Controversy over Suharto’s National Hero Title: Between Great Services and National Historical Wounds

ABOUT SEMARANG – Chairman of the Council for Degrees, Services and Honors (GTK), Fadli Zon, assessed that the 2nd President of the Republic of Indonesia, Soeharto, deserved to be awarded the title of National Hero for his great services to the nation and state.

According to Fadli, Soeharto had an important role in various major military operations in Indonesia which became milestones in the history of the struggle for independence and national integrity.

“Pak Harto’s struggle has been studied. He took part in the March 1 General Offensive, the battle in Ambarawa, five days in Semarang, and became Commander of Operation Mandala in the seizure of West Irian,” said Fadli at the Presidential Palace.

Apart from his military work, Fadli also highlighted Suharto’s role in stopping the 1965 September 30 Movement rebellion, which he said was an attempt to overthrow the government by the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

“He was also the one who stopped the G30S/PKI rebellion at that time,” he said.

Not only in the military field, Fadli emphasized that Suharto had a big role in national development and poverty alleviation. When he took over the leadership of the country, Indonesia faced inflation reaching 600 percent.

However, under his leadership, the economy began to stabilize and various development programs, including the establishment of schools, were successfully implemented.

However, the awarding of the title of National Hero to Suharto, which was handed over directly by the 8th President Prabowo Subianto to his third son, Bambang Trihatmodjo, on the commemoration of Heroes’ Day 10 November 2025, reaped waves of pros and cons.

A number of groups strongly rejected this decision. The Justice Soeharto Civil Society Movement (GEMAS) called the awarding of the title a disappointing step, considering the dark record of serious human rights violations, authoritarianism, and practices of corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN) during the New Order era.

Rejection also came from KH Ahmad Mustofa Bisri (Gus Mus), Mustasyar PBNU, who considered that many ulama and Islamic boarding school circles received unfair treatment during the Soeharto government.

“I at least agree that Suharto was made a National Hero,” said Gus Mus at his residence in Rembang, quoted from NU Online.

Responding to the polemic, Minister of State Secretariat Prasetyo Hadi called differences of opinion a normal thing in democratic life. He appealed to the public to see everything from the positive side.

“Let’s reduce our efforts to always see the shortcomings,” he said at the Presidential Palace.

This controversy also marks a new chapter in the national historical debate: between recognizing the great services of a leader and facing old national wounds that have not yet fully healed.***