Megawati: Indonesia Built With Tears, Blood, Sweat; Unveils Kudatuli Monument

At the 30th commemoration of the Kudatuli Incident, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri stressed that the nation's founding was a product of immense sacrifice. "The Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia is full of sacrifice," she stated during the inauguration of the Kudatuli Incident Monument on July 27, 2026.

Soekarnoputri, who also served as Indonesia's fifth president, urged Indonesians to understand the profound sacrifices of heroes by visiting national cemeteries. She pointed to the numerous unmarked graves as testament to the fighters' selfless dedication of their lives for Indonesia's independence. The freedom enjoyed today, she argued, was bought with the blood and lives of the younger generation, and this sacrifice must be honored by safeguarding democracy.

"So you are not patriotic young people who should continuously proclaim that the Republic of Indonesia was built with tears, blood, and sweat. Mark my words!" Soekarnoputri declared. She connected these sacrifices to the events of July 27, 1996, a tragedy from 30 years prior that remains vivid in her memory. She questioned whether the tragedy represented the aspirations for which the Indonesian people had struggled.

To immortalize this struggle, the PDI-P constructed the Kudatuli Monument at the party's headquarters in Central Jakarta. According to the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), the 1996 tragedy resulted in five deaths, 149 injuries, and 23 individuals whose fates remain unknown. The Kudatuli incident involved political violence at the PDI headquarters, stemming from a leadership conflict between the Megawati Soekarnoputri and Soerjadi factions, exacerbated by government intervention.

Megawati described the newly inaugurated monument as revolutionary patience born from conviction, steadfastness, and courage. She sees these values as a reflection of her own life journey and struggles. "In my contemplation, I see my own life, which I summarize into words: if we are convinced in life and know what we have this conviction for, then we must have steadfastness and courage. After that, in carrying it out, we must never give up," she said.