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View all search resultsPrabowo honors Soeharto, raising fears of authoritarian resurgence
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Children of former President Suharto Bambang Trihatmodjo (left), Siti Hardijanti Rukmana (center), and Siti Hediati Hariyadi (right), who is also the former wife of Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto, attend a ceremony held to mark the National Heroes Day at the State Palace in Jakarta on Nov. 10, 2025. Indonesia added former president Suharto to a list of national heroes during a ceremony on Nov. 10, despite objections from activists and academics over the deceased military dictator's human rights record. (AFP/Bay Ismoyo)
T
wenty-seven years after his fall from power, President Prabowo Subianto has moved to restore his former father-in-law’s reputation by declaring Soeharto a national hero, reigniting debate over the late strongman’s repressive three-decade rule.
At a ceremony at the State Palace on Monday to mark National Heroes Day, Prabowo bestowed the National Hero title on Soeharto, with his eldest daughter Siti Hardijanti “Tutut” Rukmana and son Bambang Trihatmodjo receiving the honor on his behalf.
Soeharto was among ten figures granted the distinction, joining nationalists and activists recognized for their service to the country, such as late president Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid who was known as a champion of pluralism and moderate Islam and slain labor activist Marsinah.
During the ceremony, Soeharto, who held the rank of five-star general-was described as a figure in Indonesia’s independence struggle.
“As deputy commander of the People’s Security Agency [BKR] in Yogyakarta, he led the disarmament of Japanese troops in Kotabaru in 1945,” an announcer said, referring to the BKR, the precursor to the Indonesian Military (TNI).
Read also: ‘Betraying reformasi’: Survivors of human rights cases oppose plan to name Soeharto hero
Prabowo later emphasized that the 10 posthumous awardees had “sacrificed everything for the independence, sovereignty and honor of the Indonesian nation”.
