Megawati and Son Prananda Attend Historical Photo Exhibition on the Kudatuli Incident

Indonesia’s fifth President and Chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), Megawati Soekarnoputri, attended the opening of the historical and photo archive exhibition ‘Forging the Path of Democracy’ at the Museum Collection Room, Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM), Cikini, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday, 21 July 2026. The exhibition is part of a series of reflections marking the 30th anniversary of the 27 July 1996 incident, known as Kudatuli.

Dressed in a red ensemble with a batik shawl, Megawati arrived at TIM at 15:50 WIB. PDIP Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto accompanied Megawati upon her arrival at the exhibition venue, where she was also greeted by other PDIP central board officials.

Megawati performed a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the historical and photo archive exhibition ‘Forging the Path of Democracy’. She then walked into the exhibition hall hand-in-hand with M. Prananda Prabowo, her son who also serves as Chair of the PDIP Central Board, followed by other party officials.

At the beginning of the exhibition, the historical journey of the nation from 1965 to 1999 was displayed, particularly the leadership journey of Bung Karno. This was followed by the story of Megawati’s journey in national politics, the Kudatuli incident, and the Reformasi movement.

While holding her son’s hand, Megawati observed and listened to explanations from historian and Head of the PDIP History Agency, Bonnie Triyana. She viewed displays highlighting her achievements during her presidency, spanning economic and financial affairs, politics and law, to the environment and forestry.

The exhibition continued with photo archives of the Kudatuli incident. Megawati received an explanation about a photo showing her, as the daughter of Bung Karno, giving an interview to journalists after being elected Chair of the PDI in 1993. ‘This is a very iconic photo from the photojournalist at that time,’ Bonnie remarked.

She carefully observed the photos neatly displayed in the Museum Collection Room, including images depicting the dark events of the New Order era. The photos showed the PDI headquarters, filled with Megawati’s supporters, being stormed and vandalised by the Soerjadi faction, which was backed by the New Order government. Other images depicted the PDI office on Jalan Diponegoro No. 58 in Menteng in a state of severe destruction.

In one section of the exhibition, a screen displayed video footage of the attack on the PDI headquarters. Megawati sat and watched the video footage of the Kudatuli incident.

Before concluding her visit, Megawati wrote a heartfelt message on an acrylic board near the exit. The event continued with testimonies from three historical figures involved in the Kudatuli incident.

The Kudatuli incident was a bloody event on 27 July 1996 at the PDI Central Board office on Jalan Diponegoro, Central Jakarta. The tragedy was triggered by a power struggle within the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) between the faction of Megawati Soekarnoputri and the faction of Soerjadi, who was supported by the New Order government. The attack on Megawati’s supporters’ headquarters by pro-Soerjadi masses and security forces sparked mass riots. According to records from the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), the incident resulted in five deaths, 149 injuries, and 23 missing persons.