30 Years After Kudatuli, Megawati Issues 5 Instructions for PDIP Cadres
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) has instructed all its cadres and sympathisers at every level to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the 27 July tragedy, known as Kudatuli. The instruction is contained in a DPP PDIP letter numbered 1347/IN/DPP/VII/2026 regarding the Ideological Reflection on 30 Years of the Kudatuli Tragedy: Upholding Political Character, Truth, Justice, Civility, and Culture. PDIP spokesperson Mohamad Guntur Romli confirmed the directive on Saturday, 25 July 2026, stating it was in accordance with the instructions of PDIP Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri.
The letter contains five instructions from Megawati to all PDIP cadres. Firstly, cadres are asked to strengthen a political character of humanity, truth, and justice. PDIP cadres are required to forge themselves with four spiritual strengths: revolutionary conviction, steadfastness, courage, and patience as provisions for facing every challenge of the struggle. Megawati instructed PDIP cadres not to be afraid or retreat in the face of any form of intimidation. In carrying out their oversight function, cadres in the legislative and executive branches must remind and guide the police, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), and state intelligence to remain within constitutional corridors. The letter states that the Kudatuli tragedy teaches that the unity of leaders and grassroots power is a moral force that is a very powerful weapon against the abuse of power.
Regarding the instruction to reject the politics of slander, hoaxes, and the buzzers phenomenon, PDIP cadres are strictly prohibited from engaging in uncivilised political activities, particularly becoming buzzers who spread slander, hoaxes, hate speech, and character assassination against individuals. Political criticism must be directed constructively at public policies that deviate from Pancasila and the constitution. Policies that harm the people’s interests must be criticised as part of the party’s duty as a balancing force.
PDIP cadres are also instructed to ground culture and become guides for the younger generation. In this instruction, all cadres are asked to provide spaces for artistic expression, theatre, and public spaces for artists and the younger generation by making the people the source of culture. Megawati also reminded the party to be a welcoming home for young Indonesians by continuously guiding the younger generation to have self-respect, aspirations, and not to lose their national identity amidst the currents of modernisation.
The next instruction is to safeguard the supremacy of law and the sovereignty of the people. PDIP cadres must firmly reject all forms of militarisation or the use of security forces outside their primary duties. Cadres are also required to oversee the legal process to ensure it remains fair, not selective, and free from manipulation and political intervention. The Kudatuli tragedy teaches how high a price the Indonesian nation had to pay when the law was controlled by power.
Finally, Megawati instructed all cadres at every level to hold a solemn, simple, and culturally characterised 30-Year Kudatuli Reflection event involving civil society figures, artists, and youth elements. For PDIP cadres in the legislature, both the DPR and DPRD, they are required to make the spirit of Kudatuli the foundation for supervising public policy so that it always sides with social justice, humanity, and democratic freedom, as well as a bias towards the grassroots. The letter’s closing states that this instruction is binding on all party ranks without exception as part of an effort to build the ideological awareness of party cadres.
The Kudatuli tragedy originated from dualism within the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI). PDI Chairman from the Medan congress, Soerjadi, stormed and seized the DPP PDI office on Jalan Diponegoro 58, Jakarta, which was occupied by PDI Chairwoman from the Surabaya congress, Megawati Soekarnoputri. This forced takeover of the PDI office in Central Jakarta led to clashes that escalated into riots in parts of the capital. The National Commission on Human Rights recorded five deaths, 149 injuries, 23 missing persons, and 124 detainees. Twenty-two buildings were burned and 91 motor vehicles were destroyed. Material losses were estimated at around Rp100 billion. The government accused the People’s Democratic Party (PRD), led by Budiman Sudjatmiko, of masterminding the riots, as PRD activists had been holding speeches in the PDI office courtyard criticising the New Order government for nearly a month prior to 27 July.