Fajarasia.co – The tragedy of the twenty-seventh of July riots (Kudatuli) has become one of the darkest histories for Indonesian politics.
That day, July 27, 1996, the PDI DPP office on Jalan Diponegoro, which was controlled by Megawati Soekarnoputri supporters, was forcibly taken over by the masses from Soerjadi’s PDI camp.
The incident of bloodshed left a deep impression on Megawati’s daughter, Puan Maharani.
At that time, Puan was still young and in college, but she had been actively accompanying her mother in various political activities.
Likewise in the Kudatuli incident.
Puan recounted that at that time she and Megawati were almost about to leave for the PDI DPP office on Jalan Diponegoro when they learned that a group of people were coming to take over the office.
“My mother said, let’s get ready, let’s go to Diponegoro. I was ready to suddenly be called again,” said Puan.
Megawati was then informed that the situation in Diponegoro was getting more and more critical, so she was asked to wait.
Puan, Megawati and Taufik Kiemas’ father finally waited at their house in Kebagusan while monitoring the situation from afar.
“Minute by minute, everything is reported to my mother. Now there are several trucks approaching the DPP Diponegoro. Everyone came downstairs dressed in black. Until finally there were attacks, raids, arson and so on,” said Puan.
Not long after, Puan witnessed many seriously injured people being taken to her home in Kebagusan.
They were victims of the attempted takeover of the PDI DPP office.
“The house is like a refugee camp,” recalls Puan.
Puan admitted that at first she panicked when she saw the many people who came to her house with injuries. Initially, they were only given minimal treatment with the first aid kits at Kebagusan’s house.
But he was grateful that he got a lot of help, one of which was from a number of doctors who treated the injured.
“Finally, there were sympathizers whose doctors came to treat them,” said Puan.
Special task
During this critical condition, Puan was given a special task.
While his father and mother were busy in political matters, he was given the task of preparing food for the well-wishers who had gathered at Kebagusan’s house.
The lady, who was still very young at that time, was initially confused about getting this assignment.
“Cook what’s fast for this many people. We have small equipment,” said Puan.
Finally, Puan asked the maid at her house to cook rice and vegetable soup. The menu was chosen because in addition to being filling, it can also be used by many people.
However, in the end, a lot of food aid from various parties came to Kebagusan.
“Alhamdulillah, without being asked by many people who donated, I don’t know from whom. There are rice, bananas, tempeh, tofu and so on. In the midst of our troubles, there are still many good people who want to come to help,” recalls Puan.****
