TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo highlighted the heroic history of the first Indonesian President Soekarno after granting the title of National Hero to five new figures at the Jakarta State Palace on Monday, November 7, 2022.

"We will also take this opportunity to emphasize the history of Bung Karno's heroism that needs confirmation, especially in regards to the MPRS Decree No. 33/MPRS/1967 on the revocation of state government power from President Soekarno," said the President in a YouTube video broadcasted by the Presidential Secretariat, Monday, November 7, 2022.

It is said that the consideration of the MPRS Decree protects figures of the now-defunct Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) in 1965, which is known as the 1965 G30S PKI incident. However, the accusation has not been proven to date since Soekarno had never been tried for it.

At present, Jokowi underlined that MPR Decree No. 1/MPR/2003 had revoked MPRS Decree No. 33/MPRS/1967, and therefore no further legal action is required.

Additionally, the government honors Soekarno with the title of Hero of the Proclamation in 1986, and in 2021, the Indonesian government granted the National Hero title to Soekarno.

"This means Soekarno is confirmed to be loyal to and did not betray the nation and the state, which are the requirement for the title," President Jokowi added.

According to Jokowi, the two titles further strengthen the state's recognition and respect for Bung Karno's loyalty and services. This is a rebuttal to the accusation that Soekarno protected the PKI.

Guntur Soekarnoputra, who was present at the awarding ceremony event, expressed gratitude for the President's statement which confirmed that his father was not a PKI member.

"Pak Jokowi's statement clears Soekarno's name that he is not involved in the G30S PKI, so it is clear that Soekarno is not a PKI, not a communist, but he is a perfect nationalist and patriot," said Guntur.

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH

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