PDIP Urges Fadli Zon to Halt Indonesian History Rewriting Project

8 hours ago 3

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, or PDIP, is urging Prabowo's government to halt the Indonesian history rewriting project, led by Culture Minister Fadli Zon.

The deputy chair of Indonesian House Commission X from the PDIP Faction, Maria Yohana Esti Wijayati, expressed this stance on behalf of her party. "We are firmly requesting: stop the writing (rewriting of history) because it has caused polemics and hurt many people," said Esti on Monday, June 30th, 2025.

PDIP's stance has shifted from previously requesting the government to merely suspend the project. "With many problems arising, our target is not just to postpone; our target is to stop the project," she said.

Esti stated that the PDIP faction will push the government to halt the project through the House of Representatives. She said that Commission X will soon summon Fadli Zon to discuss various work plans and evaluations against the Ministry of Culture, including the issue of the Indonesian history rewriting.

Esti is also concerned that the written history produced may be inaccurate. "It might not be in line with historical facts," said the Chairperson of the Central Executive Board (DPP) of PDIP.

These concerns arise from various factors. One of them, said Esti, is evident from the withdrawal of several historians from the writing team because they do not share the same vision as the government-formed team. In addition, concerns about inaccurate historical compilation have also been expressed by various parties in a hearing at House of Representatives Commission X.

Fadli Zon previously stated that the government aims to complete the Indonesian history rewrite project by August, coinciding with Indonesian independence commemoration on August 17.

Fadli mentioned the government is open to discussion regarding the Indonesian history rewriting project, but it can only be held after the book completion, or at least near completion of the history book draft.

Editor’s Choice: Indonesia's Culture Minister Dismisses 1998 Mass Rape Tragedy as Rumor

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

Civil Society Coalition Protests Plan to Name Soeharto National Hero

3 hari lalu

Civil Society Coalition Protests Plan to Name Soeharto National Hero

The coalition presented nearly 2,000 pages of documented evidence, which they referred to as "Soeharto's sins" during his New Order leadership.

Whitewashing the History of the May 1998 Riots

7 hari lalu

Whitewashing the History of the May 1998 Riots

Fadli Zon dismisses the May 1998 mass rapes as mere rumor. For the victims, it was a crime against humanity.

Minister Fadli Zon Urges Mature Understanding of 1998 Dark History

13 hari lalu

Minister Fadli Zon Urges Mature Understanding of 1998 Dark History

Indonesian Minister of Culture Fadli Zon maintains that he has never downplayed the suffering of the victims of the 1998 tragedy.

Stories of May 1998 Mass Rape Victims: One Was Just 14 Years Old

13 hari lalu

Stories of May 1998 Mass Rape Victims: One Was Just 14 Years Old

Fadli Zon's statement about the mass rape incidents during the May 1998 riots being mere rumors has triggered criticism from the public. This article presents the experiences of rape victims previously published by Tempo.

Komnas HAM Reaffirms 1998 Mass Rape as State-Recognized Serious Human Rights Violation

13 hari lalu

Komnas HAM Reaffirms 1998 Mass Rape as State-Recognized Serious Human Rights Violation

Komnas HAM Chairperson Anis Hidayah said that various acts of violence occurring between May 13-15, 1998, had undergone a thorough investigation.

Amnesty International: 'Fadli Zon Has No Authority to Call May 1998 Mass Rape a Rumor'

13 hari lalu

Amnesty International: 'Fadli Zon Has No Authority to Call May 1998 Mass Rape a Rumor'

Instead of giving statements beyond his authority, Fadli Zon should have referred to the findings of the National Commission on Human Rights or the Joint Fact-Finding Team.

May 1998 Rape Victims' Advocate Receives Threats After Refuting Minister's 1998 Rape Denial

14 hari lalu