Sutiyoso told to resign over 1996 incident<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): About 500 activists of the Society of Victims of
\nthe July 27, 1996 Tragedy protested in front of City Hall on
\nMonday, demanding Governor Sutiyoso step down following his
\nalleged involvement in the 1996 incident.<\/p>\n
\"Sutiyoso should be held accountable because he was the
\nJakarta military commander at that time,\" the group's
\ncoordinator, Edi Siswoyo, said.<\/p>\n
\"We demand Sutiyoso resign from his post on Jan. 1 next year
\nat the latest because he is not legally and morally fit for the
\nposition,\" Edi added.<\/p>\n
Military-backed supporters of rival chairman Soerjadi stormed
\nthe headquarters of the then Megawati Soekarnoputri-led
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI) on July 27, 1996.<\/p>\n
Quoting media reports, Edi said five people were killed, 149
\npeople injured and 23 others went missing during the incident.
\n\"One hundred and thirty-six Megawati supporters were arrested in
\nthe tragedy aftermath.\"<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, official data states that only two people were
\nkilled and 26 others injured, while 22 buildings, including seven
\nbanks and an agriculture ministry building, were badly damaged
\nand some 91 vehicles, including five buses and two motorcycles,
\nwere burned.<\/p>\n
\"The violent takeover of PDI headquarters, which also caused
\nmaterial losses, was a violation of people's basic rights,\" Edi
\nsaid, but did not elaborate.<\/p>\n
The protesters also demanded Sutiyoso resign as governor
\nbecause he had failed to eliminate corruption, collusion and
\nnepotism in the city administration.<\/p>\n
\"Sutiyoso has failed to eliminate rampant corruption,
\ncollusion and nepotism in the city administration, because he is
\npart of the New Order or status quo regime,\" they said in a
\nstatement read out by Edi.<\/p>\n
The protesters made their demand in front of City Hall's barb-
\nwire fence after they were denied entry into the building
\ncomplex.<\/p>\n
They then marched to the nearby City Council building and were
\naccepted by deputy council speaker Tarmidi Suhardjo of the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction.<\/p>\n
The protesters urged city councilors to open their eyes,
\nhearts and ears to the city residents' aspirations in pursuant of
\ntotal reform.<\/p>\n
Ill-behaved<\/p>\n
Tarmidi told the protesters that he would ask the council
\nleaders to have a special meeting to discuss their demand. \"The
\nmeeting will be in two or three days.\"<\/p>\n
Tarmidi became visibly angry when the protesters, mostly
\nteenagers, booed at the city councilors.<\/p>\n
\"You must behave yourselves, otherwise you will lose the
\npeople's sympathy,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He later told reporters that he was of the opinion that
\nSutiyoso would deny any responsibility for the incident.<\/p>\n
\"I have a feeling that Sutiyoso will reply that he was just
\nfollowing orders from his superiors, just as what former home
\nminister Syarwan Hamid did,\" he told reporters.<\/p>\n
He said he met Syarwan soon after Soeharto resigned from the
\npresidency in May last year and asked the former minister about
\nthe July 1996 incident.<\/p>\n
\"I was just following orders,\" Tarmidi quoted Syarwan as
\nsaying.<\/p>\n
\"All generals would say the same. In the end, we could have to
\ndrag Soeharto before the court to solve the problem. All problems
\nlead back to Soeharto,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Separately interviewed, Sutiyoso said the protesters made
\ntheir demand at the wrong address.<\/p>\n
\"The protesters should channel their demand to the court,
\nthat's all. I don't want to make any further comment,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"This is not the place to argue,\" he added. (05)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sutiyoso-told-to-resign-over-1996-incident-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }