GLOBAL – Indonesia formally declared former authoritarian ruler Suharto a national hero on Monday, 10 November 2025, a move by President Prabowo Subianto that has triggered condemnation from human rights organisations and victims' families, who accuse the government of whitewashing a legacy of mass murder, corruption, and brutal repression. The decision, announced at a State Palace ceremony on National Heroes Day, is seen by critics as a dangerous step towards historical revisionism in the world's third-largest democracy.

President Prabowo, Suharto’s former son-in-law and a former general himself, presided over the ceremony, bestowing the posthumous title upon his predecessor despite a public letter from around 500 activists, academics, and civil society members urging him to halt the process. Protesters argue the honour betrays the victims of Suharto’s 32-year “New Order” regime and normalises impunity for state-sponsored violence.

The ‘New Order’: A Legacy of Violence and Corruption

Suharto seized power in the mid-1960s amidst a political crisis following an alleged coup attempt. What followed was one of the 20th century's most brutal anti-communist purges. From 1965 to 1966, the Indonesian military, with support from civilian militias, orchestrated the mass killing of between 500,000 and one million people suspected of being members or sympathisers of the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI). Hundreds of thousands more were imprisoned without trial, often for years, and subjected to torture.

His rule, which ended with his resignation amid mass protests in 1998, was marked by systematic human rights abuses. In 1975, Suharto ordered the invasion of East Timor, beginning a brutal 24-year occupation that, according to a UN-backed commission, resulted in the deaths of over 100,000 people from violence, starvation, and disease. Military operations in regions like Aceh and Papua were also characterised by extrajudicial killings, torture, and forced disappearances. The Asian Human Rights Commission has documented extensive use of torture by the military against government critics throughout his regime.

Alongside the violence, Suharto’s regime was notoriously corrupt. A 2004 report by Transparency International named him the world's most corrupt leader, estimating that he and his family embezzled between US$15 billion and US$35 billion. Despite numerous allegations, Suharto was never tried for human rights abuses or corruption, dying in 2008 after prosecutors dropped a major graft case due to his poor health.

A Controversial President Honours a Controversial Predecessor

The decision to honour Suharto is deeply intertwined with the political history of President Prabowo Subianto. Prabowo was married to Suharto’s daughter, Siti Hediati Hariyadi, and rose to become a top general in the army's special forces during the New Order. His own military career is contentious, with human rights groups linking him to the abduction and torture of pro-democracy activists in 1997-98 and alleged atrocities in East Timor. Prabowo has consistently denied wrongdoing.

Since taking office in 2024, critics have warned of a democratic decline and a revival of New Order-era tactics, pointing to an increased military presence in civilian affairs. Amnesty International Indonesia has condemned the hero award as a “betrayal” of the 1998 reform movement that ousted Suharto and a profound insult to victims still seeking justice.

Global Lessons and Relevance for Kenya

The events in Indonesia resonate globally, particularly for countries navigating their own paths of transitional justice. Kenya, which has grappled with post-election violence, historical injustices, and a persistent culture of impunity, faces similar challenges in holding powerful figures to account. The debate in Kenya over establishing local or international tribunals for perpetrators of violence mirrors the unfulfilled calls for justice for Suharto's victims.

The Indonesian case serves as a critical reminder of how political power can be used to reshape historical narratives, potentially rehabilitating figures accused of gross human rights violations. For Kenya, where debates about the legacies of past leaders and accountability for state-sanctioned violence are ongoing, it underscores the fragility of democratic institutions and the enduring struggle for justice over political expediency.

While Kenya and Indonesia are deepening bilateral ties, with agreements in trade, energy, and defence, the political developments in Jakarta offer a cautionary tale. The struggle in Indonesia between confronting a painful past and glorifying an authoritarian leader highlights the universal challenge of ensuring that national memory serves justice and reconciliation, rather than the political agendas of a ruling elite.