Prabowo Subianto Promises to Make Soeharto a National Hero in History Today, June 3, 2014

History today, 12 years ago, June 3, 2014, the General Chair of the Gerindra Party, Prabowo Subianto promised to make Soeharto a national hero. This desire was revealed because Soeharto was considered to have many merits for Indonesia.

Previously, the discourse on giving the title of hero to Suharto was not new. The name Suharto has been proposed by many parties, but rejection has emerged everywhere. All because of Suharto's past sins which are rife.

No one doubts the existence of Soeharto and the New Order. Soeharto was able to bring Indonesia out of the 1960s economic crisis. He was able to show his capacity as a leader by increasing Indonesia's economic growth.

He also played a major role in building infrastructure everywhere. The aspirations of the people have also improved. However, this series of achievements does not make all the people forget about the controversy.

His regime was known for its repressive and corrupt nature. This condition brought the Indonesian people to a miserable life. This narrative was shown in the 1997-1998 era. At that time Indonesia was facing the threat of an economic crisis. The Soeharto government was considered to have failed in holding back the pace of the crisis.

This condition made the people move to demand that Soeharto, who had been in power for too long, step down. Soeharto finally stepped down. Indonesia then entered the era of reform. Soeharto's name slowly began to fade.

The special name of Soeharto strengthened again when he was gone since January 27, 2008. Soeharto who had just died was then started to be promoted by his supporters to become a national hero. Soeharto is considered to have all the requirements to become a national hero.

He is seen as having many merits for the Indonesian nation. He is also seen as a person who cares about the interests of Muslims.

"For this reason, the Indonesian nation has also experienced an unforgettable historical journey. In a deteriorating government condition, Lieutenant Colonel Soeharto planned and launched a general attack on a number of headquarters and defense posts of the Dutch army in the city of Yogyakarta, on March 1, 1949. Hit in a surprise attack, the Dutch troops led by Colonel Van Langen, were in disarray. They could only survive, asking for reinforcements to Magelang and Semarang," said the Minister of Religion (Menag), Muhammad Maftuh Basyuni, as quoted by the Kemenag website, March 1, 2009.

The discourse on the award of the title of national hero to Suharto always brings about a commotion. Sometimes the issue is strengthened, but disappears afterwards. The controversy over Suharto's leadership in the Orba era is considered the culprit for the many objections.

The series of rejections did not make Soeharto's supporters flinch. Take Prabowo Subianto for example. The Chairman of the Gerindra Party, who was running for the 2014 presidential election, considered Soeharto, who had been his father-in-law, to be very worthy of being a national hero on June 3, 2014.

Prabowo also promised to give the title of national hero to Suharto when he was elected as President of Indonesia. He considers all kinds of negative views of Suharto to be nothing but slander. Prabowo also wants to break the chain of slander by making him a national hero.

"In Indonesia, people who are nationalists are defamed. Mr. Sukarno, Mr. Soeharto, Mr. Harto were defamed, their service to this nation was great. We fight for the great general Soeharto as a hero. This is not because of Mrs. Siti Hadiyati, not because of that," said Prabowo as quoted by lamandetik.com, June 3, 2014.