Ken Setiawan and Lailly Prihatiningtyas - Soeharto as National Hero

About this episode

The episode discusses the implications of Suharto's posthumous designation as a national hero in Indonesia.

On 10 November 2025, Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto made a controversial decision that reignited divisions in Indonesian society: he posthumously designated former President Suharto as a pahlawan nasional or a ‘national hero.’ Suharto seized power in 1965 during a period of violent upheaval and ruled Indonesia for over three decades until 1998, presiding over what he called the "New Order" regime. His rule brought rapid economic development, lifting millions out of poverty and transforming Indonesia into a regional power. But it was also marked by systematic human rights violations, including the mass killings of alleged communists in 1965-66, as well as brutal crackdowns in East Timor, Aceh, and West Papua. His regime was characterized by media censorship, restrictions on freedom, and widespread corruption. The decision to honour Suharto came despite protests from over 500 civil society members, academics, and activists who argue the designation whitewashes history and betrays the victims of his regime. But defenders point to his role in Indonesia's economic transformation and his contributions during the independence era. In this episode Elisabeth Kramer is joined by…

People in this episode

Host: Elisabeth Kramer

Guests: Dr. Ken Setiawan, Lailly Prihatiningtyas

Topics covered

• Suharto's legacy
• national hero designation
• Indonesia's democracy
• memory politics
• human rights violations
• youth reactions

Keywords

• Suharto
• national hero
• Indonesia
• democracy
• human rights
• economic development
• memory politics
• youth
• accountability

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Aliansi Gusar

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