Adhyasta Dirgantara, Dani Prabowo, Jakarta – 98 activist and Central Tapanuli Regent Masinton Pasaribu says that labour figure Marsinah is more deserving of the title of national hero than the 2nd president of Indonesia Suharto. "Yes, of course", said Pasaribu at the JS Luwansa Hotel in South Jakarta on Wednesday May 21.
Pasaribu explained that Marsinah is a symbol of the struggle of the common people and oppressed workers. Because, throughout her life she always fought for the rights of and justice for workers.
"So for us, Marsinah is a fighter, a fighter who fought for the rights of workers who are oppressed by the power of capital, and also the power of capital that collaborates with power", he said.
"We must protect workers' rights too, both their economic rights and also their political rights in fighting for their aspirations", added Pasaribu.
As is known, it has been proposed that Suharto be named a national hero in 2025. A number of parties however have criticised the proposal because he is considered to have many dark marks in the past.
Meanwhile, it has also been proposed that Marsinah be named a national hero in 2025. The proposal was conveyed by the labour groups to President Prabowo Subianto when he attended a commemoration of International Labour Day in Jakarta on May 1.
Notes
Despite Prabowo's May Day pledge to support Marsinah being named a national hero – which has been criticised as image building and a way to blunt public opposition to naming Suharto a national hero – on May 20 Kompas.com reported that according to Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf it will be impossible for this realised this year. "Not yet. It is still being processed in society. It [the proposal] should come from the district first, then to the province, then to the centre. So for this year it is not possible because it has not entered the formal process yet", said Yusuf following at meeting at the House of Representatives (DPR) building on Tuesday May 20.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Marsinah Disebut Lebih Layak Jadi Pahlawan Nasional daripada Soeharto".]
