Jakarta,2025-06-15 07:30:00
Amnesty International Indonesia (AII) has accused Indonesian Minister of Culture Fadli Zon of “double denial” regarding the mass rapes during the racial unrest of May 13-15,1998. This comes after Zon described the events as mere rumors.
Amnesty International Indonesia (AII) says that the Minister of Culture’s statement about the 1998 unrest is a form of denial.
- Minister Fadli Zon’s statements regarding the May 1998 unrest have drawn criticism.
- Amnesty International Indonesia (AII) calls this a “double denial.”
- The Joint Fact Finding Team (TGPF) confirmed the events.
Usman Hamid,the Executive Director of AII,stated that Zon’s words were incorrect. The controversial statements made by Minister Fadli Zon,who referred to the mass rapes during the May 1998 riots as rumors,have been strongly refuted by Amnesty International Indonesia.
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Usman explained that the Joint Fact Finding Team (TGPF), established by President B.J. Habibie, was an authority at the time and knew the truth of the incident. The TGPF was formed on July 23, 1998, based on a joint decision. It included representatives from the government, Komnas HAM, NGOs, and other social organizations.
Did you know?-The TGPF’s formation marked a notable effort to investigate the May 1998 unrest, involving diverse stakeholders to ensure a complete and unbiased assessment of the events.
Usman added that part of the TGPF’s recommendations was fulfilled by the President, forming the National Commission on Anti-Violence against Women, or komnas Wanita. The President and the Indonesian Parliament also ratified the anti-torture convention and sought the Witness and Victim Protection Program through the Witness and Victim protection Act (LPSK).
“All recommendations are a response to the racial riots and mass rape to ethnic Chinese women. This should be known by all ministers,” Usman said.
The TGPF, formed by President Habibie, involved Komnas HAM institutions and various official ministry agencies, as well as government institutions. These included representatives of the TNI and Polri.
Reader question:-How can societies effectively address ancient trauma and ensure accountability for past human rights violations, especially when differing narratives persist?
“The minister’s statement (Fadli Zon) is more visible as a double denial in order to avoid guilt, shame, or uncomfortable with the government,” Usman said.
The frist denial, according to Usman, rejects facts related to mass rape by stating the case is rumors and there is never evidence. Then,the interpretive denial acknowledges the facts of the May 1998 riots,but interprets them differently from a positive tone on something that is clearly negative.
“The minister’s statement might emerge as a denial of the recommendations of the two TGPF which mentioned two names of current government officials,” he added.
The two TGPF recommendations mentioned by the government are that the government needs to follow up on cases related to violence in the riots on May 13-14, 1998. This can be disclosed juridically against civilians and the military involved in the future.
This was to uphold the authority of the law, including accelerating the ongoing judicial process. likewise in the case of Trisakti, it is necessary to take serious actions to reveal the student shooting incident.
Previously, in the interview video “Real Talk: Heat Debate !! Fadli Zon vs Uni Lubis Uni about the revision of history books” which aired on the Youtube channel IDN Times on june 10, 2025, Fadli delivered two problematic statements.
He stated that there was no evidence of violence against women, including mass rape, in the 1998 incident. Fadli then claimed that information was only rumors and was never recorded in history books.
The government is currently working on re-writng history through the Ministry of Culture.
Fadli Zon will apply positive nuances in writing Indonesian history to avoid division and strengthen national unity.
according to Fadli, history writing becomes no longer important when it only triggers national divisions.
“So, we certainly the tone is in history to unite the truth of the nation. Why do we write history to divide the nation?” Fadli said when answering reporters’ questions when he was met on the sidelines of his activities in Jakarta, Friday (6/6).
Fadli explained the purpose of positive tone in writing history, meaning not looking for past mistakes.
“In those days, there must be advantages, there are disadvantages. This is also more highlights,yes,more outline.we want to highlight achievements, achievements, priorities, and also events in the (past) era,” said Fadli.
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The controversy surrounding Minister Fadli Zon’s statements on the May 1998 riots extends beyond the denial of mass rapes. His approach to rewriting Indonesian history, as revealed in the IDN Times interview, raises concerns about historical accuracy and the potential for political manipulation. The focus on “positive nuances” and avoiding past “mistakes” coudl lead to a whitewashing of events, obscuring critical lessons from the past.
The rewriting of history by Minister Fadli Zon aims to foster national unity by emphasizing achievements and downplaying past difficulties. However, critics argue this approach risks ignoring the realities of the May 1998 riots and other human rights violations. This narrative shift could damage the process of healing and reconciliation.
One of the primary areas of concern is the lack of acknowledgment of the suffering experienced by victims of the riots, particularly the ethnic Chinese community. Downplaying the severity of the violence, including the mass rapes, can be seen as a form of re-victimization. Silencing these accounts disregards the experiences of those who endured trauma and denies them the recognition and justice they deserve.
Furthermore, the omission of negative aspects of the past neglects opportunities to learn from mistakes.The May 1998 riots were a symptom of deeper problems within Indonesian society, including ethnic tensions, economic disparities, and political instability. Addressing these issues requires an honest and thorough understanding of the events. Moreover, the TGPF’s recommendations, including holding accountable those involved, are crucial for reconciliation and establishing the rule of law.
By prioritizing national unity over historical accuracy, the government risks creating a distorted view of the past, which can ultimately undermine the very unity it seeks to achieve. A truthful account of history, while possibly uncomfortable, is essential for building a just and equitable society. It calls for openness and full disclosure about past injustices. It also offers space for healing and reconciliation for all the people involved.
Here’s a breakdown of potential implications:
- Erosion of accountability: Diminishing past wrongdoings reduces the likelihood of holding perpetrators accountable.
- Historical Revisionism: Prioritizing favorable historical accounts can distort the real events and deny historical accuracy.
- Societal Division: Ignoring past traumas may widen already existing existing gaps and create a sense of injustice.
- lost Opportunities: Lack of open discussion about the past hinders learning from mistakes and the making of improvements.
To address trauma and ensure accountability for human rights violations, societies must prioritize truth-telling, justice, and reconciliation.
Here are some steps that could be considered
- Independent Fact-Finding: Establish independent bodies to investigate past abuses and uncover the truth.
- Acknowledge and apologize: The government and relevant groups must openly acknowledge the atrocities witnessed, along with issuing official apologies.
- Judicial Processes: Prosecute those responsible for human rights violations through fair trials.
- Education and Memory: Develop history curricula and sites that teach the truth about past abuses.
- Support the Victims: Provide services and support to victims and their communities.
These steps must take place to recognize past injustices and help pave the way for a just and unified society.
