1-30-08, 9:03 am

Since 4th January millions of Indonesians have been watching their TVs, listening to the radio, reading newspapers and chatting on the street about their former president, Suharto, as he lay in bed in an unstable and critical condition. Reports claimed that his health was deteriorating one day and improving the next. Finally, last Sunday, Suharto passed away.

Despite the controversy surrounding this influential figure, the media has been more than kind to him. Television stations are broadcasting endless coverage of Suharto’s presidency, glorifying his achievements. Newspapers and radio stations have followed suit and all refer to him as Pak Harto, a term of endearment that is arbitrarily given to some former leaders and not to others.


Indonesians have many free to air television stations which have all commemorated the former leader's death. Ninety percent of news reporting is delivered through television in Indonesia. With this in mind, it is no surprise that most Indonesian sympathize with Suharto and commend him for his deeds.

Nothing is mentioned of the millions of dollars Suharto and his family stole from the Indonesians through corrupt “business” dealings. Nothing is mentioned of the communists and communist sympathizers that were murdered in 1965 allegedly under his military rule. Nothing is mentioned of the torture and genocide of Chinese Indonesians under Suharto’s presidency. The most conservative estimate for the massacre of communists in 1965 is 500,000. Over his 32-year rule, some estimate that he killed 4 million Indonesians.

Chinese Indonesians were to cut all ties with China and were forced to change their names to sound more native Indonesians. Chinese characters were also banned.

These acts, which occurred under Suharto’s Orde Baru (New Order), were witnessed and experienced by millions, yet they remain mere allegations. Through intimidation, Indonesians were not able to speak out against Suharto during most of his presidency. Tight restrictions were placed on the media and well-respected publications that criticized Suharto and his government, such as Tempo magazine, were shut down.

Many Indonesians are left confused as a result. David Subari, a 23 year-old Indonesian says, “I don’t think he killed them, but maybe some of his subordinates did. I’m not sure who gave the order to do that.”

Taxi driver Yatno says, “I don’t think he killed anyone. That’s just what NGO’s say. Maybe it happened, but I doubt it.”

When asked about Suharto, many Indonesians sing his praise.

“I think he did lots of good things for the country so I think we have to respect him in that sense,” says David.

Twenty-five year-old Caroline Leonardo says, “I think despite his corruption, he’s a great man. He brought Indonesia to a great state of development when he was ruling this country.”

Children are also taught a particular version of history in their classrooms. An ongoing debate over textbooks has seen varying opinions; some want history books amended to include at least the allegations against Suharto, and others, including some teachers, do not.

Last week at Jakarta’s Natural History museum, hundreds of school children were told a particular version of history that portrayed Suharto as a symbol of strength and benevolence.

The museum, founded by Suharto himself, glorifies his military in its fight for independence. The museum, which attracts around 500 visitors a day and many more during holidays, records Indonesia’s history only until 1992, just six years prior to the fall of the Suharto Government, which is given no mention at all.

Indri, a third grade teacher from Central Java, says, “I think the museum is very useful for my students. I don’t think they should talk about killings because it is just a rumor that they happened.”

With teachers who present controversial events as fact, with museums with manipulated information, with textbooks containing political propaganda and with very little criticism from the media, of course Suharto is seen as a hero.

Under his leadership, Indonesia saw unprecedented economic growth and industrialization. Suharto’s government yielded many out of poverty and his anti-communist stance won him the approval of the Western World, particularly of the United States.

Even in its democratic state, the Government still has a tight grip on information in Indonesia.

Ageng Darimintono, the Deputy Head of Administration at the Museum of Natural History says, “What content we can use depends on the policies of the government. The government has power over the museums.”

2008 marks ten years after Suharto’s fall. Indonesia has also been a democratic nation for 10 years, yet the Government has not even attempted to bring Suharto to justice.

The fact that Indonesia’s current president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, is the son-in-law of the General who allegedly ordered a number of the murders during the Suharto presidency, made prosecution extremely unlikely.

It seems that nothing will change now that Suharto has passed away. The millions of Indonesians with memories of Suharto’s brutalities will never have justice. At best, Suharto’s children may be prosecuted on corruption. At worst, Indonesians will remember Suharto’s accomplishments and will his villainy will be forgotten.