JAKARTA – Indonesia has officially named former president Suharto, the country’s second leader, a national hero, sparking protests from activists and human rights advocates. The decision was made under President Prabowo Subianto, Suharto’s former son-in-law, who took office last year.
Suharto, who ruled Indonesia for 32 years before being ousted during the 1998 Asian financial crisis, oversaw a period of rapid economic growth and political stability, but his tenure was also marked by mass killings, human rights violations, and allegations of corruption. Historians estimate roughly 500,000 people were killed during anti-communist purges in the mid-1960s, though the killings were never officially investigated.
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A military officer by background, Suharto came to power after ousting Indonesia’s first president, Sukarno, and later led a brutal invasion of East Timor in 1975. His anti-communist stance earned him support from Western nations, including the United States, while his family was suspected of amassing up to $45 billion in wealth, though charges were never proven.
Despite his controversial legacy, Suharto’s party, Golkar, remains politically influential, backing Prabowo’s presidency and holding key ministerial positions. Suharto’s former daughter-in-law and parliamentarian, Siti Hediati Hariyadi, also maintains a prominent role in politics.
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Critics argue that the designation risks whitewashing history and undermining Indonesia’s democratic progress. Activists, including families of victims from Suharto’s rule, continue to call for accountability for past abuses.