Risna – On July 27, 1996, a bloody tragedy occurred which began with an attack on the headquarters of the Indonesian Democratic Party headquarters in Central Jakarta by a group organised by the military. Following the attack, the New Order dictatorship of former President Suharto launched a wave of arrests, abductions and banningings in order to kill off the Indonesian opposition movement which at the time was beginning to grow in strength.
In order to commemorated the incident, on July 27, a number of groups such as the United Opposition Front (BOB), the People’s Forum and the Education Front of Concern held a joint action in which started with long-march from the University of Indonesia in Salemba, Central Jakarta.
The action was also joined by more than 500 people from various parts of Jakarta including the People’s Democratic Party (PRD), the National Student League for Democracy (LMND), the National Peasants Union (STN), The Poor People’s Youth Fighters (LPRM), the Democratic Student Network (JMD), the Indonesian National Labour Front for Struggle (FNPBI), the Papua Student Alliance (AMP), the Acehnese People’s Front for Struggle (FPDRA) and the Women’s Organisation for Aceh Democracy (ORPAD).
During the action the demonstrators shouted slogans and demands such as “Fight militarism, Mega-SBY”, “Abolish Kodam – Korem – Kodim – Koramil – Babinsa” [the military’s territorial command structure], “Try and arrest all of the human rights criminals of the New Order and fake reformists” and “Form a united government of the people”.
Speeches were also given by representatives of each of the groups. BOB coordinator, Dita Indah Sari, reemphasised that “militarism is our enemy not because the evidence of its re-emergence is now before us, but because militarism has been our opponent long before today”.
The anti-military demonstrators then continued their action in front of the offices of the governor of Jakarta, retired General Sutiyoso, who at the time of the July 27 tragedy held the post of Jakarta military commander. As the demonstration was about to break up, without warning security forces brutally attacked the action, beating demonstrators, forcing them to the ground and trampling on them. A number were seriously hurt and several had to be rushed to hospital.
“This incident indicates that the iron fist of the military will never stop repressing whoever threatens their power”, commented one of the demonstrators following the incident adding “What occurred today will not make us retreat, but [just the opposite and] we will be back tomorrow”.
Likewise, the coordinator of the action has stated that on July 28 the PRD will be holding another demonstration.
[Translated by James Balowski.]
