Why Indonesia’s hero status for ‘successful autocrat’ Suharto splits opinion
Supporters laud his three-decade rule for drastically cutting poverty, saving Indonesia’s economy and delivering national pride
But the muted public reaction also reflects how, for many Indonesians, Suharto’s three-decade rule was synonymous with growth, stability and national pride.
Suharto was a “successful autocrat”, Yohanes Sulaiman, an associate professor of international relations at Jenderal Achmad Yani University in West Java, told This Week in Asia.
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Indonesia names Suharto national hero despite protests
“He is not a failed tin pot dictator like [Zimbabwe’s Robert] Mugabe and [Congolese dictator] Mobutu … who only excelled in destroying the country while abusing their population,” Yohanes said.
“That is what makes it difficult to completely oppose his nomination.”