On Thursday April 10 the Civil Society Movement to Bring Suharto to Justice (GEMAS), which is made up of families of victims of gross human rights violations, a network of civil society organisations and individuals, submitted an open letter to the Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) rejecting the proposal to award the title of national hero to Indonesia's second president Suharto.
We base this rejection on Suharto's terrible and bloody track record during his 32 years as president. He committed violence against civilians, human rights violations, even gross human rights violations, abuse of authority and power and committed practices of corruption, collusion, and nepotism (KKN).
Based on an article posted on the Ministry of Social Affairs website, the ministry's Directorate General of Social Empowerment along with the Central Titles Research and Assessment Team (TP2GP) are currently discussing the names that will be proposed for the title of national hero, with Suharto's name included as one of them.
The time limit on proposals is April 11, 2025. After the verification stage, a TP2GP plenary session will submit recommendations for the proposed candidates from the Minister of Social Affairs to the president. The president will then select a list of names from those submitted to be awarded the title of national hero.
The proposal to grant the title of national hero on Suharto is problematic and is an attempt to erase history and whitewash the crimes he has committed. Moreover, following reformasi – the political reform process that began following Suharto's resignation in 1998 – the state acknowledged Suharto's bloody and terrible track record in the form of gross human rights violations and KKN practices which were included People's Consultative Assembly Decree (TAP MPR) Number IV/MPR/1999 on the General Outlines of State Policy (GBHN) 1999-2004 and MPR TAP MPR Number XI/MPR/1998 on a State Administration that is Clean and Free from Corruption, Collusion and Nepotism.
It is worth considering that efforts to encourage improvements in the country and the life of the nation following Suharto's authoritarian New Order regime should be the basis for organising state affairs in the spirit of being anti-KKN, prioritising the strengthening of democracy and the rule of law, and based on human rights values and chivalrous role models, and not tolerating individuals who have harmed the Republic of Indonesia.
This is also important for the rights and dignity of the families of victims of gross human rights violations and human rights violations who are still waiting for justice, as well as the future of the younger generation who do not normalise violence.
Jakarta, April 10, 2025
Civil Society Movement to Try Suharto
Contact person: 082175794518
Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Siaran Pers Tolak Gelar Pahlawan untuk Soeharto: Penjahat Tidak Layak diberi Gelar Pahlawan!".]
