Zakharov Anton

National Hero of Indonesia: Honorary Title Under Prabowo Subianto—Reconciliation of the Nation?

ЮГО-ВОСТОЧНАЯ АЗИЯ: АКТУАЛЬНЫЕ ПРОБЛЕМЫ РАЗВИТИЯ, 2026, №1(70), 264-278

 
Annotation: The highest honorary title in Indonesia— National Hero (Pahlawan Nasional Indonesia)—is awarded posthumously but plays a crucial role in shaping the state ideology Pancasila. The recent conferral of the title in November 2025 caused widespread controversy as it was conferred simultaneously on both President Soeharto, the creator of the authoritarian “New Order” (Orde Baru), and Marsinah, a victim of that regime. The article examines possible interpretations of the award of the honorary title “National Hero of Indonesia” based on Indonesian legislation, the award decree, and open-source information. The attempt to reconcile the nation simultaneously means fighting for collective memory and acknowledging the deep internal divisions of Indonesian society. The article provides updated statistics on the awarding of the honorary title. The proclamation of two generals—Soeharto and Sarwo Edhie Wibowo—as national heroes reflects the role of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (Tentara Nasional Indonesia), while the selection of Muslim figures—President Abdurrahman Wahid, Imam Syekhona Kholil, and two promoters of Islamic education—reflects the role of Islam in the state. One can also speak of a slowdown or even a halt in rotation of top military leaders in Indonesia.

Keywords: Indonesian National Police, badges, award system, generals, ranks, positions, hierarchy