Beyond the builder: Soeharto, impunity and the global standard of heroism

President Prabowo Subianto , you hold the final pen that will inscribe this moral chapter. Heroism is the last moral throne, reserved only for those unsullied by the sins of humanity and corruption. If former president Soeharto indeed rendered service, let those services be recorded proportionally within the chapters of economic history.  

However, the national hero title belongs to the conscience of the people, those who uphold justice above all else. Do not allow a flawed judgement to spawn a paradox of values and ultimately shatter this nation’s commitment to justice.

At critical junctures, every nation is tested by the shadows of its past. Today, the Republic of Indonesia stands at a historical inflection point: the proposed conferral of the national hero title upon Soeharto challenges not only our collective memory but also our unwavering commitment to transitional justice and the mandates of the 1998 Reformasi.

Proponents justly cite the era’s tangible achievements, food self-sufficiency, political stability, infrastructure development and significant economic growth. Soeharto was given the title "Father of Development" in 1983 by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). These are historical facts that warrant acknowledgment.