The 30-second television clip flashes images of historic political and religious figures, including Mr Suharto, thanking them for service as 'the nation's teachers.'

It is being aired to coincide with the Nov 10 Heroes Day and will run for three days, said Mr Mahfud Sidiq, parliamentary chairman for the Justice and Prosperity Party, an Islamic party, which sponsored the ad.

However, the ad has come under strong criticism from Mr Suharto opponents.

Mr Suharto, who ruled for three decades until 1998 and died in Jan without facing trial, oversaw a US-backed purge of an estimated 500,000 communists in 1965.

Hundreds of thousands more were killed during Mr Suharto's rule in far-flung military operations in East Timor, Papua and Aceh, while vast numbers of political dissidents were imprisoned.

Mr Suharto also has been credited for prolonged economic growth, developing health services and political stability, but has not been honored as a national hero.

'Mr Suharto is unworthy of becoming a national hero,' said state historian Asvi Warman Adam. 'He is a development figure, but also the biggest destroyer of this country.'

Indonesia, a transitional democracy and the world's largest Muslim-majority nation, is struggling to break free from Mr Suharto's legacy of cronyism, corruption and impunity.

Party leader Tifatul Sembiring defended the ad, saying, 'Despite his weaknesses, Mr Suharto has given great services and dedication to this nation.'

The Justice and Prosperity Party will seek to increase its roughly 8 per cent minority in the 550-seat house of representatives in April. Presidential elections will follow in late 2009. -- AP