TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - May 1998 stands as one of the darkest chapters in the history of the Indonesian nation. During that time, the people witnessed the peak of economic, political, and social tensions. From mass riots, ethnic violence, human rights violations, to the fall of the New Order regime, the wounds left behind have not fully healed to this day.
The economic crisis that peaked in early 1998 resulted in widespread economic instability across the country. Students, along with various other elements of society, felt compelled to voice their dissatisfaction with the Soeharto government.
This dissatisfaction and disillusionment among the public was reflected in the actions of Trisakti University students on May 12, 1998. The following day, from May 13 to 15, 1998, other human rights violations took place, which later became known as the May 1998 Riots. These events contributed to making May 1998 a dark period in Indonesia.
Trisakti Tragedy Marked the Beginning of Public Outrage
The riots began on May 13, 1998, a day after the Trisakti Tragedy, an incident that resulted in the deaths of four Trisakti University students in Jakarta and left dozens injured. The four students were Elang Mulia Lesmana, Heri Hertanto, Hafidin Royan, and Hendriawan Sie. They were killed by gunfire inside the campus, hitting vital parts such as the head, throat, and chest.
At that time, the National Police Chief, Police General Dibyo Widodo, denied that his forces had used live ammunition in the security operation. However, an investigation by the Joint Fact-Finding Team (TGPF) concluded that the victims were killed by live bullets. These bullets were suspected to have come from warning shots fired into the ground, which then ricocheted and hit the victims' bodies.
Anti-Chinese Sentiments and Ethnic Violence
The riots were not only politically motivated but also carried a sharp racial dimension. Long-preserved anti-Chinese sentiments flared up again after several generals, unrelated to the economy, spread false accusations. They accused the Chinese ethnic group of causing the economic crisis by hoarding staple goods and smuggling money abroad.
As a result, thousands of Chinese-owned shops and houses were looted and set on fire. Chinese women became targets of brutal sexual violence, including rape, assault, and murder. These acts of violence occurred mainly in Jakarta, Medan, and Surakarta, leaving deep trauma for the victims and the wider community.
Emergence of Phantom Groups and Provocateurs
One suspicious aspect of these riots was the presence of mysterious groups that were believed to have incited the chaos. According to a report in the Tempo Magazine titled "Yogyakarta Sea of Fire" from the February 2008 edition, there were reports of provocateurs dressed as thugs, some wearing high school uniforms without official identification, with crew cuts and some with long hair. However, their faces looked too old for high school students.
Furthermore, they possessed technical abilities such as throwing Molotov cocktails and provoking the crowds. They arrived in groups with specific vehicles, such as pickup trucks, trucks, and motorcycles. However, they disappeared after the riots broke out.
Some of them appeared in Kampung Jati, East Jakarta, and urged the public to raid the Yogya Department Store. After the people looted the store, that group set fire to cardboard boxes, igniting the Yogya Department Store and all its contents, including the looters.
Thousands of Lives Lost
The May 1998 riots reached their peak on May 15, 1998. According to Volunteer Team data, at least 1,217 people died in Jakarta, with 1,190 attributed to burning or being burned, and 27 others due to firearms or other causes. Additionally, 91 people were injured. Outside Jakarta, there were 33 reported deaths and 74 injuries.
On the other hand, based on the number of casualties recorded by the Jakarta Metropolitan Police or Polri, 451 people died in Jakarta, with no recorded injuries. Outside Jakarta, the recorded casualties were 30 deaths, 131 injuries, and 27 burn victims.
Prevalence of Sexual Violence
A TGPF report revealed that 52 people were victims of rape, 14 were victims of rape with assault, 10 were victims of assault/sexual abuse, and 9 were victims of sexual harassment. The majority of the sexual violence victims were women of Chinese descent, and these incidents cut across different social classes.
These incidents left severe psychological trauma for the surviving victims, some of whom were unable to bear the burden of their trauma and either took their own lives, went insane, were driven away by their families, or fled the country under assumed identities.
The Fall of Soeharto and the End of the New Order
The May 1998 riots marked the end of Soeharto's presidency and the beginning of the reform era. It began with dozens of University of Indonesia (UI) students visiting the DPR/MPR building to reject President Soeharto's accountability speech and call for national reform.
On Thursday, May 21, 1998, Soeharto announced his resignation from the presidency at the Istana Merdeka at 09:05, with BJ Habibie assuming his position. The collapse of the New Order era after 32 years of rule was celebrated by millions of Indonesians and broadcast by various media outlets. However, the road to reform came at a high cost, with various preceding events leading to the deaths of thousands of civilians.
Khumar Mahendra, Putri Safira Pitaloka, Mohammad Hatta Muarabagja, Hendrik Khoirul Muhid, Sukma Kanthi Nurani, Eka Yudha Saputra, and Ahmad Faiz Ibnu Sani contributed to this article.
Editor's Choice: Still No Justice for Survivors, Victims of the May 1998 Tragedy
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