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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, Megawati Soekarnoputri, dismisses the accusations that the party was behind the wave of demonstrations in August 2025. Megawati denied the allegations directly to President Prabowo Subianto, who also heard the allegations of PDI-P's involvement in last year's unrest.
The fifth President admitted to receiving initial information from PDI-P's legal advisor. She shared this story during a speech at the senate confirmation of emeritus professor Arief Hidayat at Borobudur University, Jakarta, on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
"I did not agree with the demonstration. When it happened last August, suddenly there was one, our lawyer said that it was orchestrated against our party," Megawati said on Saturday, as monitored on the Youtube channel of Borobudur University TV.
After that, Megawati asked Prabowo to show evidence of who directed the conclusion that PDI-P was behind the riots last year. She did not accept that PDI-P was accused based solely on circulating information.
"I met with Mr. Prabowo, I told him, 'Sir, if it's us, show the evidence first, it's easy. We are both chairpersons.' Don't do that. Just saying that those behind it are red," said the former eighth vice president.
Furthermore, Megawati mentioned the unity of Indonesia, which should exemplify the values of Pancasila and respect differences, even among different groups as in the motto Bhinneka Tunggal Ika. She also wondered if the political party elites had forgotten all of that.
"Those who said Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, those who said we should collaborate, those who said we should adhere to Pancasila, huh? Is it all just to bring down someone or their group because they can't be the same, have we become that kind of country? Please tell me," she said.
The strain in the relationship between Megawati and Prabowo due to allegations of PDI-P orchestrating the protests was discussed in the September 14, 2026 edition of Majalah Tempo. After public anger flared due to the death of Affan Kurniawan, Prabowo gathered the leaders of political parties at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, on August 31, 2025.
At that time, Prabowo also met with Megawati and had a private conversation. Tempo heard the story that Prabowo received information about PDI-P's involvement in the protest riots.
These accusations arose after an Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) member of the House of Representatives, Adian Napitupulu, paid his respects to Affan's body at RSCM after being run over by a Brimob tactical vehicle on August 28, 2025. PDIP General Secretary Hasto Kristiyanto denied that PDIP took advantage of the protest riots. More details about the article can be found here.
Egi Adyatama contributed to this article.
Read: The Reason PDI-P Playing a Two-Tracks Political Strategy in the Prabowo Era
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