In a move that has ignited a fierce national debate on historical memory and justice, President Prabowo Subianto officially bestowed the title of National Hero upon Indonesia's second president, General Suharto, during a ceremony at the State Palace on 10 November 2025.
The award was accepted by Suharto's children, Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana (Tutut) and Bambang Trihatmodjo. Political analysts understand the decision as a calculated maneuver to utilize his current dominance over political parties before his influence potentially wanes, while also appealing to a significant demographic that views the New Order era with nostalgia.
The government justified the appointment by highlighting Suharto's contributions to the struggle for independence and his role in stabilizing the nation's economy during his 32-year rule. Culture Minister Fadli Zon defended the decision by publicly dismissing allegations of Suharto's involvement in the 1965 anti-communist purge, challenging critics to provide "historical facts" linking the former dictator to the genocide. This narrative is bolstered by recent data from the Populi Center, which indicates that a majority of Indonesians across generations associate Suharto with strong leadership and low inflation, largely overlooking the authoritarian aspects of his regime.
The ceremony was marked by a stark historical irony. Alongside Suharto, the title of National Hero was also awarded to Marsinah, a labour activist murdered in 1993 under suspicious military-linked circumstances, and Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur), a reformist leader who helped dismantle the New Order. Critics and historians argue that grouping these figures together is a confusing attempt to rewrite history. Historians warned that this move signals the "death of the spirit of Reformasi," fearing it legitimizes past state violence and obscures the human rights violations investigated and documented by the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).
The decision has triggered immediate backlash across the archipelago. Protests led by student groups and human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International and the "Jogja Memanggil" coalition, erupted in Indonesian cities including Yogyakarta and Gorontalo. Demonstrators condemned the appointment as a betrayal of the 1998 Reform movement and an insult to the millions of victims of the New Order regime. Activists argue that by elevating the perpetrator of serious human rights abuses to the status of a National Hero, the Government challenges the very foundations of Indonesia's modern democracy.