Indonesian Student Suspended for Organizing 'Soeharto Is No Hero' Campus Discussion

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Damar Setyaji Pamungkas, student of the Faculty of Economics, Business, and Social Sciences (FEBIS) Management Study Program at the 17 Agustus 1945 University (UTA 45) Jakarta, has been suspended for the semester. The suspension came as Damar was intending to hold discussions about the rejection of the national hero title for Soeharto on his campus.

Damar is the chair of the Indonesian Student League for Democracy (LMID) Jakarta Raya. He organized a discussion on Monday, November 10, with the theme "Soeharto Bukan Pahlawan: Tantang Fadli Zon, 1.000 Dosa Politik Soeharto" (Soeharto is No Hero: Challenging Fadli Zon, 1,000 Political Sins of Soeharto) at UTA 45, Jakarta.

Damar was accused of failing to comply with the faculty heads' instructions to refrain from organizing non-academic activities, according to the decree issued by the Dean, Bobby Reza, on November 10. The student was also accused of mobilizing the masses to engage in practical politics on campus. Thus, Damar was deemed to have breached the campus regulation and was suspended  "until the 2025/2026 semester ends," as written in the decree.

The suspension will not allow Damar to attend lectures, participate in student organizations, as well as other activities within the university.

How Did Damar Get Suspended?

The student discussion forum was organized against the backdrop of President Prabowo's decision to bestow the national hero title on former President Soeharto. Soeharto was named a hero alongside nine other national figures, including labor activist Marsinah, who was murdered during his reign. 

LMID Secretary-General Tegar Afwiansyah said Damar was sanctioned for organizing a discussion on the government's decision to honor Soeharto. 

"Someone who, in historical records, is responsible for various human rights violations, corrupt practices, and political repression," he said in a written statement on Thursday, November 14, 2025.

Tegar recalled that Damas was initially summoned by the faculty Dean before the discussion kicked off. The summons was made without an official letter and at the direct urging of the university rectorate. During the meeting, it was made clear that the discussion was not going to be allowed to be held on campus.

"The reasoning was that it's considered practical politics and not an academic activity," said Tegar.

According to Tegar, Damar denied the allegations, citing academic freedom guaranteed by Article 28E of the 1945 Constitution, Higher Education Law Number 12 of 2012, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

"For Damar, discussing the political history of Soeharto is a form of moral and intellectual responsibility of students, not a practical political action," said Tegar.

University Blocks Students Attending the Soeharto Discussion

According to Tegar, the 17 August 1945 Jakarta University also thwarted the discussion by deploying security officers and locking down the cafeteria where the discussion was supposed to take off. Security officers also put up a banner which read "Practical Politics Prohibited on Grounds of UTA'45 Jakarta. Those Involved Will Face Suspension/Expulsion."

Damar was summoned for the second time that day, when the faculty conveyed the decision to suspend him from campus. The suspension letter was issued without clear mechanisms and procedures.

Tegar said Damar took the initiative to send a request for an audience to the rector on November 12, but met with silence. The university rector at the time was abroad. 

Tegar believed the suspension of Damar was an effort to criminalize student activists and a violation of academic freedom. The campus that should have been a space to produce knowledge, "but has now turned into a tool of power for those afraid of history," said Tegar.

The suspension was also indicative of the campus' regression of democracy, as the educational authorities are restricting the freedom to think and express oneself. "If the campus closes the space for discussion and prohibits students from thinking critically, we are witnessing the resurgence of the New Order in a new form," he said.

Students Urge University to Revoke Damar's Suspension

LMID urged the university to revoke Damar's suspension. They also requested to restore the academic rights and freedom of student expression and to stop intimidating the intellectual activities of the students.

"The UTA'45 Jakarta Rector must take responsibility and publicly apologize. The Ministry of Education must take firm action against this violation of academic freedom," said Tegar.

Faculty Dean Bobby admitted on Sunday, November 16, to the suspension against Damar, but stressed that it was imposed in accordance with the relevant procedure.

Bobby emphasized that the campus does not prohibit academic platforms for students, but political activities must first obtain permission from the campus.

"Permission first. The permission should be conveyed three days before the event is held. There will be an evaluation," said Bobby.

According to Bobby, the discussion about Soeharto's national hero title was conducted without permission. The campus only found out about what they refer to as a politically charged discussion on the day of the event.

"Our regulations, and even the Ministry of Higher Education's regulations, rule that campuses must not engage in practical politics," he said.

Editor’s Choice: Komnas HAM Objects to Prabowo Naming Soeharto National Hero Amid Rights Concerns

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News