Hasto: Grassroots Strength Cannot Be Uprooted by Power

“The grass may be cut down. The grass may be trampled, may be burned until the soil turns black, but its roots remain in the ground. And once watered by the rain, it grows again, thicker than before. That is what they never understood.”

Jakarta (ANTARA) — Secretary-General of the PDI Perjuangan Central Executive Board, Hasto Kristiyanto, said the strength of the grassroots can never be uprooted by those in power, speaking at the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Kudatuli incident in Jakarta on Sunday.

Hasto said the strength of the people, like the roots of grass, would persist even in the face of pressure from those in power.

“The grass may be cut down. The grass may be trampled, may be burned until the soil turns black, but its roots remain in the ground. And once watered by the rain, it grows again, thicker than before. That is what those who stormed the PDI office never understood,” he said while delivering a national address at the PDI Perjuangan Central Executive Board building in Central Jakarta.

The 30th anniversary commemoration of the Kudatuli incident also featured a theatrical performance depicting the storming of the PDI Perjuangan Central Executive Board office on 27 July 1996 by supporters of the Soerjadi faction of the PDI, backed by the New Order regime, against supporters of Megawati Soekarnoputri.

After the performance, the event continued with a national ruwatan procession led by the Kasepuhan Cisungsang indigenous community of South Banten.

The procession concluded with a traditional Ngarengkong art performance presented by the Kasepuhan Cilebang indigenous community.

At the climax of the event, artist Butet Kartaredjasa recited a poem entitled “Melawan dan Berjuang” (Resisting and Struggling).