Indonesia’s Glorification of Dictator Suharto Exposes a Dangerous Regression

Indonesia's government has ignited controversy by officially naming former dictator Suharto a national hero, despite his well-documented legacy of repression, corruption, and mass human rights abuses. This move, led by current President Prabowo Subianto—a former general and Suharto’s own son-in-law—raises alarm bells about the creeping militarization of Indonesia's institutions and the rollback of democratic progress. Is Indonesia Repeating History's Darkest Chapters? Suharto ruled Indonesia from 1967 to 1998 with an iron fist, suppressing dissent through violent persecution of communists and orchestrating military campaigns that resulted in massacres, including in East Timor. Transparency International estimates his corruption drained between $15 billion...