Pigai Doesn't Want To Be Involved In The Suharto Polemic: I'm The Minister Of Human Rights, No Comments

Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai (ANTARA)

JAKARTA Minister of Human Rights (HAM) Natalius Pigai chose not to comment on the government's decision to award the title of National Hero to the 2nd President of the Republic of Indonesia, Suharto.

"Look, awarding Pak Harto, I am the Minister of Human Rights, I am no comment, period," said Pigai at the Ministry of Human Rights Office, Jakarta, Wednesday, November 12.

Pigai emphasized that he would not give further responses even though the issue caused widespread debate in the public. "No comment," he said briefly.

He explained that the Ministry of Human Rights does not have the authority in the process of determining the figures who will be given the title of National Hero. The proposal procedure, said Pigai, was carried out in stages from the regions to the central level.

"If I'm not mistaken, the proposer is from the family in the hometown, then by the district, province, I just conveyed it to the center. Then there is a team that judges. So if it's a matter, I don't think we have, yes, never there has been," he explained.

Pigai's attitude arose in the midst of a sharp public polemic regarding the government's decision to appoint Suharto as a National Hero. A number of parties consider this step to be contrary to the principles of justice and human rights, given the dark record of the New Order regime in Indonesian history.

Various civil society organizations such as Amnesty International Indonesia and the Alliance of Openness of Indonesian History assessed that the award has the potential to normalize impunity practices for past human rights violations, such as the 1965 tragedy, the kidnapping of activists, to the May 1998 riots.

Meanwhile, on the other hand, some people consider Suharto's determination as a National Hero to be carried out on the grounds of his services in the field of national development and stability.

Suharto's eldest daughter, Siti Hardijanti Hastuti or Tutut Suharto, assessed that the differences of opinion that arise in society are part of the dynamics of democracy.

"Pros and cons are common, Indonesian people are all kinds of things. The important thing is that we see what Pak Harto has done from a young age until he died, all his struggles for the people and the Indonesian nation," said Tutut at the State Palace, last Monday.

He added that Suharto's extended family did not hold grudges against those who rejected the decision. "We, the family, don't feel grudges, because we are a unitary country. It's okay to contradict, but don't be extreme. We maintain unity and integrity," he said.

The awarding of the title of National Hero to Suharto is still reaping debate in the public sphere, touching aspects of history, morals, and politics, which until now have not found a common ground.