Source:https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3253565/indonesias-military-honour-prabowo-vulgar-disrespects-human-rights-victims-critics
This Week in AsiaPolitics

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

  • President Joko Widodo has awarded presumptive president-elect Prabowo Subianto the honorary rank of four-star general, in a move condemned by activists
  • Critics accuse the leader of helping to cover up his defence minister’s alleged human rights violations to strengthen their political alliance

Resty Woro Yuniar
Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, right, receives four-star general epaulettes from President Joko Widodo on Wednesday. Photo: AP

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”.

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