Dicky Christanto, Jakarta – Fourteen years after "Black Saturday" on July 27, 1996, when several democratic activists were killed and hundreds more arrested under then president Soeharto's New Order regime, little progress has been made in identifying and prosecuting the perpetrators of the killings.
Siti Zuhro, a political observer from the Indonesian Institute of Science, said that even Megawati Soekarnoputri, the chairwoman of Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), appeared to have ceased efforts to demand justice for the victims, many of whom had been rallying to support her on the day.
"Instead of encouraging legal action, party leaders, including Megawati, have apparently turned their back on the victims and are acting as if nothing happened," Siti said Tuesday.
She said the PDI-P should have brought the case to court during Megawati presidency's from 2000 to 2004.
The riots began when the then Indonesia Democratic Party (PDI) split, with Megawati and the New Order-backed Surjadi both claiming themselves party leader. Megawati, then considered a symbol of hope for democracy, garnered support from party members and democratic activists.
On July 27, 1996, dozens of young men resembling military cadets, attacked the PDI's head-quarters on Jl. Diponegoro in Central Jakarta, where thousands of people had gathered in support of Megawati.
The attackers claimed they were supporters of Surjadi. However, the National Commission for Human Rights (Komnas HAM) later revealed that on July 24 a meeting led by Jakarta's then Military Command chief of staff Brig. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had decided to seize the PDI headquarters from Megawati's supporters.
Komnas HAM also reported that five died in the attack and 74 went missing, and are now believed to be dead, and 149 people were injured, including several soldiers.
In remembrance of the attack, 124 survivors of the incident grouped under the Communication Forum of the Harmonious 124, held a small annual ceremony at the former PDI headquarters Tuesday.
"We ask President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to step forward to reveal what really happened at the PDI headquarters in 1996. Moreover, he was among those who should be held responsible for the brawl," head of the group Arnoldus Noldy said Tuesday as quoted by detik.com.
After July 27, the New Order intensified efforts to suppress democratic supporters. The New Order said the People's Democratic Party (PRD) and other democratic activists were responsible for Black Saturday.
Many of the activists, including Budiman Sudjatmiko, were arrested by the government and prosecuted and others survivors, including Faisol Reza, Andi Arief, Desmond J. Mahesa and Pius Lustrilanang were kidnapped from 1997 to 1998.
The Commission for Disappearances and Victims of Violence said that of the 23 people who were kidnapped, nine were released, one was later found dead, and 13 were still missing, including poet Wiji Thukul.
"The July 27 tragedy should be remembered as the day that ignited the flame of reform in this country. Thus here we are, we have managed to come this far through the bittersweet of democracy in our country. Please safeguard the process," Budiman, who is now a lawmaker from the PDI-P, said.