**Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto Names Former President Suharto a National Hero Despite Controversy**
*Nov. 10 (UPI)* — Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto designated his father-in-law, former President Suharto, as a national hero on Monday, according to reports. The decision comes amid opposition from critics who accuse the late dictator of committing widespread human rights abuses during his 33-year rule.
Prabowo conferred the prestigious title upon Suharto along with nine others during National Heroes Day commemorations held at the State Palace in Jakarta, The Jakarta Post and Indonesian news agency Antara reported. National Heroes Day, observed annually on November 10, commemorates the day in 1945 when Indonesians fought British and allied forces to pursue independence following the fall of Japan.
Suharto assumed the presidency after Sukarno was stripped of power in 1967 and was formally elected in 1968. He remained president until his resignation amid mass protests in 1998, protests that were largely sparked by his uncontested re-election.
Often referred to as Indonesia’s strongman, Suharto’s staunch anti-communist stance during the Cold War secured him support from Western nations. This support helped shield his regime from scrutiny despite numerous allegations of human rights violations.
Critics have accused Suharto of overseeing the killings of an estimated 500,000 to 1 million alleged communists during 1965-66. Additionally, he is implicated in the so-called Petrus Killings between 1982 and 1985, when thousands of state-ordered extrajudicial killings occurred, as well as alleged genocide in East Timor, among other serious accusations.
The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) criticized the Subianto administration’s decision on Monday, calling it “unethical, destructive to law and human rights, indifferent to anti-corruption efforts and demeaning to the true values of heroism.”
“This title should only be bestowed upon those who truly fought for independence, justice, humanity, and the sovereignty of the people — not upon a leader whose rule was marked by authoritarianism and human rights violations,” the YLBHI said in an official statement.
YLBHI strongly condemned the conferral of the hero title, stating it “further demonstrates that Prabowo’s regime has become a government that betrays the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, betrays and harms the people, and has clearly engaged in disgraceful conduct.”
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