreted as a signal that the current administration is willing to soften the public memory of Suharto’s crimes and potentially embolden the expansion of military influence . The government’s defence of the award, which includes crediting Suharto with defeating a Communist uprising and taking control of West Papua, aligns with a narrative that prioritises national stability and development over democratic accountability . The inclusion of Suharto’s name alongside other figures recognised on National Heroes Day, such as former President Abdurrahman Wahid, who revoked many of Suharto’s repressive laws, and Marsinah, a labour activist murdered during the dictatorship, highlights the deep and unresolved contradictions within Indonesia’s national memory . The decision has deepened the country’s polarisation, forcing a national debate over whether to embrace the economic growth fostered by the 'New Order' or to finally reckon with the corruption and human rights violations that defined the era .

Conclusion

The official elevation of Suharto to the status of National Hero represents a profound moment of historical revisionism for Indonesia, a nation still grappling with the unpunished crimes of its past . By honouring a figure whose rule was characterised by both economic success and mass atrocities, the government has effectively endorsed a narrative that prioritises stability and development over justice and human rights . The decision, driven by a president with deep personal and professional ties to the former dictator, risks legitimising the repressive mechanisms of the 'New Order' and sending a troubling message about the value of democratic accountability in the world’s third-largest democracy . For the victims and their families, who have spent decades seeking truth and reconciliation, the award is a final, painful confirmation that the state has chosen to forget their suffering and permanently close the door on justice . The controversy ensures that Suharto’s shadow will continue to loom large over Indonesia’s political landscape, defining the ongoing struggle between the forces of reform and the enduring echoes of authoritarianism .

References

  1. Suharto - Wikipedia

    Used to establish Suharto's rule dates, the 'Father of Development' title, the 1965-66 mass killings death toll, the East Timor invasion, and the date of the National Hero status conferral.

  2. Suharto's Legacy and the Future of Indonesia - Brookings Institution

    Used to detail the economic growth under Suharto, the role of technocrats, the high degree of nostalgia, and the lack of accountability for human rights abuses.

  3. Indonesian activists protest plan to name Suharto as national hero - Arab News

    Used to describe the protests, the coalition of activists, the specific human rights violations cited by critics, and the government's defence of the decision.

  4. Indonesia Sparks Outrage by Naming Ex-Strongman Suharto a National Hero

    Used to establish the date of the award, the link to Prabowo Subianto, the reaction of pro-democracy activists, and the political analysis of the move as historical revisionism.

  5. Indonesia declares late dictator Suharto a national hero, despite outrage from rights groups - Houston Chronicle

    Used to confirm the date, the outrage from rights groups, the link between Prabowo and Suharto (former son-in-law, special forces unit), and the quote from a victim of the 1965 purge.

  6. Indonesia names late dictator Suharto a national hero - Yahoo News Singapore

    Used to detail the ceremony, the attendance of Suharto's children, the opposition from Kontras, and the government's defence of the decision.

  7. The Controversy Over Naming Soeharto a National Hero | SBS Indonesian

    Used to cite the historian's argument against the distinction, the systematic killing of democracy, and the deep-seated corruption and nepotism (KKN).

  8. Lasting legacy of Soeharto | News - Al Jazeera

    Used to detail the death toll estimates, the crackdown on opponents in Aceh, Timor, and Papua, and the continued power of Suharto's former party and the military.

  9. Indonesia declares late dictator Suharto 'national hero' despite protests | The Independent

    Used to confirm Prabowo's role in the ceremony and the general's background as a 'hero of the struggle for independence'.

  10. Indonesia names late President Suharto national hero despite opposition - UPI

    Used to cite the strong condemnation from the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) regarding the betrayal of the constitution and the people.

  11. Indonesia declares late dictator Suharto a national hero, despite outrage from rights groups - KARE 11

    Used to cite Culture Minister Fadli Zon's specific defence of Suharto, including his role in the independence struggle and taking control of West Papua, and the inclusion of Marsinah and Wahid in the honours list.

  12. Indonesia declares late dictator Suharto a national hero, despite outrage from rights groups - SFGate

    Used to confirm Prabowo's marriage to Suharto's daughter, the US travel ban on his unit, and the inclusion of Marsinah and Wahid in the honours list.

  13. Indonesia Honours Suharto, Sparking Outrage Over Brutal Legacy | Streamline Feed

    Used to establish the date of the declaration, the condemnation from human rights groups, the mass killing death toll, the East Timor occupation death toll, and the documentation of torture by the Asian Human Rights Commission.

  14. Suharto | Indonesian Dictator & 2nd President | Britannica

    Used to detail Suharto's rise to power, the economic policies of the New Order, the average annual GDP growth, and the restriction of civil liberties.

  15. Indonesia grants national hero status to late strongman President Suharto - CNA

    Used to confirm the date, the nature of the rule (mass human rights violations, corruption, nepotism), and the role of Prabowo in the ceremony.

  16. ETAN on Death of Suharto - East Timor and Indonesia Action Network

    Used to cite the specific death toll estimates for the 1965 purge, West Papua, and East Timor, and the estimated range of stolen funds (US$15-35 billion).

  17. Suharto's Legacy | Down to Earth

    Used to detail the anti-communist purge, the policy of dwi fungsi, the East Timor death toll, the 'leakage' of government spending, and the Transparency International corruption estimate.

  18. Analysis: Soeharto, national hero? Rehabilitating corruption, repression - The Jakarta Post

    Used to detail the 'mysterious shootings' (Petrus), the political significance of the move as a rehabilitation of corruption and repression, and the inclusion of political rivals and victims in the honours list.