'Sutiyoso divides PDI-Perjuangan'

'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.