JAKARTA: Indonesian activists are rallying against a government proposal to name as national hero the late military ruler Suharto who led the country for over three decades.
Suharto’s New Order military dictatorship was considered one of the most brutal and corrupt of the 20th century. The former president, who died in 2008, held power for 32 years before student-led protests forced him to step down in 1998, amid an economic crisis and deadly riots in Jakarta.
He was included in a list of 49 candidates to receive the national hero title this year, an honor bestowed annually on National Heroes’ Day on Nov. 10 for those considered to have made a significant contribution to the country.
The plan, which has yet to be finalized, has sparked protests among members of Indonesia’s civil society, who pointed to widespread allegations of human rights abuses and corruption during Suharto’s regime.
“In his 32-year reign, Suharto committed many human rights violations. He also came to power through a coup … corruption, collusion, and nepotism were also widespread during his rule,” Damairia Pakpahan, an Indonesian women’s rights activist based in Yogyakarta, told Arab News.
