{"text":[[{"start":12.59,"text":"Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has been accused of whitewashing the country’s history through a concerted effort to glorify the late dictator Suharto. "}],[{"start":25.34,"text":"This week, Prabowo honoured Suharto as a “national hero”, citing the ex-leader’s contribution to Indonesia’s independence struggle, while overlooking allegations of corruption, nepotism and human rights abuses during his three-decade rule, which ended in disgrace."}],[{"start":47.39,"text":"Naming Suharto a hero was a “blatant whitewashing of history and historic crimes under Suharto’s authoritarian leadership,” said Amnesty International’s executive director Usman Hamid, describing it as a “systematic effort”."}],[{"start":66.93,"text":"“This is part of the broader policy of negationism, erasing history of major abuses involving Suharto’s authoritarian regime,” Hamid added. “It is dangerous as it could be used to justify suppression of dissent, eliminate alternatives and opposition by controlling the historical record.”"}],[{"start":87.83000000000001,"text":"The attempts to portray Suharto in a positive light have reignited fears that Prabowo, Suharto’s son-in-law and himself a former general who has long expressed admiration for the dictator, will emulate the former leader and roll back democratic rights."}],[{"start":108.68,"text":"Prabowo has already suggested scrapping some regional elections, expanded the military’s role and consolidated power with a strong parliamentary majority since coming to power late last year. "}],[{"start":123.78,"text":"Rights groups, family members of victims of the Suharto era and a handful of politicians have opposed this week’s move."}],[{"start":133.97,"text":"“Suharto was a criminal, both a serious human rights violator and corruptor,” said Maria Catarina Sumarsih, who joined a recent protest in Jakarta over the national hero title, and whose son was shot dead during protests calling for political reforms after Suharto’s resignation."}],[{"start":155.26,"text":"The honour “betrays the spirit of reforms” enacted since the dictatorship ended, she added."}],[{"start":162.6,"text":"While Suharto has been credited with rapid economic growth and bringing millions out of poverty, he and his family have also been accused of embezzling tens of billions of dollars."}],[{"start":176.84,"text":"His rule was marked by a stifling of dissent, media censorship and persecution of ethnic minority groups. Just before he became president in 1967, he led the military in a brutal anti-communist purge, which resulted in at least 500,000 deaths and the imprisonment of more than 1mn people."}],[{"start":201.79,"text":"His regime came to an end in 1998 amid civil unrest and the Asian financial crisis, which triggered an economic meltdown and crashed the rupiah."}],[{"start":217.44,"text":"Suharto and his family never faced a trial over any of the allegations, though rights activists and families of victims continue to call for justice."}],[{"start":230.27,"text":"Critics see this week’s move as part of a wider effort by Prabowo’s government to rewrite the historical narrative around Suharto’s reign, pointing to a new state-sponsored series of books on Indonesia’s history."}],[{"start":247.8,"text":"An early draft outline suggests the 10-volume series, which is due to be published in December, will mention only two instances of human rights abuses under Suharto, although it acknowledges “corruption, collusion and nepotism” triggered protests that eventually led to his downfall."}],[{"start":270.40000000000003,"text":"The draft — seen by the Financial Times — includes no reference to the 1997-98 disappearance of dozens of pro-democracy activists, allegedly under orders from Prabowo, who was then commander of the country’s feared special military forces. Many are now feared dead."}],[{"start":296.89000000000004,"text":"Prabowo was dismissed from the military over the incident. He has always denied the allegations. "}],[{"start":304.67,"text":"“Our concern is that there are attempts to manipulate existing historical facts, to eliminate the dark history of Indonesia,” said Wahyu Susilo, an activist from the Indonesian Historical Transparency Alliance."}],[{"start":321.36,"text":"Jajat Burhanuddin, a historian involved in the project, said the final version would include references to human rights abuses, including the abduction of student activists. The culture ministry did not respond to a request for comment."}],[{"start":338.39,"text":"Culture minister Fadli Zon has previously said the books would allow history to be written “correctly”. He has also denied the mass rape of dozens of mostly ethnic Chinese Indonesians during the 1998 protests, which has been widely documented by national and international investigators."}],[{"start":362.74,"text":"Lawmaker and historian Bonnie Triyana said the government’s latest action reflected “the state’s disregard for human rights crimes during the Suharto era”, saying it would guarantee impunity for Suharto’s family and others accused of crimes during the dictatorship."}],[{"start":380.87,"text":"“It obscures history. How did we even get to this contradiction: a dictator is made a hero? How do we teach history honestly to the younger generation?”"}],[{"start":394.22,"text":"Hengki Irawan, who as a student protested against Suharto in 1998, called on Indonesians to challenge Prabowo’s decision in court."}],[{"start":407.31,"text":"“Suharto was a president who took power with blood,” he said. “People were afraid to raise their voice, he violated so many constitutional mandates. Suharto is not a hero.”"}],[{"start":431.52,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1763348311_2751.mp3"}