Megawati Inaugurates Kudatuli Monument at PDIP Headquarters

PDIP Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri inaugurated a historical monument commemorating the 27 July riot, known as Kudatuli, at the PDIP central office in Menteng 58, Central Jakarta, on Monday (27/7). The inauguration coincided with the 30th anniversary of the event. In addition to central party officials, guests included former Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD, and prominent lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis, along with the children of Indonesia’s first vice president Muhammad Hatta, Khalida Hatta and Meutya Hatta.

‘With the blessing of God Almighty, the Kudatuli Monument, marking the events of 27 July thirty years ago, I hereby inaugurate,’ Megawati declared. Kudatuli remains etched in memory as a dark chapter at the close of Soeharto’s presidency. The incident was triggered by a dualism in the leadership of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI, now PDIP) between Megawati and Soerjadi, who acted as a government proxy. Soeharto, unsettled by Megawati’s popularity within PDI, convened a rival congress in Medan in June 1996, installing Soerjadi as chairman. Megawati, as the legitimate chairwoman, rejected the congress and held onto the party headquarters.

A month later, the Kudatuli attack erupted. Soerjadi mobilised his supporters, aided by the government and military apparatus, to seize the PDIP office on Jalan Menteng 58. The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) found that five people died during the rioting, while 149 were injured, 23 went missing, and 136 were detained. During the ceremony, Megawati stressed that she has never forgotten the assault on her party’s headquarters. She urged that the revolutionary patience demonstrated during that struggle be taught to the people wherever they are.