President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono named two National Heroes on Thursday: physician Johannes Leimena and Indonesian Army officer Johannes Abraham Dimara. Not named were former presidents Soeharto or Gus Dur.

Honorary Title and Order-of-Merit Council member Jimly Asshiddiqie said the two figures were “meritorious commanders and heroes” during the nation’s struggle for independence.

“It’s been some time since their deaths and we have to honor what they have done for this country,” said Jimly, the former head of the Constutional Court.

Leimena, born in 1905, was an internist who was deeply in Indonesia’s independence struggle before 1945 and laid the groundwork of the country’s first public health policies.

The Mollucan native was health minister during the first decade of the country’s independence.

Under his tenure, the nation develope...