Our convenient memory loss about the July 27 tragedy<\/p>\n
If you live in Jakarta, I suggest you visit an old building on
\nJl. Diponegoro, Central Jakarta, next to the United Development
\nParty (PPP) headquarters, on Sunday.<\/p>\n
It was here that dozens of supporters of Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri were killed or injured, and many others went
\nmissing, on this date seven years ago, when hundreds of hoodlums
\nattacked the building during a standoff.<\/p>\n
Scatter some flowers, light a candle or say a prayer for the
\nvictims, who died believing Megawati was blessed by God to end
\nSoeharto's dictatorship and to bring prosperity and justice to
\ntens of millions of wong cilik (little people).<\/p>\n
But do not expect to see the object of their devotion. She has
\nappeared to suffer convenient memory loss about the tragedy since
\nshe became president, for she will not benefit by seeking justice
\nfor them now. If I am not mistaken, and with a thousand apologies
\nif I am wrong, Megawati once reportedly reproached the survivors
\nthat she had never asked them to fight for her.<\/p>\n
It is more possible that Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso will say a
\nsilent prayer of thanks to the victims, because he probably
\nwouldn't be where he is today without the events of July 27. As
\nJakarta military chief entrusted with security for the capital,
\nthe now retired three-star general was, at the very least,
\nresponsible for the unchecked mayhem on that fateful day.<\/p>\n
Of course, he has not seen and probably will not see his day
\nin court. No, instead, perhaps for his show of loyalty in
\ndefending the dictatorship, Soeharto rewarded him the
\ngovernorship, and he has doggedly held on to the job.<\/p>\n
Megawati also has reason to thank him, because without the
\nmassacre she would not have been exalted to martyr status, even
\nthough it was her supporters who lost their lives.<\/p>\n
Now it is my turn to worship myself -- no one else wants to do
\nit -- by declaring that I was a witness to the tragedy.<\/p>\n
For many nights before the tragedy, I had gone to see the
\nhundreds of Megawati supporters camped out to prevent the
\ngovernment occupying her office and installing a government
\nlackey to lead the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI). \"Your
\nhusband is also fighting for the country's democracy,\" I told my
\nworried wife every night.<\/p>\n
When the tragedy occurred early that Saturday morning, I was
\ntoo sleepy and woke up late. However, I still saw military and
\npolice personnel brutally beat the protesters, acting as though
\nthey were born to defend the glory of Soeharto.<\/p>\n
I made sure that I was still a safe distance away from the
\nviolence but, when I arrived home, I naturally dramatized my
\nexploits, and my wife and children praised me for my bravery.<\/p>\n
Later that evening, I visited Megawati's residence in
\nKebagusan, South Jakarta. In the living room, Megawati received
\nthe reporter of an international magazine. I saw her crying and
\nher daughter Puan trying to console her. She had stayed at home
\nat the suggestion of her advisors, so she did not know the real
\nsituation on Jl. Diponegoro.<\/p>\n
I had followed Megawati since 1987 when she first campaigned
\nfor the House of Representatives (DPR) for the then tiny PDI. I
\nfollowed her on her travels to Surabaya and Pasuruan in East
\nJava. And I had lunch with her at least three times at her
\nfavorite Japanese restaurant near Tugu Tani in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
As she vowed to uphold justice, the number of her supporters
\ndramatically increased, boosted again by the July 27 massacre and
\nher role of the victim.<\/p>\n
The offshoot of PDI, the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI Perjuangan), won the 1999 general election, because
\ntens of millions of people believed she was the only person who
\ncould save Indonesia. I forced my wife to vote for her, although
\nI know she never trusts my political instincts.<\/p>\n
Like those hopes, the July 27 tragedy is conveniently
\nforgotten now. Some of the same people who openly supported the
\ngovernment's claim that it was subversives behind the massacre
\nnow praise Megawati's wisdom and fortitude.<\/p>\n
Many of them profess to have always been on her side in the
\nstruggle for democracy. So, where were they on July 27, 1996?
\nOpen a few newspaper files and you will find out the truth.<\/p>\n
Although it's highly unlikely, if I did get to have lunch with
\nthe President today, I would know full well that talking about
\nthe July 27 victims would be sure to put her off her food.<\/p>\n
So, if she asked in passing about my whereabouts on July 27
\nseven years ago, I would smile and lie through my teeth: \"Don't
\nyou remember Ibu, we enjoyed sushi and this famous fried ice
\ncream here, sipping our green tea while we heard the shooting and
\nsaw the smoke rising in the distance?\"<\/p>\n
Case closed. --Kornelius Purba<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/our-convenient-memory-loss-about-the-july-27-tragedy-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }