Anger the controversial plan coincides with anime flag movement, seen as a critique on the decline of democratic freedoms under President Prabowo
I
ndonesia has delayed plans to publish a set of controversial history books amid backlash from historians and activists who have accused the project of being an attempt to downplay past atrocities, and represents “historical amnesia”.
In May Indonesia’s culture minister Fadli Zon announced the planned release of a 10-volume “official history” project. The set of new books would remove colonial bias, feature updated research, promote national pride and have a “positive” tone, he said.
But the initiative sparked fears the books may omit significant events in Indonesia’s history, including those involving the president, Prabowo Subianto.
