Gen. Soemitro sheds more light on the Jan. 15 riots

Pangkopkamtib Jen. Soemitro dan Peristiwa 15 Januari 1974 (Chief of the Internal Security Agency Gen. Soemitro and the Jan. 15, 1974 incident); By Heru Cahyono; Pustaka Sinar Harapan, Jakarta, 1998; xii + 312 pages; Rp 32,000

JAKARTA (JP): Today's student action is reminiscent of an incident on Jan. 15, 1974. And the political and economic reforms being demanded by students now are not much different from those voiced by students 24 years ago.

Some facts about the Jan. 15 riots, in which 11 people died and several buildings and automobile showrooms were among the targets of destruction, have remained hidden.

But it is clear that what started out as student action against Japanese dominance in the economy, became more ambiguous when stories began circulating about suspicion of a high-level power struggle.

Since then student action has always been greeted with caution regarding the interests of third parties.

This book about the former chief of the Internal Security Agency Gen.(ret) Soemitro, who was in charge at the time of the incident, has shed some new light on what is seen as an accumulation of a series of political activities triggered by several parties.

With the general as the narrator, the book can be described as a chronology of the Jan. 15 incident, which is better known by the acronym Malari.

The insights include the "intelligence reports" Soemitro refers to and a description of his relationship with central political figures. But other attractions of the book are reflections by key player as the events unfolded.

The political world in which friends becomes foes and inversely provide the backdrop for the incident itself -- not only for reasons of politics and safety but also for career interests -- is revealed.

In his blunt manner but seemingly driven by an adamant denial of rumors that he wanted to topple the president, Soemitro names several individuals and organizations, while he only hints at others.

Former presidential advisors Ali Moertopo and Sudjono Hoemardani are among the most mentioned.

Soemitro is quick to point out in the preface that one should read the book in its totality, implying that otherwise one could be offended or jump to conclusions, given the tell-all nature of the book.

And he admits that he made decisions which he now regrets. He cites sources as saying a certain party was distributing money in the Senen market, one of the destroyed business areas in Central Jakarta, to rioters, with the aim of discrediting the Senate of the University of Indonesia.

When he became aware of the action, Senate chairman Hariman Siregar tried to call off the demonstration. "... If only I had known (Hariman's action), there was no way I would have arrested (him)," the former chief said.

Only after his retirement did Soemitro come upon "surprises" and "rich details" surrounding the incident. In the book he also cites Ali Moertopo's subordinates, and interviews with unrevealed sources.

Reports of parties other than students being involved more or less answered his lingering question: Who led the students off the campus?

In the clash that ensued, 11 died, 17 were seriously injured, 75 were detained, 807 automobiles and 187 motorcycles were burned and 160 kilograms of gold went missing.

The book must be considered a supplement to the general's biography Dari Pangdam Mulawarman Sampai Pangkopkamtib (From Mulawarman District Commander to Chief of the Internal Security Agency), written by Ramadhan K.H. and published by Pustaka Sinar Harapan in 1994, in which the incident is also discussed.

Another related book is Hariman's Hati Nurani Seorang Demonstran (The Conscience of a Demonstrator) published by Mantika Media Utama in 1994.

The latter, published in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of Malari, contains, among others, court documents including Hariman's defense.

The defense detailed the students' march which involved "unexpected" encounters with groups which did not represent any party attending the student activists' meetings.

Of the nine chapters in Soemitro's book, chapters six and seven constitute the peak of the story with Merekayasa Kerusuhan (Engineering Riots) and Jakarta Terbakar (Jakarta Burns).

Soemitro recreates the well-known scene of on-the-street dialog with students carrying posters which read: Lower Prices; Japan is Ruining Indonesia, Dismiss Aspri (the extra-judicial body of president's personal assistants).

The students' expression of doubts about President Soeharto's leadership, issues like corruption at the state-owned oil company Pertamina and construction of Taman Mini Indonesia Indah read like deja vu amid today's reports of student protests.

Game

Soemitro's narrative invites the reader to retrace events in the political game during the transition period between the so- called Old Order and the New Order.

He refers to methods of the old period which still "haunt" the New Order, such as the politics of pitting one side against another.

Soemitro also wishes to teach the younger generation about the country's shortcomings.

"... the old values of feudalism are still deeply rooted. One is that a leader does not like to be criticized ... However, the essence of democracy is free and healthy competition."

His statement is strong, even in the present situation. He seems to warn that if such an attitude persists, it will weaken this nation's condition despite all the progress achieved.

The end of the book recounts once again Soemitro's refusal to be named ambassador to Washington following President Soeharto's termination of his post.

This part is somewhat amusing and a little more complete than the way it is told in the biography -- and is still a popular side to the jovial, stout Soemitro -- given the rarity of such an act among officials.

-- A. Ariobimo Nusantara

The reviewer is a publishing house editor.