(Jakarta, 20th) The Indonesian government plans to publish a new series of history books, sparking concerns among some local individuals that Indonesia's darkest history might be rewritten.
In an interview with Reuters, Indonesian Minister of Culture Fadli said that the 10-volume series will be narrated from an Indonesian perspective, aiming to "reshape Indonesia's identity."
Some historians say that the younger generation in Indonesia has almost no memory of former dictator Suharto's New Order era from 1966 to 1998, and that President Prabowo, who is Suharto's former son-in-law, was able to win a landslide victory in the presidential election last year mainly because the younger generation is unaware of Suharto's dark history. Scholars worry that the Prabowo administration's publication of this series gives it an opportunity to revise history.
Asvi, a historian who once worked at the Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency, calls on the academic community to lobby the parliament to review this propaganda. He said, "I suspect there is an intention to legitimize the regime of the New Order era…for example, excluding serious human rights violations related to Prabowo in 1998."
Prabowo has been accused of violating human rights during the military suppression of the East Timor independence revolution in the 1990s and of orchestrating the kidnapping of pro-democracy figures between 1997 and 1998.
Some political observers and historians are concerned that this series might be used as a tool for propaganda, politicized, and might overlook the human rights abuses committed by Prabowo and Suharto.
When asked about this issue, Fadli said, "History will be correctly written." He also emphasized that neither he nor Prabowo would participate in the writing process.
Fadli said that the series has been in the works since last year and will document Indonesian history from Homo erectus to the Dutch colonial period to Prabowo's election. About 100 historians are involved in writing and editing it. Fadli hopes the series can be published before Indonesia's Independence Day on August 17.
Made, a visiting researcher at Singapore's Yusof Ishak Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, believes the Prabowo government will adopt the same strategy as the Suharto administration. The Suharto government published a six-volume "Indonesian National History" in 1975, which Made claims beautified the military and was riddled with inaccuracies.
Made said, "Honestly, Prabowo's history in this country is not good… will they dare to write it that way?"
Jajat Burhanuddin, a historian involved in the project, said the state has not intervened so far. He also said that the history of the government's kidnapping and torture of students in 1998 will be included but refused to disclose whether these narratives will mention Prabowo.
Fadli, who was active against the Suharto government during his student days, now praises the Suharto era. He said, "I always believe Suharto should be seen as a national hero."
Since former President Jokowi's administration, the Indonesian government has made multiple attempts to designate Suharto as a national hero, but none have succeeded. In April this year, the Prabowo government again proposed to designate Suharto as a national hero. This proposal faced opposition and has yet to progress further.
In an interview with Reuters, Indonesian Minister of Culture Fadli said that the 10-volume series will be narrated from an Indonesian perspective, aiming to "reshape Indonesia's identity."
Some historians say that the younger generation in Indonesia has almost no memory of former dictator Suharto's New Order era from 1966 to 1998, and that President Prabowo, who is Suharto's former son-in-law, was able to win a landslide victory in the presidential election last year mainly because the younger generation is unaware of Suharto's dark history. Scholars worry that the Prabowo administration's publication of this series gives it an opportunity to revise history.
Asvi, a historian who once worked at the Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency, calls on the academic community to lobby the parliament to review this propaganda. He said, "I suspect there is an intention to legitimize the regime of the New Order era…for example, excluding serious human rights violations related to Prabowo in 1998."
Prabowo has been accused of violating human rights during the military suppression of the East Timor independence revolution in the 1990s and of orchestrating the kidnapping of pro-democracy figures between 1997 and 1998.
Some political observers and historians are concerned that this series might be used as a tool for propaganda, politicized, and might overlook the human rights abuses committed by Prabowo and Suharto.
When asked about this issue, Fadli said, "History will be correctly written." He also emphasized that neither he nor Prabowo would participate in the writing process.
Fadli said that the series has been in the works since last year and will document Indonesian history from Homo erectus to the Dutch colonial period to Prabowo's election. About 100 historians are involved in writing and editing it. Fadli hopes the series can be published before Indonesia's Independence Day on August 17.
Made, a visiting researcher at Singapore's Yusof Ishak Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, believes the Prabowo government will adopt the same strategy as the Suharto administration. The Suharto government published a six-volume "Indonesian National History" in 1975, which Made claims beautified the military and was riddled with inaccuracies.
Made said, "Honestly, Prabowo's history in this country is not good… will they dare to write it that way?"
Jajat Burhanuddin, a historian involved in the project, said the state has not intervened so far. He also said that the history of the government's kidnapping and torture of students in 1998 will be included but refused to disclose whether these narratives will mention Prabowo.
Fadli, who was active against the Suharto government during his student days, now praises the Suharto era. He said, "I always believe Suharto should be seen as a national hero."
Since former President Jokowi's administration, the Indonesian government has made multiple attempts to designate Suharto as a national hero, but none have succeeded. In April this year, the Prabowo government again proposed to designate Suharto as a national hero. This proposal faced opposition and has yet to progress further.