Twenty-eight years after Indonesia's 1997 political and economic crisis and the 1998 tragedy, the state and the ruling regime have never resolved the problem of the rights abuses that occurred at that time.
The past gross human rights violations – the abductions and enforced disappearance of pro-democracy activists and the mass rape of ethnic Chinese women – have been put on the back burner. The government has been ambiguous and applies double standards in its handling of these cases.
The tears have dried for the mothers who lost their children, younger siblings who lost their older siblings, older siblings who lost their younger siblings, children who lost their parents, parents who lost their children, families who lost relatives, their possessions, and their futures. So much more pain has been felt. Insanely, the state powers have stigmatised them as perpetrators of "riots", looters and so on in May 1998.
What actually happened is that they were all victims of extraordinary crimes or crimes against humanity, systematically planned by the fascist, totalitarian New Order regime under the leadership of former president Suharto. The New Order, under Suharto's rule for over 32 years, never provided democratic space for the Indonesian people. All criticism was silenced. All resistance was eliminated.
The people were fighting in the face of the muzzle of a gun. Oppression was rampant. Poverty was spreading everywhere. The stupidity of the nation was being maintained!
The results of an investigation by the Joint Fact Finding Team (TGPF) into the May 1998 affair and the results of an investigation by an ad hoc team investigating the May 1998 riots formed by the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) have proven that there were crimes against humanity during the May 1998 riots.
The TGPF was formed on the orders of Suharto's successor President B.J. Habibie through a decree by his assistant minister and the ad hoc investigation team into the May 1998 riots was formed by Komnas HAM as a state institution authorised by Law Number 39/1999 on Human Rights in conjunction with Law Number 26/2000 on Human Rights Courts to conduct investigations into gross human rights violations.[1]
Despite successive regimes, to this day a full investigation and justice for the victims and their families remains elusive. Many promises have been made, but no resolution has materialised and indeed the cases have been left unaddressed.
Now, President Prabowo Subianto and his deputy Gibran Rakabuming Raka, are attempting to erase that dark history. The whereabouts of many of the victims of abductions and enforced disappearances remain unknown. Whether they are alive or dead. The victims of the mass rapes, including ethnic Chinese women, are being discriminated against by the Prabowo-Gibran regime.
There are strong indications that the rotten efforts by Minister of Culture Fadli Zon and his lackeys are to erase the dark history and crimes of the New Order regime by rewriting history according to the Prabowo-Gibran regime's version of events that will erase the incidents that occurred in the past, namely the abduction and forced disappearance of pro-democracy activists in 1997-98 and the mass rapes of ethnic Chinese women that occurred prior to reformasi – the political reform process that began after Suharto's resignation in May 1998.
This is a systematic intellectual crime to distort historical facts! Some of the pro-democracy activists who were abducted and disappeared but have not yet returned are Petrus Bima Anugrah (People's Democratic Party, PRD), Herman Hendrawan (PRD), Suyat (PRD), Wiji Thukul (PRD) and Leonardus Gilang Nugraha (PRD), as well as several non-PRD activists and people suspected of being activists, including Yani Afri, Noval Al Katiri, Sonny, Dedi Hamdun (husband of artist Eva Arnas), Ucok Munandar Siahaan, Yain Muhidin, Abdun Nasser and Ismail.
Responding to claims by Zon that the mass rapes in 1998 were just rumours, National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) Commissioner Dahlia Madani stated that some 168 women were victims of the mass rapes that occurred during the May 1998 tragedy.
The current Prabowo-Gibran regime has failed to demonstrate any political or constitutional will to fully investigate the abductions and enforced disappearances and the mass rapes of ethnic Chinese women. President Prabowo, the perpetrator of the 1997-98 riots and tragedy, is hiding behind the support of the activists he once abducted, hoping that the public will forget this heartbreaking tragedy.
Governments have changed, but the truth has never been revealed, human rights perpetrators have not been brought to justice and the victims and their families have been left to bear the burden of past trauma without just resolution or reparation. Now, President Prabowo has chosen to remain silent and take not action! The collective memory of the people has been silenced by appointing several abduction victims as deputy ministers and agency heads in Prabowo's cabinet.
