YOGYAKARTA - Minister of Culture Fadli Zon reviewed the General H.M. Soeharto Memorial Museum in Kemusuk, Sedayu, Bantul, Yogyakarta, Friday, June 5. This visit is part of the Ministry of Culture's efforts to strengthen the museum of national figures as a public education space and preservation of history.
The museum houses collections, documentation, visual archives, dioramas, personal objects, to the petilasan of the house of birth of Suharto. The material describes Suharto's life journey from childhood in Kemusuk, his career as a soldier, his role in various national events, his presidency, until his death in 2008.
Fadli said this museum is important because it stands in the birthplace of Suharto. The location provides a historical context for the public to understand Suharto's life journey and dedication to the nation.
"Pak Harto is a figure who has an important role in Indonesian history, especially during the struggle to defend independence. This museum is important because it is in Kemusuk, where he was born, so that the public can see directly the traces of life that shape the journey of a national figure," said Fadli.
He also highlighted the museum section which featured Soeharto's role as Head of Wehrkreise III during the Second Dutch Military Aggression. One of the events displayed was the General Attack of March 1, 1949.
According to Fadli, the attack became an important momentum to show the international community that the Republic of Indonesia still exists and continues to resist the Dutch.
He said the Dutch at that time tried to build a narrative that Indonesia no longer existed after the national leaders were arrested and the capital was occupied. However, resistance in various regions denied this narrative.
Fadli said the Emergency Government of the Republic of Indonesia (PDRI) in Sumatra, which was led by Sjafruddin Prawiranegara, the guerrilla war of General Sudirman, and the General Attack on March 1, 1949, were important parts of the evidence that the Republic of Indonesia remained standing.
The museum also displays other historical records, including national dynamics during the suppression of the G30S/PKI rebellion in 1965 and various important phases of the nation's journey thereafter.
"Therefore, the General Besar H.M. Soeharto Memorial Museum has an important value in the history of the nation because it is related to the life journey of a national hero," said Fadli.
He said the strengthening of the museum of national figures was in line with the commitment of the Ministry of Culture to revive museums related to important figures in Indonesian history.
The General Besar H.M. Soeharto Memorial Museum was inaugurated on June 8, 2013. This museum is located in Kemusuk Village, Kalurahan Argomulyo, Kapanewon Sedayu, Bantul Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region.
During the visit, Fadli was accompanied by the Special Staff of the Minister for History and Cultural Heritage Protection Basuki Teguh Yuwono and the Director of Cultural Heritage Agus Widiatmoko.
The Ministry of Culture hopes that the museum of historical figures can become a learning space for the community, especially the younger generation, to understand the history of Indonesia and to know the role of national figures.
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