Indonesia’s military honour for Prabowo ‘vulgar’, disrespects human rights victims: critics

Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo on Wednesday awarded the country’s defence minister and presumptive president-elect, Prabowo Subianto, the honorary rank of four-star general, a move critics blasted as “vulgar political manoeuvring” and a betrayal of the victims of human rights abuses.

The outgoing leader said during the ceremony at the National Armed Forces’ headquarters in Jakarta that he was bestowing the honour as “a form of appreciation as well as confirmation of [Prabowo’s] complete devotion to the people, nation and state”.

Prabowo is only the seventh person to receive the honorary title since the late dictator Suharto, Prabowo’s former father-in-law, resigned in 1998. He told reporters the award was a “heavy” responsibility to bear.

The Civil Society Coalition, which represents 22 pro-democracy, human rights and justice advocacy groups, condemned the move as a “wrong step” and accused Widodo of helping to cover up his defence minister’s alleged human rights violations to strengthen their political alliance.

“This is not only inappropriate but also hurts the victims… and betrays the 1998 Reformation movement,” it said, referring to the movement that led to Suharto’s fall and helped usher in democracy.

Prabowo was dismissed from the military in 1998 after the Honorary Council of Officers determined he was involved in the kidnapping of at least 23 pro-democracy activists. Of those seized, one was found dead, nine were freed, and 13 remain missing to this day. The case was one of several allegations of human rights abuses Prabowo faced during his 28 years of service.

Analysts said the new rank showed Prabowo had gained not just the presumptive presidency from his alliance with Widodo – which was formed in 2019 when he