We, who are members of the PRD and Democratic Movement Alumni Forum, stand in solidarity with our comrades who were victims of the abductions and forced disappearances, and also stand in solidarity with the victims of the 1998 mass rape by the New Order regime. With this statement we express our solidarity, sorrow and anger over various forms of state violence which were deliberately carried out through the abduction and forced disappearance of pro-democracy activists and the rape of ethnic Chinese women.
Therefore, based on our considerations and the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia and the laws and regulations related to human rights that guarantee Indonesian citizens the freedom to express their opinions, we who are members of the PRD and Democratic Movement Alumni Forum, which consists of the majority of former PRD activists, and is supported by stakeholders from various backgrounds, hereby declare our position and firmly demand that President Prabowo, Vice President Gibran, along with the Attorney General and the relevant Ministries:
- Reopen an independent and transparent inquiry and criminal investigation into the abduction of activists who were forcibly disappeared, and an independent and transparent inquiry and criminal investigations into incidents of sexual violence, by investigating the involvement of military and civilian figures who have been protected by state power (impunity) based on the fact that there were operations that were executed by the Indonesian Army's (TNI AD) Special Forces (Kopassus) Rose Team.
- Implement the recommendations, in a full and complete form, from the Komnas HAM's investigation results and the TGPF's investigations and/or inquiries.
- Encourage the establishment of an ad hoc Human Rights Court for human rights crimes and ensure comprehensive transitional justice for the victims and their families.
- Guarantee the right to adequate and dignified rehabilitation for survivors of sexual violence and the families of the victims of enforced disappearance, including restitution, psychosocial rehabilitation and state recognition.
- Ensure that state power does not repeat the practice of repressive power using military force, with power that adopts an anti-democratic attitude in policies in the current era of reformasi and state power in the future.
Jakarta, July 22, 2025
PRD and Democratic Movement Alumni Forum
Contact people:
- Albert George (coordinator) 081346268122
- Hari Sindhu (deputy coordinator) 081392916600
- Heygel The Rome Harianja (deputy coordinator) 081384324177
- Iwan Fatoni (deputy coordinator) 085740173329
- Bani Argo (deputy coordinator) 08128218807
Jakarta spokespeople:
- Petrus Hariyanto
- Wilson
- Winuranto
- Roni R Kornas
Surabaya spokespeople:
- Dandik Katjasungkana
- Wahyu Miadi
- Sukis Kiswantoro
Surakarta spokespeople:
- Hari Sindhu
- Iwan Fatoni
Samarinda spokesperson:
- Kelik Ismunandar
Kendari spokesperson:
- Ismar Indarsyah
Yogyakarta spokesperson:
- Mahendra K
The PRD and Democratic Movement Alumni Forum is consists of the following individuals:
1. Albert George (Surabaya)
2. Bani Argo (Tanggerang)
3. Iwan Fatoni/Penthol (Ungaran)
4. Thoha Mahsun (Mojokerto)
5. Estin Sri Wahyuni (Mojokerto)
6. Mustofa (Mojokerto)
7. Hegel The Rome Harianja (Jakarta)
8. Ulin Yusron (Bali)
9. Moktar Kodri (Depok)
10. Andi Rustono (Pemalang)
11. Sindhu (Solo)
12. Ipung Purwandono (Depok)
13. Roni R. (Jakarta)
14. Nano (Magelang)
15. Iwan Pratikno (Temanggung)
16. Wahyu Miadi (Surabaya)
17. Tebe ihsan (Takengon, Aceh)
18. Yudhi Zahari (Jakarta)
19. Agus Sutisna (Bekasi)
20. Haley M (Depok)
21. Petrus Hariyanto (Jakarta)
22. Restu Dewi Demokratika Arum (Pemalang)
23. Iza (Sidoarjo)
24. Anitra Sitanggang (Jakarta)
25. Santo Musanto (Magelang)
26. Mustarum (Medan)
27. Igun (Jakarta)
28. Kelik Ismunandar (Samarinda)
29. Amex (Ternate)
30. Isno (Sulawesi)
31. Mohamad Irfan (Jakarta)
32. Adhe Emi (Jakarta)
33. Wilson (Depok)
34. Zainal Muttaqin (Jakarta)
35. Wahyu Susilo (Depok)
36. Selma Widi (Jakarta)
37. Dandik Katjasungkana (Surabaya)
38. Nor Hikmah (Depok)
39. Erna Andriyani (Surabaya)
40. Andre Abeng (Surabaya)
41. 9Ifda Faida (Surabaya)
