By Yvette Tan & Trisha Husada in Singapore and JakartaWatch: ‘Cuddly grandpa’ dances away dark past in Indonesian presidential raceThere was a time when Prabowo Subianto’s name would have intimidated most Indonesians. But now young voters seem to be enamored by the defense minister’s smooth makeover. The fiery ex-special forces commander hounded by accusations of human rights violations and disappearances has transformed into an endearing grandfather figure perfect for memes. “He is much older, but he is able to embrace my generation,” says a 25-year-old supporter, Albert Joshua.Mr. Prabowo, 72, is now vying to succeed the popular Joko Widodo in the world’s third-largest democracy, which will vote on 14th February. He is pledging to continue the stability and economic progress advocated by Mr. Widodo during his decade in power, known as Jokowi. The current polls place Mr. Prabowo ahead of his younger competitors, Ganjar Pranowo and Anies Baswedan. Both in their 50s, these candidates have experience leading key Indonesian provinces as governors. Their campaigns emphasize job security, infrastructure, and a more prominent diplomatic role for Indonesia. Mr. Prabowo’s running mate is Mr. Widodo’s eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka. Many view this as an implicit endorsement by the president, who is yet to officially support any candidate, including his own party’s nominee, Mr. Pranowo.However, many find a potential Prabowo presidency worrisome, as he has never been held accountable for the alleged abduction and killing of pro-democracy student activists decades ago. A young voter, who chose to remain anonymous, expresses being “terrified” at the prospect of his victory, fearing that “If he could be an accomplice of silencing voices then he will be silencing those voices now if he gets elected.” She asserts that “Cuteness” does not qualify a leader, adding that “If that’s how you think a leader should be, then you should elect kittens.” Indonesia’s cat-loving ‘gemoy squad’Cats also feature prominently in Mr. Prabowo’s social media campaign. His brown and white stray, Bobby, has his own well-curated Instagram account describing him as a “patriot.” Additionally, there are TikTok videos of Mr. Prabowo displaying his signature move – an awkward shuffle across the stage – or expressing affection to the audience. The enthusiastic response has earned him the nickname “gemoy,” a term denoting all things cuddly and adorable. His young supporters refer to themselves as the “gemoy squad”. 
Getty ImagesMr. Prabowo, 72, during his campaign in Bali ahead of the electionSocial media has served as the linchpin of his outreach. Millennials and Gen Z form over half of Indonesia’s 205 million eligible voters, and they comprise a significant portion of the 167 million Indonesians who use social media. Mr. Prabowo’s official Facebook and related accounts spent $144,000 on advertising in the past three months, according to Meta’s data. This amount is nearly double the expenditure of Mr. Pranowo and triple that of Mr. Baswedan.”I rarely see Prabowo’s real picture anymore,” noted Yoes C Kenawas, a research fellow at Atma Jaya University. Instead, posters of Mr. Prabowo as a plump cartoon character can be seen across Indonesia. Mr. Kenawas highlights that this new “avatar… is all over Indonesia”, indicating the success of this image makeover. A spokesperson for Mr. Prabowo’s campaign stated that they were simply aiming to attract young people through a “fun” campaign, saying “Politics can be conveyed through different methods… that’s not a bad thing,” as per Dedek Prayudi’s remarks to the BBC. Gen Z voter Rahayu Sartika Dewi finds herself drawn to Mr. Prabowo’s plans for developing renewable energy and farming sectors. She describes the campaign as “very cute, fun and approachable… not too heavy like in previous years”. Mr. Prabowo ran for president, and was defeated, in 2014 and 2019. However, this campaign stands out as notably different.”The reasoning is that Prabowo’s losses were, at least in part, due to his strongman image and fiery style that alienated segments of the electorate,” explains Dr. Eve Warburton, director of the Australia National University’s Indonesia Institute.Mr. Prabowo is also targeting a generation that has no recollection of his rise to power, which occurred during the rule of General Suharto, who was ousted from office in 1998. Suharto’s 32-year reign, acknowledged by many Indonesians for modernizing the country, was also a period of harsh repression and bloodshed. Twenty-five years later, young voters express a preference to evaluate Mr. Prabowo based on his initiatives to combat unemployment and address the cost of living. He has pledged to generate 19 million new jobs over the next five years. “I know activists are still speaking out… but we have to move on,” asserts Mr. Joshua.
Getty ImagesCartoon characters of Mr. Prabowo (L) and Mr. Gibran (R) are all over IndonesiaMr. Prabowo’s campaign has refuted the allegations, despite his dismissal from the military due to his alleged involvement in the activists’ disappearance. In 2014, he admitted to Al Jazeera that he had ordered their abduction but only under superior orders.In recent months, videos have emerged showing individuals in tears, expressing sympathy for him and claiming that he had been “victimized by his opponents”. These videos often feature young people, prompting some election observers to question their credibility. Ms. Dewi perceives his presidential nomination as “proof” that he has dispelled the allegations. An extraordinary rebound Mr. Prabowo was born into a prominent political family, as the son of a renowned economist who served in the Indonesian cabinet. He emulated his father, who departed the country in 1957 under dubious circumstances and spent a decade of his childhood in exile in Europe. Upon returning, he joined the army and swiftly ascended the ranks to become the leader of Indonesia’s elite special forces, the Kopassus. At that point, he had already been accused of human rights violations in unrest-ridden East Timor, where he had served as a member of the unit. His precise role in the military operations in East Timor, resulting in hundreds of casualties, has never been conclusively proven, and he refutes the accusations. Nonetheless, this tarnish on his track record has endured.He wedded one of Suharto’s daughters and maintained close ties with the dictator. As Suharto’s rule crumbled in the late 1990s, the Kopassus was implicated in the abduction of over 20 student activists who opposed the regime. At least a dozen of them remain missing and feared dead. The survivors have described instances of torture. Mr. Prabowo was discharged from the military, went into self-imposed exile in Jordan, was placed on a blacklist in Australia, and was barred from entry into the United States. However, he resurfaced in 2019 when Mr. Widodo appointed him as the defense minister, turning former adversaries into allies. This surprising move came after a contentious election, which Mr. Prabowo attributed his loss to cheating, and violent protests that led to eight deaths.
ReutersMr. Gibran (L) is the oldest son of current president Mr. Widodo”How can we expect justice if the perpetrator becomes the president?” questions Suciwati, the widow of a prominent human rights lawyer. Munir Said Thalib dedicated much of his life to investigating the 1998 disappearances. He was assassinated in 2004 on a flight. Although the pilot was found guilty, Suciwati does not believe that is the whole story. Prabowo’s presidency “would be an extraordinary defeat for us, the families of victims, and human rights activists”, she states. Mr. Widodo’s backing is said to have contributed to restoring Mr. Prabowo’s image, according to some. Mr. Kenawas emphasizes that social media alone is insufficient, and that the support from state machinery for his campaign “should not be underestimated”.Many highlight his running mate and Mr. Widodo’s son, Mr. Gibran. A constitutional court, presided by Mr. Widodo’s brother-in-law serving as chief justice, controversially cleared the way for the 36-year-old to run for vice-president, despite Indonesian law stipulating a higher age requirement. Concerns also arise about the resurgence of the “old Prabowo”, known for his volatile temperament and hot-headed nature. Dr. Warburton notes that some of his recent public appearances have hinted at this. “No-one knows how Prabowo will govern,” she remarks. “He may be a very hands-off president most interested in the prestige and pomp of office; but most who know him well emphasize his unpredictable personality. And that’s never good for governance.”Additional reporting by Nicky Widadio and Amahl Azwar
