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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Efforts to designate former Indonesian president Soeharto as a national hero have progressed smoothly during President Prabowo Subianto's leadership. Today, coinciding with Heroes' Day, his son-in-law, President Prabowo, will announce the names bestowed with the title of national hero, one of whom is Soeharto.State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi stated that Soeharto will be bestowed with the title of national hero alongside nine other candidates at the State Palace in Jakarta on November 10, 2025. He considered this title as a form of homage to those deemed to have exceptional services to the nation and state."We respect our predecessors, especially leaders who undoubtedly have extraordinary services to the nation and state," stated Prasetyo after attending a limited meeting at Prabowo's residence in Kertanegara, South Jakarta, on Sunday, November 9, 2025.Soeharto's name was proposed three timesAn initiative to designate Soeharto as a national hero has been underway since 2010, two years after Soeharto passed away in 2008. At that time, Central Java Governor Bibit Waluyo and Karanganyar Regent Rina Iriani Sri Ratnaningsih proposed Soeharto as a candidate national hero from Central Java.According to Bibit, Soeharto is considered worthy of the title of national hero as he is deemed to have made significant contributions to the nation's development.In 2016, Soeharto's name was again proposed as a candidate national hero. This time, Golkar Party, through an Extraordinary National Consultative Assembly, deemed the former Chairman of the Golkar Party as worthy of being bestowed with the title of national hero. The reason being, Soeharto is perceived to have made significant contributions to the nation and state.A few years later, in 2024, Soeharto's name was once again proposed. This time, Bambang Sadono Center proposed Soeharto as a candidate national hero to the Central Java Provincial Government. Bambang Sadono, the founder of Bambang Sadono Center, is a politician from the Golkar Party.The proposal was then accepted by the Ministry of Social Affairs. Social Empowerment Director General of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Mira Riyati Kurniasih, stated that there were ten names proposed to receive the title of national hero, including Soeharto."For 2025, we received ten proposals. Four new proposals and six previous year proposals," Mira said in March 2025.Soeharto's name was previously rejected as a national heroThe designation of Soeharto as a national hero did not progress smoothly. Since being proposed in 2010, the proposal has repeatedly been declared unacceptable. The consideration is that the proposal to designate Soeharto with the title of national hero is considered premature.In 2016, the government also stated its inability to accept the proposal to designate Soeharto as a national hero. One of the considerations was the controversy surrounding Soeharto's track record during his 32-year rule and Decree or TAP MPR Number XI 1998, which stated that Soeharto and his cronies were a corrupt, collusive, and nepotistic government.The proposal to designate Soeharto as a national hero finally saw progress after the MPR removed Soeharto's name from Decree MPR Number 11/MPR/1998 during the MPR leadership meeting on September 23, 2024.The removal of Soeharto's name from the decree was proposed by the Golkar Party Faction in the MPR. Several weeks after Soeharto's name was removed, Bambang Sadono Center proposed Soeharto as a candidate national hero to the Central Java Provincial Government.Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf stated that Soeharto meets the requirements to receive the title of national hero. The Center for Title Research and Assessment (TP2GP) claimed that Soeharto has met the requirements since the proposal in 2010 and 2016.Criticism accompanies the designation of Soeharto as a national heroSince Soeharto's name was proposed as a candidate for the title of national hero, criticisms from civil society coalition have been continuous. The 'Adili Soeharto Movement' or Gemas, for instance, deemed Soeharto unfit to be bestowed with the title of national hero due to his bad track record during his rule.Gemas representative, Axel Primayoga, stated that Soeharto was involved in human rights violations and corruption, collusion, and nepotism. He stated that this track record makes Soeharto unsuitable to receive the title of national hero.Resistance to the proposal to bestow the title of national hero upon Soeharto was also expressed by academician and Catholic priest Franz Magnis-Suseno. He stated that Soeharto's involvement in alleged corruption during the New Order era makes him unworthy of becoming a national hero."Soeharto committed massive corruption. He enriched his family, others, his close associates, and enriched himself. This does not make him a national hero," stated Father Magnis during a discussion on Rejecting the Title of Hero for Soeharto at the YLBHI Building, Jakarta, on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.Bestowal of the title of national hero to Soeharto along with Marsinah and Gus DurIn addition to Soeharto, other names set to be bestowed with the title of national hero are the 4th president Abdurrahman Wahid alias Gus Dur and labor figure Marsinah. Public Virtue Research Institute or PVRI researcher Alva Maldini stated that the names Gus Dur and Marsinah entered the nominations because they represent the labor force and democratic icons.However, when these two names are compared with Soeharto in a situation where militarism is strengthening and civil freedom is narrowing, there is a risk of Gus Dur and Marsinah's names being merely an apology."There is a risk that these two names become an apologia for the current situation or even become a political bargaining chip," stated Alva on Sunday, October 26, 2025.PVRI Executive Director Muhammad Naziful Haq believes that in a situation that has caused the erosion of democracy, the government should choose a figure who is more appropriate or has the significance of historical democracy and reform. Soeharto is not the right nomination for the title of national hero."Historically, Soeharto is part of past authoritarianism that betrayed the ideals of independence," stated Naziful.Claimed to be uninvolved in human rights violation casesAfter being declared qualified, Soeharto's name was then submitted to the Head of the Title Council and Minister of Culture Fadli Zon. The Gerindra Party politician stated that Soeharto is deserving of being bestowed with the title of national hero because there is no evidence of involvement in the 1965-1966 genocide."We are talking about history and facts, what are the facts? There are none, right?" stated Fadli at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on November 5.Editor's Choice: YLBHI: National Hero Title for Soeharto Contradicts Law and Human RightsClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
