Prabowo Subianto‚ a rich former general with connections to Indonesias popular outgoing president and the countrys dictatorial history will be sworn in as its leader on 10/20/2024. He has said he will keep going with his predecessors well-liked policies but his human rights record has got activists and some experts worried about the future of Indonesias democracy
In the election about 8 months ago Subianto (73) showed himself as the heir to the very popular President Joko Widodo the first Indonesian president to come from outside the political and military elite. Subianto who was defense minister then promised to keep going with the modernization plan that has brought fast growth and pushed Indonesia into the group of middle-income countries
In a speech not long ago Subianto‚ whos also the head of the Gerindra Party reminded party members to always stay loyal to the nation not to him. He also swore he would always defend the people even if it cost him his life
My life my oath … I want to die for the truth‚ I want to die defending my people‚ I want to die defending the poor‚ I want to die defending the honor of the Indonesian nation. I have no doubt
But Subianto will start his job with unsolved questions about the costs of fast growth for the environment and traditional communities as well as his own links to torture disappearances and other human rights abuses in the last years of the brutal Suharto dictatorship‚ where he was a lieutenant general
Other than promising to keep things going Subianto hasnt said much about his plans leaving people unsure about what his election will mean for the countrys economy and its still-growing democracy. A former rival of Widodo who lost two presidential races to him Subianto hugged the popular leader to run as his heir even picking Widodos son as his running mate a decision that went against constitutional age limits and has got activists worried about a growing political dynasty in the 25-year-old democracy
But for now he seems to have wide support. He got a majority in the election on 2/14/2024 winning 59% or more than 96 million votes in a three-way race more than enough for victory without a runoff
Subianto was born in 1951 to one of Indonesias most powerful families the third of four children. His father Sumitro Djojohadikusumo was an influential politician and a minister under Presidents Sukarno and Suharto
Subiantoʼs father first worked for Sukarno the leader of Indonesias quest for independence from the Dutch as well as the first president. But Djojohadikusumo later turned against the leader and was forced into exile. Subianto spent most of his childhood overseas and speaks French German English and Dutch
The family came back to Indonesia after General Suharto came to power in 1967 following a failed left-wing coup. Suharto dealt harshly with people who disagreed and was accused of stealing billions of dollars of state funds for himself family and close associates. Suharto dismissed the accusations even after leaving office in 1998
Subianto joined Indonesias Military Academy in 1970 graduating in 1974 and serving in the military for nearly three decades. In 1976 Subianto joined the Indonesian National Army Special Force called Kopassus and was commander of a group that operated in what is now East Timor
Human rights groups have said that Subianto was involved in a series of human rights violations in East Timor in the 1980s and 1990s when Indonesia occupied the now-independent nation. Subianto has denied those accusations
Subianto and other members of Kopassus were not allowed to travel to the U.S. over the alleged human rights abuses they committed against the people of East Timor. The ban stayed in place until 2020 when it was effectively lifted enabling him to visit the U.S. as Indonesias defense minister
In 1983 he married Suhartos daughter Siti Hediati Hariyadi
After more allegations of human rights abuses Subianto was forced out of the military. He was dishonorably discharged in 1998 after Kopassus soldiers kidnapped and tortured political opponents of Suharto. Of 22 activists kidnapped that year 13 are still missing. Several of his men were tried and convicted but Subianto never faced trial
He never commented on these accusations but went into self-imposed exile in Jordan in 1998
A number of former democracy activists have joined his campaign including Agus Jabo and Budiman Sudjatmiko who in 1998 were listed as survivors of the abductions of democracy activists. Sudjatmiko left the governing Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle to join Subiantoʼs campaign team
During a campaign event in January he apologized publicly to the two former activists
Im sorry ... I was chasing you in the past adding that he did so “on the orders“ of his superiors
Sudjatmiko said that reconciliation is necessary to move forward and that international focus on Subiantoʼs human rights record was overblown. “Developed countries dont like leaders from developing countries who are brave firm and strategic“ he said
Subianto came back from Jordan in 2008 and helped to found the Gerinda Party. He ran for the presidency twice losing to Widodo both times. He refused to acknowledge the results at first but accepted Widodos offer of the defense minister position in 2019 in a bid for unity
Adhi Priamarizki a researcher at Singapores S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies said that while many right activists have pointed out Subiantoʼs checkered past “there are a lot of factors that actually can affect how he can or he will govern the country“
“I would say that theres going to be a good check and balance system hopefully fingers crossed“ Priamarizki said “But the most important thing is to ensure that civil society has space in order to provide or to be at the check and balance systems“
In the most recent election Subianto respected the democratic process
He has vowed to continue Widodos economic development plans which capitalized on Indonesias abundant nickel coal oil and gas reserves leading Southeast Asias biggest economy through a decade of rapid growth and modernization that vastly expanded its networks of roads and railways
That includes includes the $30 billion project to build a new capitol city called Nusantara. A report by a coalition of NGOs claimed that Subiantoʼs family would profit from the Nusantara project thanks to land and mining interests the family holds on East Kalimantan the province where the new city is located. A member of the family denied the reports allegations
Subianto and his family also have business ties to Indonesias palm oil coal and gas mining agriculture and fishery industries
The former rivals became tacit allies: Indonesian presidents dont typically endorse candidates but Subianto chose Widodos son 36-year-old Surakarta Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka as his vice presidential running mate and Widodo coyly favored Subianto over the candidate of his own former party
Subianto has also cultivated close ties with hard-line Islamists as a way of undermining Widodo in the 2014 and 2019 elections
But for the 2024 election Subianto projected a softer image that has resonated with Indonesias large youth population including videos of him dancing on stage and ads showing digital anime-like renderings of him roller-skating through Jakartas streets
We will be the president and vice president and government for all Indonesian people