November 10, 2025 | 10:18 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto is set to confer the title of National Hero on former president Soeharto in a ceremony at the State Palace, Central Jakarta, on Monday, November 10, 2025.
The move has drawn both domestic and international attention, given Soeharto’s controversial legacy as one of Asia’s longest-ruling authoritarian leaders.
State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi said Soeharto is among ten figures selected to receive the National Hero title this year.
“Around ten names will receive the National Hero title,” Prasetyo said after attending a limited meeting at Prabowo’s residence in Kertanegara, South Jakarta, on Sunday, November 9. When asked whether Soeharto was among the names, he replied, “Yes, included. Included.”
Prasetyo, who also serves on the Gerindra Party’s Central Board, said the award recognizes the exceptional service and dedication of the nation’s past leaders.
“It is our way of honoring our predecessors, especially leaders, who have made extraordinary contributions to the nation and the state,” he said.
During the same meeting, Minister of Culture Fadli Zon briefed President Prabowo on the final preparations for the ceremony.
Prasetyo noted that Prabowo had sought and received recommendations from various figures, including the Chair of the People’s Consultative Assembly and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. The president also appointed several envoys to gather input from public figures.
“It is expected that what will be decided by the President and the government has gone through various inputs and careful consideration,” Fadli Zon said.
The plan to grant Soeharto the National Hero title has sparked widespread criticism and protests from civil society groups.
Several organizations have voiced strong opposition, arguing that Soeharto’s legacy of authoritarianism, corruption, and human rights abuses makes him unfit for the honor.
On Thursday, November 6, members of the Civil Society Movement for Justice for Soeharto (Gemas) staged a protest outside the Ministry of Culture office in Jakarta, demanding the government revoke the plan.
Gemas representative Axel Primayoga said awarding Soeharto the title would “tarnish the meaning of heroism” in Indonesia.
He accused the former leader of being responsible for serious human rights violations as well as corruption, collusion, and nepotism.
“Soeharto’s rule was marked by repression and the silencing of public dissent. From 1965 to May 1998, and even beyond, thousands of lives were unjustly taken,” Axel said.
Prominent Catholic priest and philosopher Franz Magnis-Suseno has also criticized the plan. Speaking in a discussion titled Rejecting Soeharto’s National Hero Title at the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) building in Jakarta on Tuesday, November 4, he said Soeharto’s legacy of corruption disqualifies him from such recognition.
“Soeharto committed massive corruption. He enriched himself, his family, and his close associates. That is not the act of a national hero,” said Romo Magnis.
He further stated that Soeharto bore responsibility for the 1965–1966 massacres, which claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. “A true national hero does not commit unethical acts, let alone crimes,” he said.
Sultan Abdurrahman contributed to the writing of this article.
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