Former general to be sworn in as Indonesia's new president

A wealthy former general with ties to Indonesia’s outgoing president and the country's history of dictatorship is set to be inaugurated as Indonesia's new leader on Sunday. He has pledged to continue the popular policies of his predecessor, but his human rights record has activists and some analysts worried about the future of Indonesian democracy.

In the February elections, 73-year-old Prabowo Subianto positioned himself as the successor to the widely popular President Joko Widodo, who was the first Indonesian president to come from outside the political and military elite. Subianto, then serving as defense minister, vowed to continue the modernization agenda that has brought rapid growth to Indonesia and propelled it into the ranks of middle-income countries.

In a speech last month, Subianto, who also chairs the Great Indonesia Movement Party, reminded party members to always be loyal to the nation, not to him personally. He also vowed to steadfastly defend the people, even at the cost of his life. “Once you find me going down the wrong path, please leave me,” Subianto said. “My life, my oath… I am willing to die for the truth, I am willing to die defending my people, I am willing to die defending the poor, I am willing to die defending the honor of the Indonesian nation. I have no doubt about this.”

However, Subianto’s inauguration comes with unresolved questions, including the cost of rapid growth to the environment and traditional communities, as well as his links to torture, disappearances, and other human rights abuses that occurred during the final years of the Suharto dictatorship. Subianto served as a lieutenant general in Suharto's army. Human rights groups allege that Subianto, as a former special forces commander, was involved in a series of human rights abuses during Indonesia’s occupation of what is now independent East Timor in the 1980s and 1990s. Subianto has denied these allegations.

Beyond his pledge to continue existing policies, Subianto has offered few concrete plans, leaving observers uncertain about what his election will mean for the country’s economy and its still-developing democracy. A former rival of Widodo, Subianto had lost to Widodo twice in previous presidential races. This time, he embraced the popular leader, running as his heir, and even selected Widodo’s son as his running mate. This decision defied a constitutional age limit and has activists worried about the emergence of a political dynasty in the 25-year-old democracy.

But for now, he appears to enjoy widespread support. He secured a majority vote in the February 14 election, winning 59% of the vote in a three-way race, or more than 96 million votes, enough to win without a runoff. This includes the $30 billion project to build a new capital city, Nusantara. A report by a coalition of non-governmental organizations claims that Subianto’s family will profit from the Nusantara project because the family has land and mining interests in East Kalimantan, where the new capital is located. Subianto’s family has denied the report’s allegations.

Subianto and his family also have business ties to Indonesia’s palm oil, coal and gas, mining, agriculture, and fisheries industries.