42. Agung Dwi Laksono (Surabaya)
43. Puspita Ratna Yanti (Surabaya)
44. Lukman Hakim (Jakarta)
45. Ismar Indarsyah (Southeast Sulawesi )
46. Ruth I Rahayu (Jakarta)
47. Hidha Hidayah (Jakarta)
48. Erna (Yogyakarta)
49. Winuranto (Jakarta)
50. Robi Maulana (Jakarta)
51. Sereida Tambunan (Jakarta)
52. Heru Krisdianto (Surabaya)
53. M. Verie (Surabaya)
54. Ibob (Jakarta)
55. Ardy (Bekasi)
56. Harli M (Jakarta)
57. Teguh S (Bekasi)
58. Martha Gurning (Jakarta).
59. Nachung Tajudin (Bogor)
60. Tugimin (Jakarta.)
61. Opi Maharani Banong (Jakarta)
62. Desi (Cengkareng.)
63. Damairia Pakpahan (Yogyakarta)
64. Danang (Magelang)
65. Syamsul Bachri (Solo)
66. Amat Suyadi (Sukoharjo)
67. Bernadette Suzanna Langotukan (Palembang)
68. Lucky (Solo)
69. Muhammad Zulfan Djawon (Jakarta)
70. Dwi S. Budiono (Surabaya)
71. Dhyta Caturani (Jakarta)
72. Danial Indrakusuma (Jakarta)
73. Giri Wardana (Jakarta)
74. Dewi Fajar Marhaenis (Depok)
75. Arie PRM (Jogja)
76. Ismail M Ali Usman (Bekasi)
77. Irendra (Jakarta)
78. Moy (Bekasi)
79. Eti Rostyawati (Empat Lawang , South Sumatra)
80. M. Firdaus (Palembang)
81. Yulius Alev Yadhie (Palembang)
82. Yand Kevin Manalu (Palembang)
83. M. Fadil (Balikpapan)
84. Lilik HS (Jakarta)
85. Ririn Sefsani (Jakarta)
86. Elisabeth Kusrini (Jakarta)
87. Prijo (Solo)
88. Onang (Solo)
89. Yusuf (Solo)
90. Memet (Solo)
91. Slamet Riyadi (Banyuwangi)
92. Pradarma Rupang (Balikpapan)
93. Nuryanis Nurdian Setiadi (Yogyakarta)
94. Mochamad Marsudi (Malang)
95. Anang "Timbul" Zakaria (Pasuruan)
96. Rasdian Awank (Surabaya)
97. Rusli Salamanja (Gorontalo)
98. Moch. Nuroini (Gresik)
99. Yuswardiansyah (Malang)
100. Heru Setyanto (Sidoarjo)
101. Aya Oktaviani (Jakarta)
102. Marlin Dinamikanto (Palembang)
103. Maeda Yoppy Nababan (Jakarta)
104. Wage Wardana (Jakarta)
105. Siti Rubaidah (Jakarta)
106. Dudik Warnadi (Ponorogo)
107. Triyana Damayanti (Surabaya/Sidoarjo)
108. Mahendra K (Yogyakarta)
109. Isti Komah (Yogyakarta)
110. Prastyadi Panca Putra (Surabaya)
111. Purwadi (Surabaya)
112. Didik Nurhadi (Blitar)
Endnote
[1] SNB, Kontras, APHI, IKOHI, FKKM 98, Recognising the Faces of Victims: Efforts to Encourage Legal Resolution of Crimes Against Humanity in the May 1998 Riots, 2005, pp. v-vii. https://lib.ui.ac.id/detail?id=20150718&lokasi=lokal
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Solidaritas Untuk Kawan Korban Penculikan dan Penghilangan Paksa, Serta Solidaritas Untuk Korban dan Penyintas Perkosaan Massal 1997-1998 Oleh Rezim Orde Baru".]
