medcom.id, Jakarta: The plan to give national hero status for former Indonesian President, Soeharto, creates debate. Human rights non-governmental organization (NGO), The Commission for Missing Persons and Violent Acts (Kontras), believes that the hero title for Soeharto is not appropriate.
"We firmly refuse the hero title for Soeharto. It is inappropriate and against the context of justice. During the Soeharto era, human rights violations were rampant," said the NGO's deputy coordinator, Yati Anggriani, at her office, Jakarta, Tuesday (5/24/2016).
She argued that Soeharto is a controversial figure. "Former President Abdurrahman Wahid once said that Soeharto has great achievements but also great sins," she continued.
Several human rights victims' families also questioned the plan. "As the family of human rights victims, we reject hero title for Soeharto," stated Sumarsih whose son, Wawan, died in Semanggi I incident.
Farian Siahaan, the father of kidnapping victim during Suharto era, urged the government to resolve past human rights violations involving Soeharto. "The past human rights violations damage Indonesia's image in the world," he mentioned.
The idea to award Soeharto a hero title emerged in 2010. During 2014 presidential election, Prabowo Subianto promised to give national hero status to his father in law.
Recently, Golkar Party again proposed for Soeharto to be given a national hero title.
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