'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.