JAKARTA — The Indonesian government’s plan to release new history books has sparked concerns that some of the country’s darkest chapters could be recast to show President Prabowo Subianto and late authoritarian ruler Suharto in a favorable light.

The 10-volume series would have an Indonesia-centric narrative and aims “to reinvent the Indonesian identity,” Culture Minister Fadli Zon told Reuters in an interview.

Several historians said the commissioning of the books presents an opportunity for historical revisionism at a time when Indonesia’s younger generations — largely responsible for Mr. Prabowo’s resounding election victory last year — have little or no memory of Mr. Suharto’s 1966-1998 New Order era.

Mr. Prabowo openly praises Mr. Suharto, who was once his father-in-law, and is increasingly turning to the military to carry out his government’s vision.

Mr. Prabowo has also been accused of rights abuses while in the military, including involvement in the kidnapping of student activists during riots in 1998 — allegations he has repeatedly denied and which Mr. Fadli said had been debunked.

Asvi Warman Adam, a leading historian who used to work at the National Research and Innovation Agency, said he was calling on academics to lobby lawmakers to scrutinize what he said would be “propaganda.”

“I suspect there is an intention to legitimise the ruling regime … such as by excluding gross human rights violations in 1998 linked to Prabowo,” he said, adding that he expected the government would soon confer the posthumous title of “National Hero” on Mr. Suharto.

Asked about concerns by some analysts and historians that the books could be used as propaganda, be politicised, and omit human rights abuses that have been linked to Mr. Prabowo and Mr. Suharto, Mr. Fadli said: “History will be written correctly.”

The president’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the new books. Mr. Prabowo has previously said that former activists were his supporters.

Mr. Fadli, who has authored a book that defended Mr. Prabowo’s actions as a special forces commander during Mr. Suharto’s 32-year rule, added that neither he nor Mr. Prabowo would be involved in the editorial process.

The books, which Mr. Fadli said were commissioned last year, will chronicle the history of humankind in Indonesia from homo erectus to Dutch colonization to Mr. Prabowo’s election. They will be authored and edited by about 100 historians and Mr. Fadli says he wants them ready by Aug. 17, Indonesia’s Independence Day.

MASS KILLINGS IN FOCUS
Made Supriatma, a visiting fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, said he believes the government will use the same playbook as Mr. Suharto, who released a six-volume book series in 1975 titled The National History of Indonesia that he said glorified the military and was fraught with inaccuracies.

“Prabowo’s history within this republic is not good, to be frank … Do they dare to write that?” said Made.

Jajat Burhanuddin, a historian involved in the project, said so far there has been no state intervention. The 1998 kidnappings and torture of student activists would be included, he said, although he declined to say whether Mr. Prabowo would be mentioned in those accounts.

Another key focus for historians will be how the books portray the mass killings of communists and sympathizers in 1965 and 1966, led by military and Islamic leaders. Some historians estimate more than half a million people were killed.

No investigation has been conducted into the killings, which were in response to the murder of generals by the communist party in an abortive coup.

Mr. Suharto rose to power in the aftermath and remained president until 1998, when he stepped down during a popular uprising and economic crisis after allegations of corruption and nepotism.

The 1965 events continue to be debated in Indonesia. Mr. Fadli said the new books would not take a deeper look into the massacres.

Mr. Fadli, who was among the student activists who demonstrated against Mr. Suharto, now speaks highly of the former ruler, highlighting economic achievements in his early presidency, including slashing poverty and tackling inflation.

“My opinion has always been for a long time that Suharto should be considered a national hero,” he said.

On Monday, several historians and rights activists met with a parliamentary committee overseeing the Ministry of Culture, rejecting the new history books.

“This project could be used as a tool to wash away the sins of the existing regime or New Order era,” Marzuki Darusman, a rights advocate told the committee.

The committee would soon summon the minister to convey these concerns and seek more explanation about the books’ content. — Reuters

CANNES, France — US actor Denzel Washington received a surprise honorary Palme d’Or award at the Cannes Film Festival on Monday evening in recognition of his outstanding career, according to organizers.

Mr. Washington, 70, was in southern France for the premiere of US director Spike Lee’s latest film Highest 2 Lowest, an adaptation of legendary Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low, which also celebrated its premiere on Monday.

