Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle or PDIP has stated that it does not question the conferral of the national hero title to the 4th President Abdurrahman Wahid alias Gus Dur, labor activist Marsinah, and eight others. PDIP politician, Guntur Romli, said that his party only questions the bestowal of the national hero title to former President Soeharto.
"For us, bestowing the national hero title to Soeharto is the same as betraying the 1998 Reform," said Guntur in a WhatsApp message on Tuesday, November 11, 2025.
He continued, questioning how it is possible for labor activists like Marsinah and Gus Dur, who are considered pluralist and democratic figures, to be equated with Soeharto, who is seen as a representation of an authoritarian government. Moreover, Guntur stated that Soeharto, who was the leader ousted by his people in the 1998 Reform, should not be awarded the national hero title.
"The state and government should demand compensation amounting to trillions from Soeharto and his heirs in accordance with the court's decision, instead of awarding the national hero title," said Guntur.
President Prabowo Subianto remains firm in bestowing Soeharto with the national hero title amid intense criticism and public rejection. The decision to confer the national hero title is stipulated in Presidential Decree Number 116/TK/2025 regarding the Bestowal of the National Hero Title.
Chairman of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) Muhammad Isnur said Soeharto had a bad track record during his 32 years in power. He emphasized that conferring the national hero title to 'The Smiling General' violates law and human rights.
He explained that at least 4 regulations and judgments of the Supreme Court were violated in the effort to bestow the national hero title to the former Commander of the Army Strategic Reserves Command.
First, Isnur said, Presidential Decree Number 17 of 2022 acknowledged severe human rights violations in various incidents, leading to genocide. He stated that Soeharto was responsible for these incidents, for example, during the events of 1965-1966.
Then, he continued, the mysterious shooting incidents from 1982-1985; the Talangsari incident in Lampung in 1989; the Rumoh Geudong and Pos Sattis incidents in Aceh in 1989; enforced disappearances in 1997-1998; the May 1998 riots; and the Trisakti and Semanggi tragedies in 1998.
Isnur said, the Decree or TAP MPR X 1998 also mentioned that during his 32 years in power, Soeharto and his New Order regime committed deviations such as abuse of power, legal violations, neglect of justice, lack of protection, and legal certainty for the people. "Then TAP MPR XI 1998 stating that Soeharto and his government were full of corruption, collusion, and nepotism," said Isnur.
Furthermore, he said, Supreme Court Decision Number 140 PK/Pdt/2015 stated that the Supersemar Soeharto Foundation had acted against the law and was obliged to pay a sum of US$315,002,183 or about Rp4.4 trillion based on the exchange rate at the time to the government.
Isnur added that the bestowal of the hero title to Soeharto further indicates the Prabowo Subianto regime as a government that betrays the constitution and hurts the people by committing despicable acts. He stated that during his reign, Soeharto was also proven to have engaged in corrupt practices. This was reinforced by the Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative report from the UNODC and the World Bank in 2007, which placed Soeharto as the most corrupt leader of the 20th century. "YLBHI strongly condemns the bestowal of the hero title to Soeharto," he said.