Megawati Says She Will Never Forget the Kudatuli Tragedy: 'It Must Not Happen Again'

PDI Perjuangan (PDIP) held a commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Kudatuli tragedy today. Party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri said she has never forgotten the bloody incident. “The date 27 July 1996 is something I can never forget,” Megawati said during the inauguration of the Kudatuli monument at the PDIP central executive board office in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Monday (27/7/2026). During the commemoration, Megawati asked all citizens to look to the fighters interred at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery. She noted that many independence fighters are buried there without names on their headstones. Indonesia’s 5th president said these heroes, whose names are not inscribed on the gravestones, sacrificed their entire body and soul to liberate the nation. She described their struggle as a form of true sincerity. “I have thought, is this what our people fought for at that time? My people, wherever you are whom I love, remember, try going to the Heroes’ Cemetery, there are many scattered unnamed headstones. What does that mean? They fought with sincerity,” Megawati said. Megawati then addressed the younger generation. She reminded them that what they experience today is the result of the struggle of heroes who fought to free the nation with sincerity. “Then after independence until now, next month we will celebrate 17 August 2026. Will you not come to your senses? That you can be like this, it is because of what? The blood of fighters, the blood of young people who at that time were just like you who are here now. What do you want to become? Are you not ashamed?” she said. Megawati also reminded the security forces, both the TNI and the Police, to always stand with and defend the interests of the people. She said she does not want the Kudatuli incident to ever happen again in the future. “O TNI, O Police, where do you actually come from? You are also children of the people who have been given an opportunity. For what? To defend your people, heed my words. Do not let things like what happened 30 years ago occur again,” Megawati stated. Megawati admitted she was deeply saddened by the Kudatuli tragedy at the time. She said that no matter what, the power of the people cannot be silenced by authority. “My heart is anguished, why at that time was only power thought about? Where was your love for your people? Remember, I say that the grassroots, even if trampled, even if killed, will surely one day rise again,” she added.