President Prabowo Subianto has recently granted amnesty and abolition to PDI-P Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto and businessman Tom Lembong, a move that has been widely praised as a step towards national reconciliation. This decision, seen as a response to growing societal divisions leading up to Indonesia’s 80th Independence Day celebrations, has been commended by senior politician Fahri Hamzah. The quick action taken by House Speaker Prof. Sufmi Dasco Ahmad indicates President Prabowo’s intention to end social polarization and initiate a broader reconciliation process, especially as the country approaches the symbolic moment of August 17, 2025. President Prabowo’s use of his constitutional prerogative has been applauded as a positive development, particularly in light of efforts by certain groups to sow disunity. The amnesty granted to 1,116 convicted individuals, including Hasto Kristiyanto, by the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) is outlined in Presidential Letter No. 42/Pres/072725, dated July 30, 2025. Amnesty and abolition, both forms of the President’s prerogative rights under the Indonesian Constitution, are used to eliminate legal consequences arising from criminal convictions. This step towards national harmony and unity is seen as a genuine attempt by President Prabowo to reunify the nation and restore societal harmony.
Prabowo’s Amnesty for Hasto and Tom: Fahri Hamzah’s Take
