Keep Protecting Indonesia

What is needed is an elite perspective that places more importance on national interests, the interests of the people by suppressing personal ego.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI.

SALOMO

Budiman Tanuredjo

Let's continue to love Indonesia with a sincere heart.

Todung Mulya Lubis

Today, 29 July 1996, twenty-seven years ago, Kompas daily wrote in the main news. Armed Forces Commander: "Don't Be Instigated by Irresponsible Persons' Incitement". The headline wrote about the reaction of the Armed Forces Commander General Feisal Tanjung to the occurrence of social unrest in a number of areas in Jakarta, following the forced takeover of the PDI DPP Office on Jalan Diponegoro, Jakarta, by the "Pro Soerjadi PDI Task Force".

The news was one day late. The attack on the PDI DPP Office by the "PDI Pro Soerjadi Task Force" occurred on Saturday morning, 27 July 1996, which is known as the 27 July Incident. However, because Sunday is a religious holiday, the mass media will only broadcast it on Monday.

The New Order government accused the People's Democratic Party (PRD) of being the mastermind behind the 27 July 1996 riots. Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Soesilo Soedarman said, "The government will take firm action against the perpetrators of the 27 July 1996 riots—both those involved directly or indirectly—such as the People's Democratic Party (PKS). PRD) and other troubled groups. The government believes they have actually opposed the New Order” (Kompas, 31 July 1996).

Then, in a Kompas news, August 13, 1996, it was written, "The PRD Chair Arrested—Together with the Secretary General". Budiman Sudjatmiko and PRD Secretary General Petrus Hariyanto were arrested. This explanation was given by the Armed Forces Head of Puspen Amir Syafrudin. Budiman was tried on subversive charges. So did Petrus Haryanto and a number of PRD activists. Megawati Soekarnoputri and a number of activists are also being investigated by the police in the aftermath of the 27 July 1996 riot.

On October 12, 1996, the National Commission on Human Rights announced its findings. According to Komnas HAM, five people died, 149 people (civilians and military) were injured, and until October 10, 1996 there were 23 people missing and losses reaching IDR 100 billion. Secretary General of Komnas HAM, Baharuddin Lopa, said that Komnas HAM assessed that in this incident six forms of human rights violations occurred by various parties, namely violations of the principle of freedom of assembly and association (freedom of assembly and association), violations of the principle of freedom from feeling freedom from fear, violation of the principle of freedom from cruel and inhuman treatment (freedom from cruel and inhuman treatment), and violation of the protection of human souls (right to security of person). Also a violation of the principle of protection of property (right to property).

ARSIP KOMPAS

The 27 July 1996 riot, or the "Kudatuli" incident, was triggered by the takeover of the DPP PDI Secretariat building on Jalan Diponegoro 58 in Jakarta by the Soerjadi-led PDI faction. This activity then sparked clashes between the masses and security forces. The masses burned buildings in the Salemba area.

The event of July 27, 1996 is a black history of this nation. Political violence continues to occur and culminates in the May 1998 Reform movement which resulted in a large social riot in Jakarta. The social riot forced President Soeharto to leave his office and was replaced by BJ Habibie. Efforts to uncover the dark veil of the July 27, 1996 Event and the May 1998 riot have not been successful. There is no legal accountability for anyone who committed violence. The court held to demand accountability for the authorities was not carried out. Instead, the General Chairman of the PRD Budiman Sudjatmiko, Petrus Hariyanto, and a number of PRD activists had to be detained at Cipinang Prison on charges of subversion and were imprisoned for 13 years.

In the past 25 years of reform or 27 years since the July 27 Incident, this nation has undergone many changes. The autocratic system was abandoned and Indonesia entered into a democracy with a multi-party system. The Constitution has been amended four times. The Indonesian National Armed Forces and the National Police were separated. New institutions were established, including the Constitutional Court (MK), the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), and the Judicial Commission.

However, as time goes by, in the era of reform, corruption, collusion, and nepotism have resurfaced. Corruption has even permeated the highest levels of the judiciary, with supreme court judges being arrested for trading verdicts, and constitutional judges also being implicated. Prosecutors have become intermediaries in cases. There are stories of police shooting police. The Head of Basarnas has been made a suspect by KPK. An MK judge was withdrawn by the House of Representatives for not following their demands.

In a room at Bentara Budaya Jakarta (BBJ), Tuesday, 25 July 2023, after the launch of the book Dreams about Indonesia, I chatted with human rights activist Mulya Lubis, thinker on diversity Sukidi Mulyadi, doctor of political science at Paramadina University Ahmad Khairul Umam, Father Benny Susetyo, and several other friends. The question arises why democracy is fought for in a "backsliding" tendency. Why is corruption still rampant? The chat flows. Authoritarian tendencies are again evident. On the other hand, the power of civil society is increasingly fragmented. Luhut Pangaribuan said that now is the end of civil society. Umam also mentioned, shrinking space for civil society.

In another dimension, the rule of law ideology is being replaced by rule by law. The Circular of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court seems to have become law or law. The distant state entered the private sphere. The regional head's orders seem to become laws or commands without accountability. Like during the incident on July 27 1996 or May 1998, a criminal incident without conviction. Political events without political sanctions and still play a role in the political scene. Elite seems to move without a conscience of humanity. "The human conscience has been dulled due to institutionalized routines of moral deviance," someone said in a WhatsApp message to me.

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This nation has a great hope to look forward to, towards Indonesia Emas 2045. What is needed is an elite perspective that places national interests and the interests of the people above personal ego. What needs to be built is a bridge, not a barrier to communication. The past must be resolved so as not to continue to hold hostage the future, when the global order has changed, when the threat of climate change is increasingly real, when the threat of food crisis is looming.

The hope must be continuously kept alive. The dream of a diverse Indonesia, with reverence for God, cooperation, freedom and equality, respect for humanity and human rights, prioritizing unity, justice, and the welfare of the people. For that reason, we need leaders who perform the role of a bridge to envision the future of Indonesia.

There is a lot of work to do. But we cannot lose hope. We left the holy room at BBJ. Mulya Lubis wrote on the dream board after the book launch, "Let's love Indonesia with sincere heart." The senior journalist wrote, "Our debt is to always keep Indonesia strong. Period!" To maintain its stability.