Portal:Indonesia/BOTW/33, 2007



Budiman Sudjatmiko (born in Cilacap, Indonesia 10 March 1970) is an Indonesian activist and politician.

As a high school student, he created a discussion forum on politics, an unpopular move during Soeharto authoritarian regime. He pursued Economics in Gajah Mada University. Inspired by revolutionary movement, he dropped out of college to focus in leftist movement, and became a chairman of People's Democratic Association (Perhimpunan Rakyat Demokratik). In July 1996, he founded the People's Democratic Party and led street demonstration in Jakarta.

Shortly after the party declaration, 27 July Jakarta Riots took place. Sudjatmiko was accused of being a riot ring leader by the Soeharto government, and arrested in August 1996. He received a 13-year jail sentence, but was released on 10 December 1999 after Soeharto's resignation. (Read more...)