Erwida Maulia, Jakarta – Victims of the July 27, 1996, attack on the headquarters of then opposition leader Megawati Soekarnoputri, commemorated the incident on Sunday by launching a book strongly criticizing her.

Former president Megawati, who currently chairs the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), was slammed for "neglecting" the victims for her own political gains when she was in power from 1999 to 2004.

The attack occurred when military-backed thugs stormed the headquarters of Megawati's PDI, her former party, on Jl. Diponegoro in Central Jakarta.

At least five people were killed, with 149 injured and 23 missing, the National Commission on Human Rights said.

The book, a political biography by Megawati's former lawyer and confidant R.O. Tambunan, claims Megawati failed to show any political commitment to settle the case, despite the fact the victims were her own supporters.

"She has disappointed everyone. She used to fight for the people, but after coming to power, she only focused on her personal power and was unwilling to resolve the July 27 incident," the book read.

"Megawati has, with her political attitude, sacrificed the victims of the July 27, 1996, incident, those who were ready to die for her."

Tambunan, who acted for Megawati in trying to bring the perpetrators to justice, accused her of having reconciled with the military and the National Police, as well as the civilian attackers, in glossing over the incident.

He also criticized Megawati's closeness with former Jakarta governor Sutiyoso and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono while she was still president, saying the two, who served as Jakarta military commander and military chief-of-staff respectively in 1996, must have been involved in the attack.

Arbi Sanit, a political expert from the University of Indonesia, said victims of the attack should not expect the incumbent government to settle the case, adding it was up to PDI-P officials to do so.

"But these officials have not done anything either," he said on the sidelines of the book launch.

Arbi said he believed the main obstacle to resolving the case was "military involvement" in the incident.

Tambunan said he had joined the Democratic Reform Party (PDP), a breakaway faction of the PDI-P, because of his disappointment in Megawati over the matter.

The roots of the attack stretch back to Megawati's 1994 victory for leadership of the PDI during the party's National Congress. Threatened by her growing popularity and influence, then president Soeharto's New Order regime convened a Special National Congress in Medan, North Sumatra, in 1996.

The congress was attended by anti-Megawati figures who reelected veteran politician Soerjadi as PDI chairman.

When Megawati and her supporters refused to acknowledge the results of the government-backed congress, Soerjadi threatened to take back the PDI headquarters in Jakarta by force. He made good on this threat on July 27, 1996, when his supporters, reportedly with government backing, attacked the headquarters.

In the ensuing clash, Megawati's supporters managed to hold off the attackers. But a riot then broke out, followed by a crackdown by the government, who blamed the riots on the People's Democratic Party (PRD).

Following the fall of Soeharto in 1998 amid political and economic upheaval, Megawati founded the PDI-P and became vice president in 1999. She went on to become president in 2001, but lost in the 2004 election to Yudhoyono.

Megawati's supporters said they had hoped she would use her power to expose and prosecute the masterminds of the July 27 attack. But she never did.