Suharto, the former president of Indonesia, was posthumously awarded the title of national hero, which sparked a wave of protests among the population. This was reported by the BBC.
The award ceremony took place in Jakarta under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto, Suharto's son-in-law. The award was accepted by his family on behalf of the deceased leader.
Suharto was in power from 1965 to 1998. His rule was marked by economic growth, but there were also reports of mass killings and disappearances. He is referred to as the "father of development," but there were also accusations of corruption and brutality.
The decision to award the title of hero has caused widespread resonance. Human rights activists characterized it as an attempt to "whitewash history." In response, protests took place in Jakarta, and thousands of citizens signed a petition against the award.
For many, Suharto is a symbol of stability and growth, while others consider him a dictator who left behind an atmosphere of fear. Debates about his legacy in Indonesia's history continue to this day.
It is worth noting that there have been previous protests in Indonesia against the authorities and corruption. On August 25, thousands of protesters gathered in Jakarta in front of the parliament building to protest against housing allowances that lawmakers received amounting to nearly 50 million rupiah (about $3000), which was ten times the minimum wage.
During the protests, demonstrators set fire to government and police buildings, destroyed infrastructure, and left anti-police slogans. As a result of these events, President Prabowo Subianto canceled allowances for parliamentarians and foreign trips for officials, which caused discontent among the population.
