Wahyuni, 46, from Tanjung Barat in South Jakarta, said her family decided to rise an Indonesian flag at half-mast in front of their home in recognition of the seven-day national mourning period.

"We also did it because we have respected Pak Harto for a long time. He is viewed as a hero by many people," she told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Margaretha Betty, who lives in Muara Karang, North Jakarta, said Soeharto was one of her idols.

"That is why I decided to fly the national flag at half-mast yesterday," the 43-year-old woman said.

Ahmad Zen said he hoisted the national flag after he learnt of the government's instructions.

"I believe Soeharto deserves our last respects," said the 58-year-old from Pulo Gadung in East Jakarta.

As a local community unit head, he said he asked residents in his neighborhood to also fly the Indonesian flag at half-mast.

"But the decision to do so is up to them. As for me, I did it because I respect Pak Harto.

"I wanted to show other residents that we should appreciate our former president," the retired civil servant added.

However, not all residents in the neighborhood agreed with him.

"I don't think it's necessary to hoist the national flag at our home," Andhika Napitupulu said.

"I thought the instruction only applied to offices and institutions," the 24-year-old marketing officer said.

Like Andhika, Michael Onank, a resident from Palmerah in Central Jakarta, said the instruction to hoist the national flag at half-mast was too much.

"It doesn't seem important to express our condolences that way."

Michael, an employee at a privately owned company, said he received a text message from his activist friend, saying that people should not hoist the national flag for Soeharto.

"I was told that as a member of the young generation, I should not show any support for human rights violators like Soeharto, as he was responsible for the killings of 1966," he said, adding that he agreed with his friend.

Soeharto is believed by many to be responsible for the deaths of some 500,000 alleged communists following the abortive coup attempt of 1965.

Sociologist Imam B. Prasodjo from the University of Indonesia said Jakarta's residents were divided on Soeharto's legacy because he ruled the country for many years, which were filled with ups and downs.

"Some moments were fantastic, while others angered people. People will react according to what moments affected them the most," he said.

Imam said those who were not directly affected by Soeharto's alleged crimes would remember him as a leader who deserved high appreciation, while those who suffered from his "brutal" policies would think the opposite.

Imam said the country had been suffering from economic and political difficulties since Soeharto stepped down in 1998.

"With the difficulties people are facing today, they may compare the present time with life during the Soeharto era. They may become nostalgic, especially now he has passed away," he said. (dia)

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