Mr. Washington, who was joined by co-stars A$AP Rocky and Jeffrey Wright on the red carpet, stars as David King in the crime thriller that marks the fifth time he and Lee have worked together.

The two-time Oscar winner’s movie roles have ranged from black activist Malcolm X, to a drunk but heroic pilot in Flight. His turn as a rogue detective in Training Day earned him his second Oscar in 2002 following his first win in 1990 for Glory.

He also directed and starred in the 2007 film The Great Debaters about a professor who coached a debate team from a black US college to national glory, and produced and starred in the drama Antwone Fisher.

Robert De Niro received a Palme d’Or honorary award for lifetime achievement, announced in advance, at the festival’s opening ceremony last week, where he used his acceptance speech to call for protests against US President Donald J. Trump.

Highest 2 Lowest is set to hit theaters in the United States on Aug. 22. — Reuters

NEW YORK — Pop singer Dawn Richard told a jury on Monday that she saw Sean “Diddy” Combs beat his girlfriend repeatedly, but she faced sharp questioning from a defense lawyer over apparent inconsistencies in her account.

Ms. Richard, a former member of the pop group Danity Kane, testified during Mr. Combs’ sex trafficking trial that she feared for her life after Mr. Combs told her to keep quiet about the alleged beatings and that he comes from a place where people “go missing.”

Danity Kane was signed with Mr. Combs’ record label. She worked directly with the mogul and often saw him with his then-girlfriend, Casandra Ventura, who last week testified to years of Mr. Combs’ alleged physical and emotional abuse.

“I was shocked but also scared,” Ms. Richard told jurors on Monday, saying she feared she and her band mates “could die” if they spoke up.

Ms. Richard was on the stand for the sixth day of the high-profile trial in Manhattan federal court.

Mr. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to five felony counts of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.

He has been held since September in a Brooklyn jail when not in court. If convicted on all counts, he could face 15 years to life in prison.

The trial in Manhattan federal court, which has drawn intense media coverage because of Mr. Combs’ wealth and towering influence in the music industry, could last two months.

During a pointed cross-examination that revealed many apparent inconsistencies in her account, Ms. Richard admitted to giving different versions of the events and not mentioning certain details during her interviews with prosecutors.

The apparent discrepancies included saying she saw Mr. Combs throw a pan at Ms. Ventura in 2009 versus only hearing it, not mentioning Mr. Combs’ alleged threats during interviews with prosecutors, and telling jurors she saw Mr. Combs do drugs despite previously telling prosecutors she hadn’t.

The questioning by defense lawyer Nicole Westmoreland was notably more pointed than other lawyers’ cross-examinations of prior witnesses.

“We can agree your testimony has changed on quite a few things?” Defense lawyer Nicole Westmoreland asked.

“I think as time progresses I get better at knowing what went on because it was quite a long time ago,” Ms. Richard replied.

The 38-year-old Ms. Ventura, a rhythm and blues singer known as Cassie, said over four days of testimony last week that Mr. Combs coerced and blackmailed her into days of drug-fueled sex parties he called “Freak Offs,” the heart of the prosecution’s case.

Ms. Ventura, the prosecution’s star witness, said she suffered years of physical and emotional abuse during their tumultuous 11-year relationship, and that Mr. Combs raped her in August 2018 at her home after they broke up.

A lawyer representing Mr. Combs sought to undercut the rape claim, showing jurors text messages indicating Ms. Ventura had consensual sex with Mr. Combs a month after the alleged rape.

Ms. Ventura did not testify about the alleged 2009 attack.

Following Ms. Richard’s testimony on Friday, Ms. Ventura’s onetime friend Kerry Morgan told jurors about other times when Mr. Combs allegedly attacked Ms. Ventura.

“I saw him hit her… pull her, kick her, push her,” Ms. Morgan said.

Ms. Ventura’s mother, Regina Ventura, is among witnesses to be called by prosecutors on Tuesday.

Mr. Combs, previously known as Puff Daddy and P. Diddy, founded Bad Boy Records, and is credited with helping turn artists like Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, Notorious B.I.G. and Usher into stars in the 1990s and 2000s.

Part of the criminal case stems from Ms. Ventura’s November 2023 civil lawsuit against Mr. Combs. She testified that he agreed after 24 hours to settle for $20 million. — Reuters