Memorial to commemorate 1998 riots<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Leony Aurora, Jakarta<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri attended a ceremony on Thursday
\nevening to dedicate the Monumen Persaudaraan (Brotherhood
\nMonument) at the Lindeteves Trade Center, just across from the
\nprotected Candranaya Chinese mansion, in West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Megawati said in her speech that the May riots six years ago
\nnot only claimed lives but also resulted in hatred and trauma.<\/p>\n
\"We only recognize Indonesian citizens or foreigners living in
\nthe country. So don't refer to yourselves as descendants of
\nparticular ethnic groups,\" she said.<\/p>\n
\"The Republic of Indonesia Citizenship Certificate (SBKRI) is
\nno longer needed,\" she added, referring to a document that has
\nbeen required by Chinese-Indonesians when applying for passports
\nand other documents.<\/p>\n
During the ceremony, a 44-year-old victim of the May riots,
\nIwan Firman, said he had forgiven those who had harmed him. Iwan
\nwas left permanently handicapped in the riots.<\/p>\n
The construction of the monument was initiated by the Chinese-
\nIndonesian Reform Movement (Parti). The monument was designed by
\nnoted sculptor Nyoman Nuarta, famous for his Garuda Wisnu Kencana
\nstatue in Jimbaran, Bali.<\/p>\n
\"The monument is half finished,\" Nuarta told The Jakarta Post
\nby phone.<\/p>\n
The monument depicts two men -- one of Chinese descent and
\nanother indigenous -- holding the Garuda state emblem. It
\nsymbolizes reconciliation and the will to develop the country
\ntogether. The monument will be completed within a month.<\/p>\n
In the initial plan, the monument was to be erected in the
\npark in front of Kota Railway Station, West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The local administration opposed the plan, arguing that the
\npark would be overcrowded because there was already a fountain
\nand a busway station.<\/p>\n
Nuarta said the current location was not ideal as it was not
\nspacious enough.<\/p>\n
The May 1998 riots, which led to the downfall of former
\npresident Soeharto, have never been fully investigated even
\nthough there were reports of thousands of people killed and
\ndozens of women, mostly Chinese-Indonesians, raped.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/memorial-to-commemorate-1998-riots-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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