Commemoration of July 27 incident, Mega not present

JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of supporters of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) commemorated the July 27 tragedy on Friday, despite the absence of party chairperson and President Megawati Soekarnoputri or other senior party members.

Munir, of the National Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence, described the commemoration as a barometer of Megawati's and her aides' concern in resolving the alleged human rights abuses in relation to the incident.

"The July 27th incident should be viewed as one of the country's political monuments, or a state crime committed by the past regime, so therefore, the current administration should correct it. But now, the supporters are left alone leaderless."

"Today's event only shows that Megawati and the party's top members want to avoid accountability towards their own supporters who are victims of the bloody incident," he told The Jakarta Post on Friday afternoon.

Munir urged Megawati to cope with her party's fundamental problem of always relying on the military's support, as if the force remained a key political factor in the country.

"She should firmly take a stance regarding July 27, whatever the Indonesia Military (TNI)'s response will be, or she will always have to make compromises. Her administration will not run smoothly then," he added.

Munir reminded Megawati that her ascent to the presidency was in large part due to the faithful support of the grassroots masses, and not the People's Consultative Assembly or TNI.

The commemoration on Friday began with the strewing of flowers at the former PDI headquarters on Jl Diponegoro, Central Jakarta.

They also spread out banners on which were written, among other things, "Dissolve the Golkar Party" and "Hold a Complete Investigation into the July 27 Incident".

The historic incident in 1996 marked a turning point for Megawati and her party.

On that day Megawati's supporters, who had remained inside the headquarters, were attacked by a counter group that supported the leadership of Soerjadi.

Activists alleged the attack was supported by elements of former Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI), now TNI. The attack later triggered massive unrest in the area.

"We urge the new government to investigate the incident solemnly by holding a fair trial against those who are involved in it," Agus Siswantoro of the July, 27, 1996 Youth Movement (GP 27 July 1996) said, as he read out a seven-point statement.

Other groups that gathered for the commemoration were the Victims of July 27 incident, United Indonesian Front, People's Struggle Alliance, and the Committee of Downtrodden People.

The statement also demanded the government dissolve the Golkar party.

"We also denounce and reject any compromise held by the executive, legislative, and judiciary, with the remnants of the New Order," Agus said.

"Should Megawati fail to investigate the July incident by putting it before an ad hoc investigation, all of her party's supporters may leave her," Agus claimed.

Several PDI-P supporters also regretted Megawati's decision to accept the presidency, as they felt it was only part of a plot by Golkar and TNI/National Police.

"Megawati is again becoming a toy of the New Order elements, Golkar and the military," they said. (tso/bby)