Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) criticizes the bestowal of the national hero title to former president Soeharto. This bestowal is considered not only a betrayal to the victims and democracy, but also to the reformation.
Chair of YLBHI, Muhammad Isnur, stated that the bestowal of the national hero title should be awarded to figures who truly fought for independence, justice, humanity, and the sovereignty of the people, not to an authoritarian leader.
"The bestowal of the national hero title to Soeharto is legally and human rights-wise contradictory," said Isnur in a written statement on Monday, November 10, 2025.
He explained that there are at least four laws and decisions of the Supreme Court that have been violated in the bestowal of the national hero title to the former Commander of the Army Strategic Reserves Command.
Firstly, Isnur said, Presidential Decree Number 17 of 2022 acknowledged the occurrence of severe human rights violations in various events leading to genocide. Soeharto, he said, was responsible for these events, such as the 1965-1966 events.
He continued by mentioning the mysterious shootings of 1982-1985; the Talangsari incident in Lampung in 1989; the Rumoh Geudong and Pos Sattis incidents in Aceh in 1989; forced disappearances of people in 1997-1998; the May 1998 riots; and the Trisakti and Semanggi tragedies in 1998.
Isnur mentioned that the Decree of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) X/1998 also stated that during 32 years in power, Soeharto and his New Order regime committed deviations such as abuse of power, legal harassment, neglect of justice, lack of protection, and legal certainty for the public.
"Then the Decree of MPR XI/1998 stated that Soeharto and his government were full of corruption, collusion, and nepotism," said Isnur.
Moreover, he stated, the Supreme Court Decision Number 140 PK/Pdt/2015 declared that the Supersemar Soeharto Foundation had engaged in unlawful acts and was obliged to pay US$315,002,183 or around Rp4.4 trillion based on the exchange rate at the time to the government.
Isnur added that the bestowal of the national hero title to Soeharto further indicates Prabowo Subianto's regime as a government that betrays the constitution and hurts the people by committing despicable actions. "YLBHI strongly condemns the bestowal of the national hero title to Soeharto," he said.
Today, coinciding with the Heroes Day, Prabowo is scheduled to announce ten candidate names who will be bestowed with the national hero title. Soeharto is one of the ten names set to receive the title.
State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi mentioned that the bestowal of the national hero title to Soeharto and others is a form of honoring those who are considered to have provided extraordinary services to the nation and state.
"How we honor our predecessors, especially leaders, who undoubtedly have made extraordinary contributions to the nation and state," said the Gerindra Party politician after attending a limited meeting at Prabowo's residence in Kertanegara, Jakarta, on Sunday, November 9, 2025.