Local fears grow that dark past may be rewritten

The Indonesian government’s plan to release new history books has sparked concerns that some of the country’s darkest chapters could be recast to show President Prabowo Subianto and late authoritarian ruler Suharto in a favourable light.

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The 10-volume series would have an Indonesia-centric narrative and aims “to reinvent the Indonesian identity”, Culture Minister Fadli Zon told Reuters in an interview.

Several historians said the commissioning of the books presents an opportunity for historical revisionism at a time when the younger generations — largely responsible for Mr Prabowo's resounding election win last year - have little or no memory of Suharto’s 1966-1998 New Order era.

Mr Prabowo openly praises Suharto, who was once his father-in-law, and is increasingly turning to the military to carry out his government's vision.

Mr Prabowo has also been accused of rights abuses while in the military, including involvement in the kidnapping of student activists during riots in 1998 — allegations he has repeatedly denied and which Mr Fadli said had been debunked.

Asvi Warman Adam, a leading historian who used to work at the National Research and Innovation Agency, said he was calling on academics to lobby lawmakers to scrutinise what he said would be “propaganda”.