'July 27 tragedy' victims reject Sutiyoso

'July 27 tragedy' victims reject Sutiyoso

Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

At least 100 members of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) branded chairwoman Megawati a traitor
for her endorsement of the nomination of the incumbent Jakarta
Governor Sutiyoso for the next governor.

The group, calling themselves victims of the July 27 bloody
tragedy, deplored Megawati's decision, as Sutiyoso is believed to
have been involved in the bloody attack on the party's Central
Jakarta headquarters on July 27, 1996. He was the Jakarta
Military commander at that time.

"Do not betray us and souls of other victims by nominating
Sutiyoso," the group's coordinator, Sandra Fertasari, said in the
rally held at the City Council.

Sandra, along with 123 party supporters, were jailed at
Salemba Penitentiary after the attack by the party's splinter
group, which was backed by the government under former
authoritarian president Soeharto.

At least five people were killed and dozens of people later
went missing. Mass riots followed the incident.

Sutiyoso, along with several military, police and civilian
personnel, were declared suspects in November 2000. But the
investigation into the case has not produced any results.

Former deputy chairman of PDI Perjuangan Dimyati Hartono also
regretted Megawati's support for Sutiyoso's nomination.

"The case has not been settled yet. It would hurt the families
of the victims," said Dimyati, who earlier resigned from the
party and the House of Representatives and formed a new party.

PDI Perjuangan's city chapter chairman Tarmidi Suhardjo
revealed on Monday that Megawati who is also the country's
President, asked the party's councillors to give their vote to
Sutiyoso in the gubernatorial election which will be held on
Sept. 17.

During a meeting at Megawati's residence on Jl. Teuku Umar,
Central Jakarta last Friday evening, Tarmidi, who was nominated
by the party's city branches as a gubernatorial candidate, was
asked by Megawati to concede to being just a deputy governor.

Vice President Hamzah Haz, who is also chairman of the United
Development Party (PPP), has also asked his 12 city councillors
to elect Sutiyoso and gave the deputy governor post to PDI
Perjuangan.

However, not all PDI Perjuangan's 30 councillors believe that
Megawati has endorsed Sutiyoso. Councillor Binsar Tambunan
doubted Megawati's stance.

"There is no final decision on the matter," Binsar told
reporters on Tuesday.

The election will be determined by the City Council's 83
councillors.

Meanwhile at least 36 forms had been filled out by individuals
and mass organizations by the second day of registration for
candidates at the City Council on Tuesday.

A man acting on behalf of the West Nusa Tenggara Governor
Harun Alrasyid who is also a former Jakarta deputy governor,
tried to obtain a form for Harun, but was rejected as he was not
carrying a letter of authorization. Former legislator Ridwan
Saidi also asked for a form for himself on Tuesday.