'Sutiyoso divides PDI-Perjuangan'

Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Dozens of members of the July 27 Youth Movement staged a protest at the City Council on Wednesday, deploring Governor Sutiyoso for causing friction among supporters of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

"Sutiyoso has divided PDI Perjuangan. We object to Sutiyoso since he is still a suspect in the July 27 tragedy," the group's chairman, Ignatius Tri Cahyo, said.

Ignatius regretted the party's central board decision to support the reelection of Sutiyoso, who is still a suspect in the bloody attack on the party's headquarters on July 27, 1996.

Some youths who said they were also members of the July 27 Youth Movement earlier staged a rally at the council to support the party's decision.

They urged the party's councillors to obey the party's central board decision to nominate Sutiyoso, who is also the former Jakarta Military Commander.

One of the July 27 tragedy victims, Thomas Resmol, earlier accused Sutiyoso of financing the splinter group to support his reelection.

"They were not victims. They are a new group set up by Sutiyoso," said Thomas, who, along with the party's 123 supporters, was imprisoned for three months after the attack.

Sutiyoso claimed last week that the Indonesian Military (TNI) had reached a peace deal with PDI Perjuangan over the attack.

"The Islah (peace deal) has been handled by the party chairwoman (Megawati Soekarnoputri)," the retired army lieutenant general said.

Victims of the tragedy reportedly received Rp 10 million each (US$1,111) seven months ago. But the victims claimed that the money was from businessmen who were sympathetic to their situation and had nothing to do with the matter.