Indonesia has awarded former authoritarian leader Suharto the title of national hero, in a move that has sparked accusations of historical revisionism in the world’s third-largest democracy.

The award has deepened fears about attempts to whitewash Suharto’s rise and decades-long rule, a period marked by rampant corruption, censorship and accusations of mass human rights violations.

The title was conferred in a ceremony on Monday morning presided over by President Prabowo Subianto, Suharto’s ex-son-in-law, despite protests by pro-democracy activists and the families of those affected by the strongman’s iron-fisted rule.

“A prominent figure from Central Java province, a hero of the struggle for independence, General Suharto stood out since the independence era,” an announcer said as Prabowo handed the award to Suharto’s daughter and son.

Indonesia gained independence in 1945 from then colonial powers Netherlands and Japan.

Suharto, who ruled Indonesia for more than three decades, was forced from power amid mass protests and deadly riots during an economic crisis in 1998. He died in 2006 aged 86.

Prabowo, who married and later divorced Suharto’s daughter Siti Hediati Hariyadi, has in the past openly praised his former father-in-law, and himself drawn criticism for the increasing prominence of the military in civilian life since he assumed office last year.

The Indonesian president, a former special forces commander, was dismissed from the military the same year his father-in-law was toppled, amid accusations he was involved in the abduction of pro-democracy activists. Prabowo has always denied wrongdoing in relation to the claims.

Defending the bestowal of hero status on Suharto, Indonesia’s culture minister, Fadli Zon, said Suharto was worthy of the award because of the military operations he was involved in, including fighting against the Dutch in 1949. He denied that Suharto was involved in the massacre of at least half a million suspected Communists in 1965-66.

But Indonesian activists have described the elevation of Suharto as shocking.

“How could the man most responsible for one of history’s greatest genocides, when he seized power, be made a national hero? It’s utterly absurd,” said Usman Hamid of Amnesty International Indonesia.

“It is a blatant whitewashing of historical crimes. This decision ignores the aspirations of civil society, including victims of human rights violations who continue to demand justice.”

The government did not immediately provide comment to these claims.

Talk of naming Suharto a national hero has also sparked protests in Jakarta, where in recent days demonstrators have rallied near the presidential palace holding signs saying “Stop the whitewashing of the general of butchery” and “Thousands died but the country chose to forget”.