Eko Ari Wibowo/TNR, Jakarta – Former leftist activist in the 1998 political turmoil that brought Soeharto's military regime down, Budiman Sudjatmiko condemned the television ad of the Prosperous Justice Party which put former President Soeharto in equal position with the nation's independence heroes.

Budiman retorted to the ad on Monday "Soeharto is not entitled to the status of the nation's guru." Budiman said further, extensive corruption and violence against political dissents during Soeharto's six presidential term plus one emergency term after the 1965 failed coup attempt by the Indonesia Communist Party, should shun the man from getting a status of the nation's guru or hero.

The candidate of legislator from the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle said the move by the Prosperous Justice Party have turned the party's face to a non-reformist party and proved that the party does not respect the victims of human rights violations and the victims corruption.

PKS responded to the comments through Fahri Hamzah, also a former activist from the 1998 revolution. Fahri said on Monday all the former president are entitled to the status and as one among them, Soeharto had affected a period in the nation's history, corruption and human rights violation in the "New Order" era should be left behind to look to the future to develop the nation.

Golkar Party, set up in 1964 to counter the Indonesia Communist Party in 1964 which then become ruling party during Soeharto lengthy term and proposed national hero for Soeharto, hailed the ad on Monday. A reserved tone by a senior member of the party Priyo Budi Susilo on Monday invited the Prosperous Justice Party to prove the ad is not just a step to increase support for the party by supporting the proposal to name Soeharto a national hero.