Jakarta – The Indonesian Caucus for Academic Freedom (KIKA) has rejected the proposal to name Indonesia's second president Suharto a national hero.

The proposal to name former president Suharto a national hero is a policy that is blind to history and defies the law. During his 32 years in power, Suharto ruled over an authoritarian and corrupt regime, with a record of gross human rights violations.

On Thursday October 30, the Civil Society Movement to Bring Suharto to Justice (GEMAS), which consists of victims of gross human rights violations, individuals and civil society organisations, officially sent an open letter urging the chairperson of the Titles, Service and Honorary Medals Board (GTK

Jakarta – A number of historians and civil society groups have criticised the proposal that the late 2nd President of the Republic of Indonesia, Suharto, be awarded the title of national hero.

Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka took up a populist platform during the election campaign, garnering the full support from the oligarchy and mainstream political parties, and ultimately secured a victory in the 2024 presidential election.

Responding to the inclusion of the name of the second president of the Republic of Indonesia, Suharto, on the list of candidates for the title of national hero, Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid said:

Jakarta – Civil Society Movement to Bring Suharto to Justice (GEMAS) says that the proposal by the Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos), Saifullah Yusuf alias Gus Ipul, for the 2nd President of the Republic of Indonesia, Suharto to be named a national hero

Nicholas Ryan Aditya, Ardito Ramadhan, Jakarta – Amnesty says that the first year of the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has been marked by paradoxical public policies and a decline in respect for human rig

Irfan Kamil, Jessi Carina, Jakarta – Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) Chairperson Muhammad Isnur has criticised the upholding of human rights and democracy in the first year of the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice Pre

60 years ago, Lieutenant General Suharto and the Army under his command began the massacre and extermination of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI). The reason was that the PKI was accused of carrying out the murder of several of Army generals and a coup against the Indonesian government.