Today on July, 1999 at 4 p.m. the Peopleís Democratic Party (PRD) was holding demonstration to protest against the cheating and manipulation on the result of the unfair and undemocratic election. Around three hundreds people were mobilized in front of the National Election Commission (KPU) office in Central Jakarta. At the gate of the KPU, the masses are blocked by hundreds of anti riot police and the military so that the masses can not enter the office and meet the KPU officers to talk about the cheating and manipulation of the election.
In the speech in front of the KPU office, the masses demanded the KPU to disqualify Golkar Party from the election for the cheating and manipulation it does in many regions in Indonesia. They also sharply criticized the military and police who were blocking them as anti democracy and murderer.
In this peaceful demonstration, the masses insisted on going inside the office but the police and military refused. Consequently, line of PRD masses pushed the barricade of military and police. The masses was about to succeed in breaking the military barricade but the situation was getting critical as the police and military start using violence. They used stick for beating the PRD masses. The masses defended and resisted as they can. They fought the military but the military and police went more brutal. Beside beating and kicking the masses, they suddenly also shot the unarmed massed. The masses dispersed and ran away to different directions. Four people fell to the ground. One of them identified as Budi was shot at his right chest but still alive. The others are Syailendra, also shot at his right hand. His T-shirt was red for blood. Then there is Kukun whose legs are totally broken. Rustiningsih, a woman aged 26 was also lying on the ground. Her neck was wounded. Blood was squeezing in it. They are all in the Emergency Room of Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital now.
Eyewitness says that there are more people injured some brought to different hospital but not yet identified. During this time, arrest also happened when the masses dispersed.
With this incident we call for the international community, human rights groups, political parties to support and demand:
– Condemn the brutality of Indonesian military and government which shows no commitment to democratization and total reform.
– The release of all arrested people after the demonstration.
– The police and military to stop violence and shooting to people fighting for democracy, social justice and human rights.
– The government and military to be responsible for the shooting
Amidst this incident, the PRD will keep demanding for a fair and democratic election and fighting for genuine democracy, social justice and human rights through mass mobilization.
Amsterdam, July 1, 1999
Mugiyanto
European Representative