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President commends pluralism icon Franz Magnis-Suseno
Well-deserved: President Joko âJokowiâ Widodo bestowed the Bintang Mahaputra Utama medal to the German-born philosopher Franz Magnis-Suseno during a ceremony in the State Palace on Thursday
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Well-deserved: President Joko âJokowiâ Widodo bestowed the Bintang Mahaputra Utama medal to the German-born philosopher Franz Magnis-Suseno during a ceremony in the State Palace on Thursday. Jokowi gave a total of 46 medals of honor to politicians, civil servants and other noted figures for their contribution to the country as part of the celebration of the countryâs 70 years as an independent nation.(State Secretary/Cahyo Bruri Sasmito) (State Secretary/Cahyo Bruri Sasmito)
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span class="caption">Well-deserved: President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo bestowed the Bintang Mahaputra Utama medal to the German-born philosopher Franz Magnis-Suseno during a ceremony in the State Palace on Thursday. Jokowi gave a total of 46 medals of honor to politicians, civil servants and other noted figures for their contribution to the country as part of the celebration of the country's 70 years as an independent nation.(State Secretary/Cahyo Bruri Sasmito)
President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo has commended philosopher and Catholic priest Franz Magnis-Suseno to mark the country's 70th Independence Day.
The President presented the Bintang Mahaputra Utama, the nation's third-highest civilian honor, to Franz and another 17 prominent figures at the Presidential Palace on Thursday.
An expert in Indonesian politics and Javanese ethics, based at the philosophy college STF Driyarkara, Franz has been among the country's most prominent champions of pluralism and one of its leading lights in the fight against corruption.
'I think the government should consistently fight against corruption. It's a long-term challenge. I hope the government does not get tired and remains on this path,' he said after receiving the award.
He also said that he would remain critical to the government even after he receives the award.
In total, the President gave accolades to 45 figures, including former government officials, businessmen and cultural icons.
The government awarded the Bintang Mahaputra Adipradana, the second-highest civilian honor, to former Constitutional Court chief justice Hamdan Zoelva, former Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. (ret) Moeldoko and former National Police chiefs Gen. (ret) Sutanto and Suroyo Bimantoro.
Hamdan is known for his firm leadership in handling the presidential election dispute last year when former presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto challenged the victory of then President-elect Jokowi.
Sutanto was the police chief and former State Intelligence Agency head during the administration of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, while Suroyo is a former police chief who refused to be dismissed during the administration of former president Abdurrahman Wahid.
The Bintang Mahaputra Utama was awarded to Franz, along with 17 other former leading officials in the Constitututional Court, the Judicial Commission and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
Among the officials are former KPK commissioner Busyro Muqoddas and former presidential special envoy for poverty eradication Harbrinderjit Singh Dillon.
Former Muhammadiyah leader Ahmad Syafii Maarif, who is a close confidant of Jokowi, also received the award while the only businessperson awarded under this category was media mogul and NasDem Party chairman Surya Paloh.
Other figures who also received awards under various categories were author Goenawan Mohamad, Central Surabaya mayor Tri Risma Harini, West Java governor Ahmad Heryawan and Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo.
Honoring prominent citizens has been a tradition for Indonesian presidents in the days leading up to the country's Independence Day, which falls on Aug. 17.
The honors are usually given to those who have made significant contributions to the country.
But the awards often incur criticism because it can also be used by a president to honor political allies and closest aides.
Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, for example, awarded not only his closest aides but also his wife, Ani Yudhoyono.
The country's sixth president awarded a total of 71 people in 2014, the last year of his tenure.
