Megawati's support of Sutiyoso irks public

Victims of the July 27, 1996 attack on the Indonesian Democratic Party's headquarters plan to commemorate the tragedy at the site of the incident. They will also voice their outrage at the endorsement of Sutiyoso as gubernatorial candidate by President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who is also chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

Jamal, 38, a social worker who has strived to empower street children for almost eight years. He lives in Tebet, South Jakarta.

I don't think the government really attempted to resolve the July 27, 1996 incident despite the somewhat heavy-handed action. Worse still, it fails to investigate problems based on prevailing laws.

The incident should be investigated immediately regardless of how much embarrassment some of the victims' actions may have caused. They beg for donations from legislators to help victims. It has in fact weakened the spirit of other PDI Perjuangan supporters to fight to resolve the problem.

I believe that Megawati wants to do it, and if she does not seriously and quickly see that the law is upheld, her supporters will abandon her and the party.

Ahmadi, 23, a fruit vendor on Jl. Gajah Mada, Central Jakarta, who lives in the Petojo area. He is a supporter of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

I don't understand why the 27 July incident hasn't been resolved. The masterminds of the attack remain free, while the victims were given sentences. It's ridiculous.

What I don't understand is why the government hasn't demanded that the case go to court. Is it because the masterminds are generals?

Soeharto and Habibie might be indifferent to the case because they are connected to the Golkar Party, but why would President Megawati be reluctant to probe the case? She supposedly supports her followers.

I don't know about politics, but I will reconsider my decision to vote for PDI Perjuangan in the upcoming elections. I might not vote at all.

Andi Rahmah, 30 is an environmentalist with a non-governmental organization in Jakarta. She lives in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta.

People are saying that Sutiyoso was involved in the July 27 incident. The problem is that the case never went to court, but there must be strong evidence of his involvement.

Therefore, I think Megawati made a big mistake supporting the man who is considered an enemy of her supporters. She should rethink her decision if wants them to continue supporting her.

I was studying in Yogyakarta at the time of the incident, but a friend of mine at the site told me the attackers were very cruel. So it comes as no surprise that many people are angry about Megawati's decision.

Nikodemus Martoredjo, 30, 30, is an employee of a private firm in Salemba, Central Jakarta. He resides in Kwitang, Central Jakarta.

I'm very concerned about the slow pace of legal steps taken to uncover the bloody incident. Many of the suspects in the incident are still at large and feign innocence. The main problem is that the supremacy of law does not prevail here.

President Megawati also appears powerless to uphold the law. Her failure to help unravel the case may backfire on her popularity and tarnish her image. Everybody knows the incident was politically engineered.