🔵 Progressive Analysis
Indonesia makes former president Soeharto posthumous national hero
🤖 AI-Generated Illustration by Mobile Digest
In a shocking and deeply troubling move, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has posthumously awarded former dictator Suharto the title of national hero. This decision is a blatant betrayal of the countless victims who suffered under Suharto's brutal 32-year reign and a grave insult to the democra...
In a shocking and deeply troubling move, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has posthumously awarded former dictator Suharto the title of national hero. This decision is a blatant betrayal of the countless victims who suffered under Suharto's brutal 32-year reign and a grave insult to the democratic principles that Indonesia has struggled to uphold since his downfall in 1998.
Suharto's regime was marked by widespread human rights abuses, systemic corruption, and the suppression of political dissent. Under his authoritarian rule, an estimated 500,000 to 1 million people were killed during the 1965-1966 anti-communist purges, while countless others were imprisoned, tortured, or disappeared. Suharto's family and cronies amassed enormous wealth through corrupt business practices, while millions of Indonesians languished in poverty.
President Subianto's decision to honor Suharto is particularly egregious given his own familial ties to the former dictator - Subianto is Suharto's former son-in-law. This nepotistic act raises serious questions about the current government's commitment to accountability, transparency, and justice for those who suffered under Suharto's regime.
Moreover, this posthumous award sends a dangerous message to the world that authoritarianism and human rights abuses can be whitewashed and celebrated with impunity. It undermines Indonesia's progress towards becoming a more equitable and democratic society, and it reopens old wounds for those who have yet to see justice served.
Activists and civil society organizations are right to condemn this decision. It is crucial that the Indonesian government listens to these voices and reconsiders this misguided act. Instead of glorifying a dictator, Indonesia must confront its dark past, hold those responsible for abuses accountable, and work towards building a more just and inclusive future for all its citizens. Only then can the nation truly honor the sacrifices of those who fought against tyranny and oppression.
Suharto's regime was marked by widespread human rights abuses, systemic corruption, and the suppression of political dissent. Under his authoritarian rule, an estimated 500,000 to 1 million people were killed during the 1965-1966 anti-communist purges, while countless others were imprisoned, tortured, or disappeared. Suharto's family and cronies amassed enormous wealth through corrupt business practices, while millions of Indonesians languished in poverty.
President Subianto's decision to honor Suharto is particularly egregious given his own familial ties to the former dictator - Subianto is Suharto's former son-in-law. This nepotistic act raises serious questions about the current government's commitment to accountability, transparency, and justice for those who suffered under Suharto's regime.
Moreover, this posthumous award sends a dangerous message to the world that authoritarianism and human rights abuses can be whitewashed and celebrated with impunity. It undermines Indonesia's progress towards becoming a more equitable and democratic society, and it reopens old wounds for those who have yet to see justice served.
Activists and civil society organizations are right to condemn this decision. It is crucial that the Indonesian government listens to these voices and reconsiders this misguided act. Instead of glorifying a dictator, Indonesia must confront its dark past, hold those responsible for abuses accountable, and work towards building a more just and inclusive future for all its citizens. Only then can the nation truly honor the sacrifices of those who fought against tyranny and oppression.