Director of Tobe Institute: Soeharto is an Important Part of the Republic’s History, Deserves to Receive the National Hero Title

Jakarta, November 8, 2025 — Executive Director of the ToBe Institute, Mochamad Imamudinussalam S.I.Kom, spoke up in response to the wave of rejection from a number of civil society organizations regarding the discourse on granting the title of National Hero to President Soeharto.

According to him, the views rejecting the award need to be objectively re-evaluated so as not to be trapped in a one-sided assessment of the nation’s history.

“We must read history with a clear mind and a complete perspective. Soeharto is an important part of the journey of this republic, with real services and great contributions towards maintaining national sovereignty from foreign military aggression and also towards national development. Rejecting the award merely by highlighting the dark side of his governance is a form of historical simplification,” said the Executive Director of the ToBe Institute, who is commonly known as Imamuddin, in Jakarta today.

Imamuddin explained that the context of Soeharto’s leadership cannot be separated from the geopolitical situation full of threats at that time. Indonesia had just emerged from ideological conflict and faced the risk of national disintegration. Post-independence, Soeharto, who was also close to General Sudirman, defended the Yogyakarta region, led the operation to crush the communist G30S/PKI, and was instrumental in the success of the Supersemar. Policies deemed harsh must be viewed within the framework of state security, not merely through the lens of the peaceful present.

“We cannot rewrite history by erasing contributions that have proven to lift Indonesia from crisis towards stability. Soeharto was also close to General Sudirman, tasked with defending Yogyakarta from aggression. Moreover, he was the second President of the Republic of Indonesia,” he asserted.

“Programs such as food self-sufficiency, rural infrastructure development, technology, improvement of farmers’ welfare, and pro-people economic policies. We must not close our eyes to these,” he explained.

He also dismissed the notion that granting the hero title is a form of historical whitewashing or political legitimization. According to him, state recognition does not mean eliminating criticism, but rather acknowledging an individual’s extraordinary contribution to the nation and state.

“The hero title is a recognition of great services that have provided direction for Indonesia’s journey. If our standard of judgment is moral perfection, then no one will be worthy of being called a hero,” said Imam.

Furthermore, he reminded that the mechanism for granting the National Hero title is strictly regulated, involving a team, through a verification process and consideration by the Council of Titles and the Ministry of Social Affairs. Therefore, accusations that the process is closed or fraught with political interests are deemed unfounded.

“The proposal for Soeharto to become a National Hero has been submitted multiple times, in 2008, 2010, 2015, and 2016. And the majority of the voices in the DPR (House of Representatives) and public figures also agree. So, what else is there to debate?” he asserted.

At the end of his statement, Imamuddin emphasized the importance of viewing history fairly, not emotionally. “A great nation is a nation that dares to make peace with its past completely,” concluded M. Imamuddinussalam, Executive Director of the ToBe Institute.