Indonesian activist undaunted by attack
JAKARTA — DHYTA CATURANI, an activist in Indonesia's People's Democratic Party (PRD), was shot and severely beaten in a police and military attack on the party's July 1 rally outside the electoral commission (KPU) building. The rally was demanding the disqualification of Golkar from the June elections due to corrupt practices.
Green Left Weekly's VANNESSA HEARMAN spoke to her in Jakarta about the political situation in Indonesia following the ratification of the election results.
Question: What happened to you on July 1?
There were about 2000 PRD members at the rally. We demanded that the head of the KPU and representatives of the 48 political parties receive us to discuss our demands and receive a list of Golkar's manipulation of the elections.
The police had blockaded the entrance, and we were barred from entering. When our negotiations failed, the protesters decided to try to enter the KPU office. As soon as we took one step, the police brutally attacked us. Without any warning shots, they fired into us.
At first, some of us tried to fight back using flagpoles, but we were obviously outnumbered and those who could escape unhurt did so. Then we realised that it was not only the police who were attacking us, but that military intelligence were around us, masquerading as street vendors.
Seventy-eight activists were injured, 26 seriously. Two were in critical condition, including myself. Four were arrested and accused of carrying sharp weapons, a criminal offence.
Question: Have you recovered fully from your injuries?
All those who were hospitalised have been discharged, but many require ongoing medical treatment. I need to have several operations on my gunshot wound, and my nose was broken in the incident so I have difficulty breathing. I will require surgery to correct this.
I have been advised that I will need one year of rest and medication to fully recover from the head injuries due to being beaten with rifle butts.
We face huge medical bills. Another PRD member has only partially recovered his memory after the beatings by the police and the resulting trauma. Mentally, I have recovered fully and feel ready to go to the streets again and take on the military and police.
Question: How has the July 1 attack affected your own and the PRD's political activities?
It was a huge test for me in terms of my commitment, and it has strengthened my resolve that to struggle for democracy is my life choice.
For the PRD it was also a test. We're sure that what we experienced was nothing compared to the suffering of the Indonesian people as a whole.
There is a new, stronger consciousness amongst PRD cadres that what we have paid is already a high price. Our comrades are imprisoned, kidnapped, tortured and even killed, even before we achieve the goals of our struggle. We can't stop.
After several months of enjoying legal status as a political party which contested the elections, we were reminded that mass struggle is still our main tactic and strategy.
The incident was also a valuable insight for the Indonesian people, who might have had the illusion that the military and the police are different now from what they were under President Suharto. The police, supposedly independent from the military now, are still a tool of the state to repress people.
Question: Are there any plans to demand that the police be called to account for what happened on July 1?
We decided to ask [human rights campaign committee] Kontras to take up this case, but we are not confident about getting legal justice in Indonesia. There are so many examples of justice not being done. For us, the best advocacy is by direct action, by involving the people. Since July 1, there have been several protests by PRD members around Indonesia, and by other popular movements, such as the students.
To stop the military's repressive actions, we have to get rid of its dual function [the military's legal intervention in political life].
Question: The election results have been ratified, and Megawati Sukarnoputri's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle has won the most votes. What is the PRD's response to this?
Megawati won most votes in the elections, but the possibility of her becoming president is very small. A coalition between Golkar, the "crony" parties and the regional and military representatives can easily defeat her.
If the Indonesian people want Megawati as president, the only way to achieve that is for them to unite, get on the streets and demand that she become president. Parliament is still an extension of [Suharto's] New Order regime.
Question: What are the PRD's campaign priorities now? Are there plans for protests during the first sitting of the People's Consultative Assembly?
Our main agenda is still to get the dual function of the military repealed. We will work with other pro-democratic forces to organise protests during the sitting of the People's Consultative Assembly.
In the next three months we need to organise the masses more effectively through leaflets calling an action during the meeting. Our action will demand that the new leaders of this country defend the people's interests and conform to the reformasi [reform] agenda.
We will be reminding them that if they maintain the old system, they will not be able to resolve the political and economic problems. Consequently, they will confront the people and suffer the same fate as Suharto.