Getting to Know Frans Seda: The NTT Figure Awarded the Title of National Hero

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - President Prabowo Subianto awarded the title of national hero to Fransiscus Xaverius Seda, also known as Frans Seda, at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday (10/11/2026).

The conferment of the national hero title is based on Presidential Decree Number 93/TK/Year 2026 regarding the conferral of national heroes.

"A national hero in the fields of politics and diplomacy. He made significant contributions to the people's struggle and the diplomatic efforts to reclaim West Irian," states the description presented during the national hero award ceremony, as quoted from a broadcast by the Presidential Secretariat on YouTube.

About Frans Seda

Frans Seda was born in Lekebai, Mego District, Sikka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on October 4, 1926.

He is recognized as a national figure who held several important positions in the Indonesian government.

He completed his higher education at the Economic Faculty of Katholieke Universiteit Tilburg in the Netherlands, graduating in 1956.

In addition to his government career, he was also instrumental in the founding of Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, which officially opened on June 1, 1960.

His government career began when President Sukarno appointed him as Minister of Agriculture from 1964 to 1966. At that time, Frans Seda was only 38 years old.

During the early years of President Suharto's administration, Frans Seda was appointed Minister of Finance from 1966 to 1968.

After completing his duties in the Ministry of Finance, Frans Seda was later appointed as Minister of Transportation and Tourism from 1968 to 1973.

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Frans Seda's contributions to the government continued even after he no longer held ministerial posts. In 1998, he was appointed as an economic advisor to the third President of Indonesia, B.J. Habibie.

One year later, Frans Seda was again entrusted with the role of advisor to the eighth Vice President of Indonesia, Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Frans Seda passed away on December 31, 2009, at his home in Pondok Indah, Jakarta.