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Scholars have criticised an ambitious project by the Indonesian government to write an official national history, arguing a draft version omits key events, including some that involve President Prabowo Subianto when he was a special forces commander.
Culture Minister Fadli Zon, a longtime loyalist of Mr Prabowo, has described the books as an “updated version” of the national story intended to become “the official Indonesian history”.
He said the project was necessary to incorporate new discoveries such as cave paintings on the island of Sulawesi that are at least 51,000 years old.
It would also address misconceptions about Indonesia’s colonial history, Mr Zon…